E-Waste & Electronics Recycling
Collect and recycle electronic waste including computers, phones, and electronics
Overview
E-waste recycling businesses earn revenue from collection fees ($10-$100 per item) plus precious metal recovery selling to processors.
Processing 500-2000 items monthly generates $120,000-$500,000 annually with 35-55% margins after processing, certifications, and labor.
In 2025, increasing electronic waste from constant device upgrades creates demand for certified responsible e-waste recycling.
Services include collecting computers, phones, tablets, monitors, and electronics from businesses and consumers, data destruction and hard drive shredding, dismantling devices for material recovery, properly handling hazardous materials (batteries, CRT monitors), selling recovered metals (gold, silver, copper) to processors, providing certificates of recycling, and ensuring R2 or e-Stewards certified processes.
Successful businesses get certified (R2 or e-Stewards), build relationships with IT departments and businesses upgrading equipment, provide secure data destruction services, efficiently process high volumes, and understand commodity pricing for recovered materials.
Business and institutional clients (schools, hospitals, offices) provide highest volume.
Some states require e-waste recycling making it illegal to landfill.
Required Skills
- Electronics Knowledge
- Data Security
- Material Processing
- Certification Compliance
- Hazardous Material Handling
- B2B Sales
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Growing industry with increasing e-waste volumes
- Revenue from both collection and material recovery
- Environmental mission appeals to conscious consumers
- Business clients provide high-volume contracts
- Some states mandate e-waste recycling
Cons
- High startup costs for certification and facility
- Complex regulations and compliance requirements
- Hazardous materials handling requires training
- Commodity prices fluctuate affecting recovery revenue
- Need expensive liability insurance
How to Get Started
- Get R2 or e-Stewards certification for credibility
- Secure facility with proper environmental permits
- Invest in data destruction and processing equipment
- Build relationships with IT departments and businesses
- Set pricing for collection and data destruction services
- Market to businesses, schools, and municipal contracts
- Partner with certified downstream processors for materials
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