- ELECTRONICS GUIDE
Is It Illegal to Throw Away Electronics in Ohio?
By Kevin Traub, Owner of Fly By Junk Haulers ·
Quick answer: Ohio EPA doesn’t say it’s illegal for a household to put old electronics in the trash. It does say a landfill “is not the best way to manage them.” Cities, trash haulers, and businesses can have their own rules, so check with yours before a TV goes to the curb.
Fly By Junk Haulers has done 2,000+ jobs around Cleveland, and Google shows us at 5.0 out of 5 from 250+ reviews. Old TVs and electronics come out of basements and garages on our jobs, and we’ve learned where they’re allowed to go. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is it illegal to throw away electronics in Ohio?
Nobody asks this while holding a brand new TV. You’re standing over a dead monitor from 2009 that has outlived three jobs, two apartments, and the company that made it, and some part of you is wondering if the trash can is about to turn you in.
Here’s what the state says. In its guidance on disposing of computers and other electronic equipment from your home, Ohio EPA says “disposing of them in a landfill is not the best way to manage them.” It points residents to recycling instead, and it never calls household disposal a crime. We couldn’t find an official Ohio statement banning household electronics from the trash. We also can’t promise one doesn’t exist for your city, your hauler, or a business, so check locally.
| Where you are | What to check |
|---|---|
| At home, in Ohio | Ohio EPA recommends recycling over a landfill. Ask your trash hauler if they refuse electronics. |
| Your city or county | Many run drop-offs or collection events. Rules vary by place. |
| A business or office | Rules can differ from a household's. Ask Ohio EPA or your city before you toss anything. |
Why does recycling electronics matter?
Because electronics hold materials worth keeping. The EPA says donating or recycling consumer electronics “conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution.” It also cites a 2006 USGS estimate that every million cell phones recycled can recover 75 pounds of gold.
A 2006 estimate is old enough to have owned a flip phone, so treat the exact figure as a ballpark. The point holds. Your dead laptop is a small mine with a keyboard.
Where can you recycle electronics around Cleveland?
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says that in most communities, residents can recycle computer equipment at their city service department. The same page lists the district’s Garfield Heights headquarters, and says Best Buy, Staples and Batteries Plus accept drop-offs in store. Electronics can’t go in your curbside recycling cart.
TVs have their own rules. The district’s TV page says Best Buy takes tube TVs 31 inches or smaller and flat panels, with a limit of two TVs per household per day and a small fee. It also lists Secure ITADS in Solon, which charges by the pound, and seasonal district collection events.
A TV limit of two per day is kind of a relief. Nobody is out there with three.
What do you do with a TV that's too big or too heavy?
Call a crew. A 118-pound TV in a basement is a two-person job with a staircase, and the store drop-off options often come with size limits. Paying a crew to carry it is the one part of recycling that doesn’t require your back.
Tell us the size and where it’s sitting. We’ll quote it with anything else going.
What we see in the field
Electronics rarely arrive alone. They come with the rest of a basement, an estate, or a garage that’s been waiting for a Saturday. One Google reviewer wrote: “I had a 118lb tv removed from my basement, and had some furniture relocated, also had paint and used oil taken away. Decent price decent people, no complaints.” (Jack M., May 2025.)
That’s the pattern. The TV is the reason they call, and the paint cans behind it are the reason it takes a crew. If your pile has a dead TV in it, plan to deal with the whole pile in one trip.
Be careful with one thing. A TV that’s been in a basement for a decade is heavier than you remember, and so is your memory of how fit you were.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a TV in the trash in Ohio?
Ohio EPA doesn’t call it illegal for a household, but it says a landfill isn’t the best way to handle electronics. Your trash hauler or city may refuse them, so check before you set one out.
Where can I recycle a TV in Cleveland?
Best Buy takes tube TVs 31 inches or smaller and flat panels for a small fee, with a limit of two per household per day. Secure ITADS in Solon charges by the pound, and the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District holds seasonal events.
Can I put old computers in my recycling bin?
No. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says computers and electronics can be recycled, but not in your curbside recycling cart. Use a city drop-off, a district location, or a retailer.
Is electronic waste handled differently for businesses?
It can be. Rules for businesses and offices may differ from household rules, so ask Ohio EPA or your city before you throw anything out.
Will you take old electronics away?
Yes. We haul TVs and other household electronics as part of residential junk removal. Whenever possible, we take electronics to e-waste facilities or donation centers. Call (216) 471-0116 or use the form to get a free estimate.
Need old electronics gone?
See how our residential junk removal works, or schedule a pickup and get your free estimate. Clearing a whole space? Our guide to what a property cleanout costs shows how bigger jobs are priced.
Kevin Traub, Owner. Kevin bought Fly By Junk Haulers in June 2023 and runs it from the company’s Broadway Avenue building in Cleveland.