The four legal routes
| Route | Cost | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| E-waste drop-off sites | Free | You transport it — check 311/chicago.gov for current locations and hours |
| Manufacturer take-back | Free | Illinois's recycling law makes makers take devices back — mail-back and drop-off, slow and size-limited |
| Retailer programs / trade-in | Free–credit | Mostly working devices; policies vary by chain and change |
| Flat pickup | TVs $62–$73 | None beyond the price — any room, any size, certified recycler downstream |
Flat electronics pricing
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| TV — under 32" / 32–55" / large & projection | $62 / $68 / $73 |
| Monitor / desktop computer | $58 / $62 |
| Printer (small) / stereo | $58 / $52 |
| Microwave | $30 |
| Mixed box of small electronics | $77 |
$100 minimum per pickup — a lone microwave bills at the minimum; the TV plus the junk-drawer box rides one trip efficiently. Everything routes to certified e-waste processing. Wipe your data first (or pull the drive — five minutes, zero questions).
Which route when
- A laptop or small device: free drop-off or retailer program. Don't pay anyone.
- A working newer TV: sell or trade it — it has value.
- The dead 65-inch on the third floor: $73 flat, carried down the back stairs, done.
- A cleanout with electronics mixed in: one truck, every stream routed correctly — the full price guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a TV in the trash or alley in Chicago?
No — Illinois law bans TVs, computers, monitors and most consumer electronics from landfills statewide, which is why they're excluded from Chicago's carts and bulky collection alike. An alley TV is a double violation: an illegitimate set-out that also can't legally be collected. The legal routes are e-waste drop-off sites, manufacturer take-back programs, retailer programs, or a pickup routed to a certified recycler.
How much does TV disposal cost in Chicago?
Flat by size with pickup from any room: under-32-inch TVs $62, mid-size $68, large and projection sets $73 — carried down the back stairs or through the freight elevator and routed to certified e-waste processing. Monitors $58, desktop computers $62, printers $58, microwaves $30, and a mixed box of small electronics $77.
Where can I recycle electronics for free in Chicago?
If you can transport them: the city and county operate e-waste drop-off locations (check chicago.gov or call 311 for current sites and hours), manufacturers run take-back programs under Illinois's electronics recycling law, and some retailers accept old devices. All free, all requiring you to haul the device. Flat pickup exists for the 65-inch that doesn't fit in a Corolla and the cleanout where electronics are one stream of many.
What should I do before recycling a computer in Chicago?
Wipe it first: sign out of accounts, factory-reset, and for anything with sensitive data, pull the drive — five minutes with a screwdriver removes the entire question. Certified recyclers shred storage media, but your data hygiene shouldn't depend on someone else's process.