Electronic Waste Recycling Tips Since January 1, 2022, it is no longer legal for Illinois residents to dispose of unwanted electronics in their regular trash because they may contain toxic contaminants such as cadmium, lead, and silver. Discarded electronics—including computers, monitors, electronic keyboards, scanners, fax machines and many other electronic devices—must now be taken to a registered recycler for proper management. When disposing of old phones, tablets, and computers, it’s also important to remove any of your personal information and files to protect your privacy and prevent identity theft. The residents of Sycamore, Genoa, and Kingston can use Waste Management’s At Your Door program. City of DeKalb residents may use LRS’s E-Waste Home Collection. Residents of Plano can contact Groot for unlimited, curb-side collection of electronic items for no additional fee. Please contact Groot at 630-587-5673 to schedule a collection. Residents in other parts of the state can consult the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s webpage to find a local e-waste recycler. How to erase your personal data from an electronic device Before donating or recycling your old phones, tables, or computers, clear all personal files and data from the device. This article from AARP includes instructions for how to perform a factory reset on popular devices.