King County Take it Back Network

The King County Take it Back Network, formerly the Computer Recovery Project, has been providing the residents and small businesses of King County with reuse and recycling options for their used computer equipment since July of 2000. It is a network of electronic recyclers including local computer repair and resale shops, nonprofit groups and computer retailers that have teamed up to offer multiple locations for donating, upgrading or recycling used computer equipment.

All network members have agreed to recycle broken computer monitors and televisions domestically and to avoid exporting overseas. Since computer monitors and televisions are no longer accepted for disposal at King County Transfer Stations, the Take it Back Network provides an environmentally sound alternative.

The Take it Back Network is a project of the King County Solid Waste Division, the Seattle Public Utilities, and the Snohomish County Solid Waste Division.

Snohomish County Take It Back Network

As of November, 2002, Snohomish County, Washington no longer accepts computers, laptops, monitors, separated computer circuit boards and televisions as garbage and requests that these items be recycled.

To provide residents and businesses with recycling options, the Snohomish County Take It Back Network was formed, a partnership between local government, retailers, waste haulers, recyclers, electronics manufacturers and consumers. The Take It Back Network provides collection, processing, and recycling options for used electronic equipment.

Each Take It Back Network partner fills a different niche. Snohomish County provides technical assistance to network members and publicizes the network to its businesses and residents. Retailers, non-profit organizations, and electronics repair and service shops serve as electronics collection sites, while garbage haulers and recyclers work to provide environmentally sound collection, transportation and recycling services.

Good Guys Electronics Take-back Pilot Project (PDF file, 1.97MB).

Northwest Product Stewardship Council and US Environmental Protection Agency. February 2005. 
Good Guys retail stores take back TVs from King County residents.

• NWPSC EPA Grant Application Proposal for the Pilot Project (PDF file, 100KB)
• Summary Report - Good Guys Electronics Take-back Pilot Project (PDF file, 531KB)
• Appendix A: Retailer Recruitment Letter (PDF file, 77KB)
• Appendix B: Memorandum of Understanding (PDF file, 139KB)
• Appendix C: EPA Materials Handling Guidelines (PDF file, 170KB)
• Appendix D: Training Documents (PDF file, 368KB)
• Appendix E: Advertising, Media Coverage, Promotional Materials (PDF file, 3.83MB)
• Appendix F: Customer Survey Results (PDF file, 184KB)

Office Depot and Hewlett Packard Conduct the NWPSC-backed Electronics Recycling Pilot Program

From July 19 through September 6, 2004, Office Depot and Hewlett-Packard teamed up to offer the country's first free, nationwide, in-store electronics recycling program. Customers could drop off any brand of unwanted electronics for free at any of Office Depot's more than 850 retail locations in the continental United States.

The program brought in 5,100 tons of equipment during the 7 week program. All products collected from Office Depot stores were recycled at HP's two U.S. recycling facilities: in Roseville, California and near Nashville, Tennesee. The collection and recycling of the equipment was funded by Office Depot and HP.

The recycling program was developed with input from the Northwest Product Stewardship Council governments including King County, Snohomish County, City of Seattle, City of Tacoma, Kitsap County, and Clark County in Washington and Metro Portland in Oregon.