Tag 01 · What goes in the bin
Covered devices: what Oregon E-Cycles takes for free
Oregon's free electronics recycling applies only to "covered electronic devices" as the law defines them. House Bill 3220 (2023) rewrote that definition, and the longer list became operative on January 1, 2026. Below is the statutory list in plain language, the exclusions, and the per-visit rules.
Covered: the statutory list
The amended ORS 459A.305(4) names 18 device types. We have grouped them for easier reading; the "Since" column shows whether a type was covered before 2026 or added by HB 3220, based on DEQ's comparison sheets and the bill text.
| Device type | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Computer monitors | Before 2026 | Viewable area greater than 4 inches measured diagonally |
| Televisions | Before 2026 | Call ahead for console or very large TVs |
| Desktop and portable computers | Before 2026 | DEQ's consumer pages list laptops and tablets |
| Peripherals | Before 2026 | Keyboards, mice and other external input/output devices, and their cords |
| Printers | Before 2026 | |
| Fax machines | HB 3220 | |
| Scanners | HB 3220 | |
| Small-scale servers | HB 3220 | Not further defined in the bill text |
| VCRs | HB 3220 | |
| DVD players and DVD recorders | HB 3220 | |
| Portable digital music players | HB 3220 | Battery powered, with memory capability |
| Video game consoles | HB 3220 | |
| Digital converter boxes | HB 3220 | |
| Cable and satellite receivers | HB 3220 | |
| Routers and modems | HB 3220 |
DEQ's consumer pages, as we read them in October 2026, still list only TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, keyboards and mice, and say other electronics are "currently not included." The statute and DEQ's own 2026 information sheet list the longer set above. Until the pages agree, phone the collection site before bringing a newly added item.
Not covered
The same section of law says a covered device does not include:
| Excluded | Where else to look |
|---|---|
| Telephones of any type, including smartphones | Manufacturer or retailer take-back; the EPA lists the Call2Recycle locator (now The Battery Network) as accepting cell phones. See retailer programs. |
| Any part of a motor vehicle | Auto parts and service channels |
| Parts of larger industrial, commercial or medical equipment, such as diagnostic, monitoring or control equipment | The equipment supplier or a business recycler |
| Parts of a washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven or range, dishwasher, room air conditioner, dehumidifier or air purifier | Your local garbage and recycling service |
| Loose batteries and light bulbs | Separate channels — see batteries and bulbs |
Because the statutory list is closed, anything not named on it — a digital camera or a smart speaker, for example — is not a covered device, even if it looks like electronics. Some collection sites may still accept such items on their own terms, possibly for a fee.
Before HB 3220, the law excluded phones and personal digital assistants unless they had a viewable area larger than four inches. The amended text drops that carve-out and simply excludes telephones of any type.
Limits per visit
| Who you are | What DEQ says |
|---|---|
| Anyone | Free for seven or fewer covered devices at one time |
| Oregon household | May recycle more than seven items at once |
| Business or nonprofit with 10 or fewer employees | May recycle more than seven items at once |
| Larger organization | Can use sites, but may be charged for items over seven |
The law bars program collectors from charging covered entities for collection, transport or recycling of covered devices. The one exception is a "premium service" — for example pickup or mail-back — where the collector may charge for the added cost of that service.
The law also changed how many sites there must be. Previously the rule was one site in each city of 10,000 or more people; under HB 3220 those cities get more sites scaled to population, and at least 95% of residents must be within 15 miles of a site. DEQ may approve alternatives, such as collection events, where a permanent site isn't practical.
Before you load the car
- Wipe and sign out of everything — see how to wipe your devices.
- Remove loose batteries where you can; the EPA notes they may need separate recycling.
- Count your items. If you have more than seven and aren't a household or small organization, ask about fees.
- Use the site map DEQ links to and call ahead.
Sources
- Oregon Legislature — HB 3220 (2023), enrolled text (ORS 459A.305, 459A.330)
- Oregon DEQ — What's changing in 2026 (PDF)
- Oregon DEQ — E-Cycles information for consumers
- Oregon DEQ — Oregon E-Cycles
- Oregon DEQ — E-Cycles 2026
- Recycling Today — Oregon launches modernized E-Cycles program
- US EPA — Electronics basic information
- US EPA — Electronics donation and recycling