E-waste (electronics) collection is available on Thursdays from 12 PM - 5 PM and Saturdays from 9 AM - 1 PM at 137 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024. No appointment is needed. Check our Contact page for holiday closures.
Procedure:
- Fill out this form. Staff can do it for you when you come to drop off if you need help.
- Make a minimum suggested donation of $10 or, pay what you can afford, to help us continue offering this program. If you have multiple items to drop off please consider a larger donation. The more e-waste we collect, the more time is spent in processing for both our staff and our recycling partner Urban Corps.
- When you arrive, see the staff at the front door first.
- Unload your e-waste. Staff will assist if they are able and we have dollies.
Your support is vital to keep this environmental community program operating. Solana Center for Environmental Innovation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation to support e-waste collection is tax-deductible.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Solana Center's battery and light bulb recycling program has been suspended until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.
See where you can recycle your light bulbs and batteries at wastefreesd.org.
NOTE: Solana Center does not accept Household Hazardous Waste. No medical waste drop-offs are allowed. Please visit the Vista Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility or Poway Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
Support our E-waste Recycling Collection Program!
Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest-growing solid waste stream in the world, increasing 3 times faster than the world’s population. Although e-waste makes up just 2% of what goes to our landfills, it accounts for 70% of the toxins leaching out into the environment. Only 22% of e-waste is recycled; however, e-waste streams contain valuable and finite resources that can be reused if they are recycled appropriately. Jurisdictions and waste haulers are struggling to keep up with the demand for e-waste collection and recycling.
Each year, Solana Center helps over 3,500 San Diego County residents divert more than 40 tons of e-waste, from the landfill. In doing so, this vital service prevents 34 metric tons of greenhouse gases from being released annually.
Our e-waste program costs $50,000 per year to operate. When you drop off e-waste we don’t make a profit, we pay staff and contract with Urban Corps to serve you. Your support is vital to keep this environmental community program operating. Solana Center for Environmental Innovation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation to support e-waste collection is tax-deductible.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Solana Center's battery and light bulb recycling program has been suspended until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience. See where you can recycle your light bulbs and batteries at wastefreesd.org.
NOTE: Solana Center does not accept Household Hazardous Waste. No medical waste drop-offs are allowed. Please visit the Vista Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility or Poway Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
Solana Center accepts the following e-waste:
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- Appliances - small (blenders, fans, microwaves, electronic razors)
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- Cameras (film, digital, antique, etc.)
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- Cell phones, iPods, tablet, iPads
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- Chargers and cords
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- Christmas Lights
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- Computers and laptops
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- Computer accessories (mice, keyboards, etc)
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- External Hard Drives
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- Electronic toys and games
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- Fax machines
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- Landline phones and answering machines
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- Monitors/flat panel display
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- MP3 players and CD players
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- Network Equipment (routers, modems, switchboards, etc.)
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- Radio
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- Small home or office printers
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- Speakers, stereos, radios (not wood)
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- Turn Tables
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- TVs
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- VCR, VHS, and DVD players
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- Video Game Systems
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- Walkie Talkies
Solana Center does not accept any of the following e-waste because they contain radioactive materials or other dangerous contents:
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- Any liquids or powders
- Air conditioners
- Carbon Monoxide or Smoke Detectors
- Dehumidifiers
- Freezers
- Hazardous waste
- Ink cartridges
- Refrigerators
- Thermometers
- Thermostats
- Wet Cell Batteries
- Heaters
- Power tools
- VHS tapes, CD's, floppy disks
- Batteries
- Fluorescent tubes
- Lightbulbs
Important: Please remove all sensitive data from devices before drop off. Solana Center takes no responsibility for the handling of personal information left on any device.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, our battery and light bulb recycling program has been suspended until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you live in North County, CleanEarth provides residential pickup for batteries and light bulbs, along with hazardous waste and electronics, for free to residents 65 and older and for $10 to all other residents. Their number is 800-714-1195. More info on the program here.
For battery recycling in other locations, visit call2recycle.org/locator to find facilities and stores that accept batteries for drop-off, which includes most Staples locations. Please remember to click the "single-use batteries" checkbox for household batteries.
For light bulb recycling in non-North County locations, please visit wastefreesd.org and enter your zip code. Note- calling drop-off organizations before heading over might save you unnecessary driving time!
Business E-Waste Pick Up
If you are trying to responsibly dispose of E-waste from your business Urban Corps has a free pick-up service! Register online by the second Friday of the month for pickup on the third Wednesday of the month. Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. All areas of San Diego County are eligible.
Accepted businesses items include:
- Computers and laptops
- Computer monitors, mice, and keyboards
- MP3 players and CD players
- VCR and DVD players
- Cell phones and landline phones
- Small home or office printers
- Fax machines
- TVs
- Radios
- Electronic toys and games
- Photo and video cameras
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community healthy by keeping this toxic hazardous waste out of our landfills and groundwater.
Did you know that E-waste only represents about 2% of the waste in America's landfills, but equals around 70% of the overall toxic waste? This toxic waste can eventually pollute our groundwater supply.
In partnership with Urban Corps
To process e-waste Solana Center partners with Urban Corps - a local nonprofit that provides job training and educational opportunities to struggling youth ages 18-26 years old in the San Diego area.
Urban Corps transports the electronic waste that you drop off to Gold'n West Surplus Inc., a large-scale electronic recycler in Corona, CA which processes 4 million pounds of e-waste per month. They are in line with the strictest industry standards and EPA regulations including ISO1400, OHSAS18001, and R-2 certifications to sustainably recycle E-waste while also protecting the environment and their workers.