In New Hampshire, old TVs, computers and other electronics should go to reuse or recycling, not into the trash. The state bans most of them from landfills and incinerators. Your options are a town transfer station, a collection event, a curbside hauler that offers e-waste pickup, a retailer take-back, or a hauler that comes to you. This guide covers what the rules say, what towns charge, how to prepare a device, and when it makes sense to hire help.
TL;DR
- New Hampshire bans TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, printers and many other devices from landfill and incinerator disposal. NHDES says that ban does not apply to households at this time, but it still directs residents to recycle them.
- Fees and access rules differ by town. Some transfer stations charge per item, some by weight, and many require a resident permit.
- Wipe your personal data first. Bag or tape lithium-ion batteries, and never put them in household trash or mixed recycling.
- Working devices can be repaired, donated or sold. Everything else goes to a transfer station, event, retailer or recycler.
- If you are clearing a whole house, garage or basement, one hauling trip can be easier than several drop-offs.
Table of Contents
- What New Hampshire bans from the trash
- Why the rules feel different from town to town
- Your options, in the order worth trying
- How to recycle an old computer safely
- What to do with an old TV
- Batteries: the part that causes fires
- Small appliances and other things that look like electronics
- Perspective: when a hauler beats the drop-off
- Hiring help for electronics and bigger cleanouts
- A quick checklist before you drop off or schedule pickup
- FAQ
- Sources
What New Hampshire bans from the trash
NHDES says the state bans many electronics from landfill and incinerator disposal. The list on its Waste Reduction and Diversion page includes:
- TVs and monitors
- Computers and portable electronics such as laptops, tablets, cell phones and speakers
- Peripherals such as printers, copiers, fax machines, projectors, keyboards and mice
- VCRs and DVD players
NHDES's August 2025 electronics guidance adds external hard drives, video recorders and playback devices, and wireless phones.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have their own rule. NHDES reports that they became prohibited from New Hampshire landfills and incinerators on July 1, 2025. They must go to special collection programs and stay out of regular recycling.
Does the ban apply to you at home?
NHDES states that the ban as described on its page does not apply to households at this time. That does not make the trash bin a good option. The same page directs residents to recycle these devices rather than put them in ordinary disposal streams.
The reasoning is environmental. NHDES says electronics can release hazardous materials into air and groundwater when they are landfilled or incinerated, so reuse and recycling are preferred.
The ban does shape what you will see at the transfer station. State facility guidance, citing RSA 149-M:27, says facilities must use signs or written notices for banned electronics and batteries. Municipalities and facilities are also expected to provide education and recycling opportunities where possible. Expect clear instructions and a separate area for electronics.
Why the rules feel different from town to town
New Hampshire has no single statewide system for household electronics. Each town runs its own transfer station or contracts one, and each sets its own permits, hours and fees.
Lebanon is one example. Its guidance says residents need a solid-waste permit to use the Lebanon Solid Waste and Recycling Facility. It also says covered electronics must stay out of household trash and mixed recycling.
NH Recycles keeps a list of municipal transfer station fees, last updated October 28, 2025. It shows how much the details vary:
| Town or program | What the listing shows for electronics |
|---|---|
| BCEP (four member towns) | Resident permit sticker required; $20 each for computers, monitors, TVs, laptops, tablets and CRTs |
| Charlestown | Resident permit sticker required ($100 first vehicle, $20 each additional); TVs 30 cents per pound, computer sets $10 or $20, misc. electronics and printers $5 each |
| Derry | $15 for TVs and monitors up to 25 inches, $25 for 26 inches or larger |
These are examples, not a statewide price list. Fees change, so call or check your town's transfer station page before you load the car. NHDES gives the same advice: verify what is accepted and what it costs locally.
Your options, in the order worth trying
NHDES's guidance lays out a sensible order. Start with the options that keep a device in use, and move to recycling only when reuse is not realistic.
1. Repair, donate or sell
NHDES recommends repair first. If the device works, you can donate it to a charity, nonprofit or school, or sell it through an online marketplace or to a business for parts. A ten-year-old laptop that still boots, or a printer that still prints, is more useful to someone else than to a shredder.
Before you hand over anything, clear your data (see below). Ask charities what they accept. Many will not take old tube TVs or broken equipment.
2. Your town transfer station
For most households this is the default. Most transfer stations take CRTs, the lead-containing glass tubes in older TVs and monitors. NHDES notes that fees may apply and residents should check locally.
Before you go, confirm four things:
- Whether you need a permit or sticker, and whether non-residents are allowed.
- Whether electronics are accepted every day or only on certain days.
- Whether the fee is per item, by screen size or by weight.
- Whether batteries must be removed or bagged.
3. Curbside haulers and collection events
Some private curbside haulers offer residential e-waste pickup in parts of New Hampshire, usually with set-out rules and a pickup schedule. Towns and regional groups also hold collection events, often with a charity or electronics recycler. NHDES's municipal guidance encourages events like these, so ask your town office whether one is planned.
