Dmytro Angelovskyi / Shutterstock.com Tablets Alternative ways to recycle Illegal in Garbage & Drains Electronic Waste Dmytro Angelovskyi / Shutterstock.com Repair, Don’t Replace!Instead of buying new, support local businesses by having them repair and refurbish broken items. Search for repair options in your area. Consider DonationIf the tablet is still usable, please donate. Visit Athens’ Material Reuse page for ideas. City Specific Disposal OptionsPlease check with your city page (residential or commercial) to confirm if electronic waste (e-waste) disposal options are available, such as home collection, drop-off locations, and/or events. (These options vary per city.) Household E-Waste Drop-OffYour city or county may offer E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off sites and collection events.– Los Angeles County: S.A.F.E. Collection Centers and events– Riverside County– San Bernardino County– Ventura County Disposal Options For BusinessesE-waste cannot be placed in your containers. Schedule a Special Waste Collection by emailing [email protected] or calling Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Fees may apply. Some e-waste drop-off centers may allow drop off by small business generators (check links above). Never Throw in the Garbage Electronic tablets are known to contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, brominated flame retardants and chlorine. When electronics are thrown away, these chemicals leach into the environment. Remove Personal Information Before donating or recycling a tablet, remove all sensitive and personal information from the device. Deleting saved items won’t erase this information completely. Visit a local software store to pick up software to wipe the device entirely. Alternative Ways to Recycle Apple Store Gift Card Apple runs a reuse and recycling program for unwanted iPhones, iPads, Mac or PC computers and displays. Depending on the condition of your electronics, Apple will give you credit if they have monetary value. Find out more. Microsoft Trade-In and Recycling Program Microsoft accepts old devices, game consoles or games for Microsoft store credit. If your items no longer carry substantial value, they also have a recycling program. HP Hardware Recycling HP accepts tablets and electronics hardware from various manufacturers for free mail-in recycling. Request a mail-back label here. Best Buy Recycling Program Best Buy will recycle tablets and other home electronics for free. They accept up to three items per day from each household. They also offer a trade-in program for more desired electronics. Find a location here. Staples' Take Back Program Staples offers free, in-store recycling for unwanted electronics, including desktop computers, tablets, monitors, printers and other electronics. Locate the nearest Staples. Gazelle Trade-In Program Gazelle refurbishes and resells electronics, including cell phones, iPads, and Macbooks. Get a quote for your item, ship it free of charge and receive payment as soon as they’ve inspected it.