Recycling electronic waste – Getty Images stock photo
More than 2,800 City of Pittsburgh residents have registered and dropped off materials through the City’s hard-to-recycle program since its conception in May 2022.
Working in partnership with Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC), a nationally recognized leader in waste reduction and recycling, DPW provides residents with convenient, affordable options for responsibly disposing of electronics and household chemicals at the Environmental Services facility in the Strip District.
The facility receives an average of 15-thousand pounds of electronics every month to be recycled and the program has moved more than 189-thousand pounds since 2022.
Residents making use of the program are keeping unnecessary items out of our landfills and creating a more sensible use of unwanted electronics.
Electronics recycling collections are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year, while combined household chemical/e-waste collections are held every other month on a Saturday also at the Environmental Services facility in the Strip District.
E-Waste Recycling Drop Off (by appointment only)
- When: Tuesdays, 2-6p and Thursdays, 3-7p (year-round)
- Accepted Materials: Computers, televisions, phones, and other e-waste
- Cost: Material disposal is charged at a cost of $0.35 per pound
- Note: CPU (towers) and laptops are accepted at no cost
Household Chemical Recycling Drop Off (by appointment only)
- When: Saturdays, bi-monthly. 8 AM to 12 PM
- Next collection takes place on September 9, 2023
- Accepted Materials: Household cleaners, automotive fluids, paints, pesticides, and other products containing potentially hazardous components
- Cost: Sliding scale prices are listed by the pound on the registration page
- Note: E-waste is also accepted at these Saturday collections
“These collections provide a way for folks to easily and responsibly dispose of electronic and chemical materials. Appropriate recycling of these items provides many benefits; it prevents hazardous waste from entering our rivers and ground soil, and it also helps keep our dedicated workforce safe by eliminating exposure to hazards during our routine pick-ups at the curb. DPW is pleased to offer this resource to Pittsburghers, as a way for all of us to help keep the city clean and safe.” says Department of Public Works Director Chris Hornstein.
Sarah Alessio Shea, PRC Deputy Director, assures that all electronic scrap collected will be forwarded to eLoop LLC, an e-Stewards-certified processor that responsibly manages electronic waste. “The public can feel confident that their material and data is being safely, ethically, and responsibly recycled when dealing with PRC and eLoop,” Shea says. eLoop has facilities in Export and State College, PA.
All collections take place at the Bureau of Environmental Services facility located in the Strip District at 3001 Railroad Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.
Neighborhood e-waste collection events are also scheduled throughout the year to give citizens who can’t make it to the Strip District an opportunity to dispose of their electronics. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, August 19th in Homewood West at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA.
Advance registration is required. Residents can do so by visiting www.prc.org/recyclePGH or by calling 412-489-9299. On-site payment is accepted via cash, check or card. Individuals are also encouraged to visit the website for a complete list of accepted materials (both e-waste and household chemical recycling) and to view the subsidized price list.
In July 2023, Pittsburgh City Council approved a 1-year extension for the contract with Pennsylvania Resources Council through May 2024.
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