FAQs • Cumberland County • CivicEngage

Why is the County doing this when other recycling opportunities (i.e. Best Buy, Staples) exist?: The County is primarily attempting to address the lack of television recycling opportunities Pennsylvania's electronics recycling law has created. Televisions are the most difficult and most expensive of the electronics to recycle. This is why it is so hard to find a place to recycle them. We will gladly accept the other electronics on our acceptable items list but want the public to know that recycling outlets for the other electronics may exist at better rates. Click here to view possible outlets for electronics other than televisions.

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Electronics Recycling

1. Should I be worried about private or personal information on my computer?: Cumberland County will take steps to secure computers with hard drives and hard drives by themselves while in the possession of Cumberland County and awaiting transportation to our R2 certified recycler. Cumberland County cannot, however, 100% guarantee the security of such information. We recommend you erase all personal and private files from your computer or hard drive before turning it over to us.

2. Why are you charging a fee to recycle electronics when I already pay taxes?: Fees are required to pay for the costs of this program. Cumberland County has never used general fund tax dollars for its Recycling & Waste program expenses. Only those who choose to use the program will be required to pay for it through the fees that we charge.

3. Doesn't Pennsylvania have a law that requires electronics manufacturers to pay for recycling?: Yes, Pennsylvania has a law that requires electronics manufacturers to fund the recycling in a given year the total weight of products they sold two years ago. Recently manufactured electronics weigh considerably less than those made ten or more years ago. As a result, manufacturer recycling requirements decrease every year because the sales weight of newer electronics decreases. Meanwhile, most of the electronics recycling stream is comprised of older, heavier units that enable manufacturers to quickly meet their established weight-based recycling goals, after which they typically suspend their recycling efforts for the remainder of the year. In the end, manufacturer supported recycling programs do not meet the demand for electronics recycling in Pennsylvania. No electronics manufacturers have offered to support electronics recycling in Cumberland County.

4. Can I leave my electronics behind if no one is there?: Absolutely not! Leaving electronics at the recycling center during closed hours is considered illegal dumping. High resolution security cameras have been installed in multiple locations around the facility to identify illegal dumpers. Illegal dumpers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

5. Who is eligible to use the electronics recycling center?: Anyone can use the facility. One benefit of a fee based site is source of material is not an issue. As long as the recycling fee is paid, it does not matter where the customer lives or whether the electronics are from homeowners, businesses, or institutions.

6. What if I have a lot of electronics?: The drop off of large volumes of electronics must be scheduled in advance. We would prefer to work with you to prepackage your electronics ahead of time versus showing up with a dump truck load of electronics that may take a while to sort through and weigh.

7. Why is the County doing this when other recycling opportunities (i.e. Best Buy, Staples) exist?: The County is primarily attempting to address the lack of television recycling opportunities Pennsylvania's electronics recycling law has created. Televisions are the most difficult and most expensive of the electronics to recycle. This is why it is so hard to find a place to recycle them. We will gladly accept the other electronics on our acceptable items list but want the public to know that recycling outlets for the other electronics may exist at better rates. Click here to view possible outlets for electronics other than televisions.

8. Why can't I just put my electronics in the trash?: Pennsylvania's electronics recycling law bans televisions and computer equipment from disposal as solid waste.

9. What happens to my electronics after I drop them off?: Electronics will be sorted into like materials and packaged on either pallets or in Gaylord boxes. Once a full load of electronics is obtained (18,000 pounds), the collected electronics will be sent to our contracted recycler, Sunnking, in Brockport, New York. Sunnking is certified to the R2 Standard. The R2 Standard provides a common set of processes, safety measures, and documentation requirements for businesses that repair and recycle used electronics. R2 is rigorously and independently audited, emphasizing quality, safety, and transparency.