01. What counts as e-waste
Electronics disposal covers more than just computers and TVs. Anything with a circuit board, battery, or screen generally falls under e-waste rules rather than regular trash.
- TVs and monitors, especially older CRT models
- Desktop computers, laptops, and tablets
- Printers, scanners, and fax machines
- Cell phones and small handheld electronics
- Gaming consoles and peripherals
- Cables, chargers, and small electronic accessories
02. Why electronics can't just go in the trash
Older CRT televisions and monitors contain leaded glass, and lithium-ion batteries in laptops and cordless devices pose fire risk if crushed in a garbage truck compactor — that's a real hazard, not just a policy footnote. Circuit boards also contain small amounts of heavy metals that aren't safe to leach into landfill groundwater over time.
Because of this, most municipal waste programs, including Mesa's, either exclude electronics from standard trash pickup entirely or route them to a separate e-waste collection event.
03. Data security before you let anything go
Before any computer, tablet, or phone leaves your house, wipe the storage. A factory reset removes most personal data for casual purposes, but if you've had financial software, tax records, or business data on the device, a full disk wipe or physical hard drive destruction is worth the extra step. We're not a data destruction service, so this part is on you before pickup day.
04. Where Mesa e-waste actually goes
Certified e-waste recyclers break electronics down into recoverable material streams — glass, plastic, precious metals from circuit boards, and battery components that require separate handling. This is different from a scrap metal yard, which typically isn't equipped to handle the battery and glass components safely.
05. When a pickup crew makes more sense than a drop-off event
Municipal e-waste collection events happen periodically, not continuously, and they usually require you to load and transport everything yourself to a single collection point. If you've got a stack of old office computers, a dead TV, and a box of cables, a pickup service saves the drive and the loading, and works on your schedule instead of the next scheduled collection date.
06. Pricing for electronics removal
Single-item electronics pickup starts at $149. Office cleanouts with multiple computers, monitors, and printers are priced by trailer volume, and we can usually schedule pickup within a day or two of your call, faster than most collection events run.
- Lithium-ion batteries in old electronics pose a real fire risk in standard trash compactors.
- Certified e-waste recyclers handle battery and glass streams that scrap metal yards typically can't.
- A factory reset isn't always enough — sensitive data warrants a full disk wipe before disposal.
- Mesa's e-waste collection events run periodically, not continuously, unlike on-demand pickup.
- Office electronics cleanouts are priced by trailer volume, not per device.
Common questions
Mesa runs periodic e-waste collection events rather than continuous curbside service — check the city's schedule, or book a flat-rate pickup if you don't want to wait for the next one.
Yes, we recommend a factory reset at minimum, and a full disk wipe if the device held financial or business data. We don't provide data destruction services.
Yes, we take CRT TVs and route them to certified e-waste recyclers who handle the leaded glass properly.
Single items start at $149. Larger office cleanouts with multiple devices are priced by trailer volume, quoted flat before we begin.
Lithium-ion and other batteries are routed to facilities equipped to handle them safely rather than mixed in with general electronics scrap.
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