How to Get Rid of Old Computers, Laptops & Electronics in Town of Hempstead, NY
✓ Last verified October 27, 2026 against official Town of Hempstead, New York and retailer sources. See sources.
Rather not haul it? See pickup prices
Quick answer
- Don't put computers, printers, monitors or other electronics out with the garbage. New York State has banned electronic waste from the trash and the curb since January 1, 2015.
- All Town of Hempstead residents, including residents of incorporated villages in the town, can bring electronic waste to the Homeowner Disposal Area at 1600 Merrick Road, Merrick. It's open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m., except town holidays.
- If the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department picks up your garbage, call 516-378-8484 to set up a special pickup of electronics at your home.
- Cell phones aren't on the town's e-cycling list. The town's 2026 E-Cycling events are over (the last one was October 24), so watch its E-Cycling page for 2027 dates.
Your options in Town of Hempstead
Homeowner Disposal Area drop-off (Merrick) Free
The town accepts televisions, computers and computer components (including cables, cords and wiring), monitors, tablets, e-readers, electronic keyboards, mice, fax machines, scanners, printers, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, digital converter boxes, cable or satellite receivers, video game consoles and portable digital music players. For electronics, all Town of Hempstead residents, including residents of incorporated villages within the town, may use the Homeowner Disposal Area. Bring proof of residency, such as a driver's license or a tax bill. Use a non-commercial vehicle; each vehicle is limited to one trip a day, and any vehicle towing a trailer pays commercial rates. The town's pages don't list a fee for residents dropping off electronics, so check with the town if you're unsure.
- Address
- 1600 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566
- Hours
- Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (closed town holidays)
- Phone
- 516-378-4210, Option 8
- Bring
- Proof of residency (driver's license or tax bill)
- Not accepted
- Cell phones
Sources: Town of Hempstead – Collection Information; Town of Hempstead – E-Cycling
Special pickup at your home Varies
Residents served by the Town of Hempstead Department of Sanitation can arrange a special pickup of electronic waste at their residence. The town's page doesn't list a fee, so ask when you call. Tape any glass to prevent shattering. If your garbage is collected by a special sanitation district or an incorporated village instead, call that district or village for its rules.
- Call
- 516-378-8484 (or 516-378-4210, Option 2)
Sources: Town of Hempstead – E-Cycling; Town of Hempstead – Special Pickup Items; Town of Hempstead – Sanitation Districts
Town E-Cycling events Free
The town holds E-Cycling collection events from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with shredding offered too. All six 2026 events have passed; the last was Saturday, October 24 at the Hempstead Department of Public Works, 450 Milburn Avenue. Check the town's E-Cycling page for 2027 dates.
- Questions
- S.T.O.P. & E-Cycling Program, 516-378-4210, Option 6
Source: Town of Hempstead – E-Cycling
Manufacturer take-back (free under NY law) Free
New York's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act requires manufacturers to offer free, convenient recycling to most consumers. That includes individuals, and businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees. Manufacturers can charge for premium services, such as at-home collection other than mail-back. The town also suggests contacting the manufacturer. NYSDEC lists registered manufacturers and their programs.
Sources: NYSDEC – Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste; Town of Hempstead – E-Cycling
Retailers Varies
Some retailers take electronics, including phones, for recycling. Best Buy's recycling page lists what it accepts and any fees. NYSDEC says sites not affiliated with a manufacturer program may charge, so call before you go.
Sources: Best Buy – Electronics and Appliances Recycling; NYSDEC – Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste
Don't do this
- Don't put electronics in the trash or at the curb with your garbage. State law bans it.
- Don't bring electronics to a S.T.O.P. hazardous-waste day. The town lists electronic recyclable waste as not accepted there.
- Don't throw lithium-ion batteries in the garbage. The town asks residents to keep them out of regular pickup.
Or pay someone to haul it
If you can't get it to a drop-off site, or can't wait for city pickup, a junk-removal service can take it from inside your home. Prices depend on the company, your location and the size of the load, so get a quote first. Ask whether they recycle or donate items and whether they follow Town of Hempstead's rules, especially for electronics and paint. Another option is to hire moving helpers by the hour: they do the lifting, and with a truck they can drive it to a drop-off site. They move it where you tell them, so pick a legal destination from this guide.
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Hourly movers/helpers with a truck, you direct the job: they carry it out and drive it where you say. Not a junk-removal company.
See prices & book helpersHireAHelper lists independent moving helpers paid by the hour. It is not a junk-removal company: they move it where you tell them, so pick a legal drop-off from this guide. Prices depend on your job, and any drop-off fee is separate.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I recycle a computer in the Town of Hempstead?
Bring it to the Homeowner Disposal Area at 1600 Merrick Road, Merrick, with proof of residency. If the town's Sanitation Department collects your garbage, you can also call 516-378-8484 for a special pickup.
I live in an incorporated village. Can I use the Merrick drop-off for electronics?
Yes. The town says all Town of Hempstead residents, including residents of incorporated villages within the township, may bring electronic waste to the Homeowner Disposal Area. That's broader than the general rules for other materials there.
Does the Town of Hempstead take old cell phones?
No. The town says cell phones aren't accepted for e-cycling. Try a manufacturer or retailer take-back program instead.
Sources
All checked on October 27, 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the source before you go.