4. Retailers and take-back programs
NHDES names participating Batteries Plus, Best Buy and Staples locations as possible drop-offs. It also points residents to Call2Recycle and Earth911 for finding options. The EPA makes the same point: manufacturers and retailers offer donation and recycling programs, and it recommends Call2Recycle, Earth911 or Greener Gadgets as search tools.
Retail programs usually cover smaller items and batteries. Call ahead before bringing in a large TV.
5. Hire a hauler
When you have a lot to move, or no truck, hiring a local crew is the practical choice. More on that below.
How to recycle an old computer safely
A computer holds more personal information than almost anything else you own. The EPA advises deleting personal information before donating or recycling computers and laptops. Do this before the device leaves your house, and do it even if you think the machine is too old to matter.
A simple routine:
- Back up anything you want to keep to another drive or a cloud account.
- Sign out of your accounts and remove saved passwords from browsers.
- Delete your personal files, and use the system's reset or erase option if it has one.
- Take out any removable battery, since batteries may need separate recycling.
- For a drive that holds sensitive records, such as tax files or client data, ask the recycler how it handles data destruction. Some recyclers offer it as a service.
If you want a fuller walkthrough of donating, recycling or hiring help, our guide to computer disposal covers each route.
What to do with an old TV
TVs are the item people ask about most, because they are heavy, awkward and often fee-based.
NHDES says video-display devices, including non-mobile ones such as large TVs, are banned from landfill and incinerator disposal. For banned video-display devices and computer towers, the only options are reuse and recycling. Electronics not named in the ban should also be recycled, not landfilled.
Practical steps:
- Working flat-screen: Try selling or donating it. Check that it has its stand or mount hardware.
- Tube TV or CRT monitor: Take it to a transfer station that accepts CRTs, and expect a fee. In the Derry example above, size sets the price.
- Large or broken set: Ask the transfer station whether it takes oversized units. If you cannot lift it safely, do not try alone. A two-person crew is a better plan than a strained back.
If you also have property in Massachusetts, our write-up on TV disposal in Massachusetts covers that state's rules separately.
Batteries: the part that causes fires
Batteries need more care than the devices they come from. Lebanon's guidance notes that electronics can contain lead, cadmium, mercury, silver and other hazardous materials. It adds that lithium-ion batteries create fire risks when damaged, crushed or improperly discarded.
The New Hampshire facility guidance gives clear handling steps:
- Store electronics under cover and protect them from breakage.
- Do not force out batteries that are not designed to be removed.
- Put each lithium-ion battery in its own clear sealable plastic bag, or tape the positive terminals with clear packing tape.
- Keep battery terminals from touching metal.
- If a battery is damaged, defective or recalled, tell the facility. These batteries require facility safety procedures.
The EPA says lithium-ion batteries and the devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Use battery-specific or community recycling options instead.
A swollen or hot battery is a safety problem. Keep it away from anything flammable and call your transfer station or fire department for advice before you move it.
Small appliances and other things that look like electronics
Microwaves, vacuums, space heaters and window air conditioners sit in a gray zone. They are not always on the electronics list, but many transfer stations treat them separately and charge their own fees. In the NH Recycles listing, for example, Charlestown lists microwaves at $10 and vacuums at $5. Items with refrigerant, such as refrigerators, freezers and dehumidifiers, usually have a separate fee and handling.
For background on how appliances are processed, see this explainer on what appliance recycling involves. If you have a fridge or freezer to move, our appliance removal page explains how we handle it.
Perspective: when a hauler beats the drop-off
Most of the people who call us about electronics are not dealing with one laptop. They are emptying a basement after a parent moves, cleaning out a rental between tenants, or helping a client get a house ready to list. In those jobs, a TV, a stack of old monitors and a box of cables are one small part of a much bigger pile.
In that situation, driving to a transfer station is the cheap part of the job. The real cost is the time: carrying everything up the stairs, loading it, learning each town's permit rules, and making a second trip when something gets turned away. We built our service around that problem. A crew that carries things out and sorts as it goes saves a day of work, especially for grandparents, landlords, investors and Realtors working to a deadline.
Our view is simple. If you have a single item and a free afternoon, use your transfer station. Keep the receipt, wipe the data, bag the batteries. If you have a houseful, hire help. In both cases, the device should end up reused or recycled, never tossed. We donate and recycle whenever we can.
— Easy
Hiring help for electronics and bigger cleanouts
EasyScrap is a local junk removal and hauling service serving homes and businesses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Electronics are one of the many items our crews take out. We also handle furniture, appliances, mattresses and full cleanouts of garages, basements, attics and estates, and we offer free quotes with an insured crew.
The pages most relevant to electronics:
- Junk removal: for a mixed load that includes old TVs, computers and printers.
- Basement cleanouts and garage cleanouts: where years of dead electronics tend to pile up.
- Appliance removal: for refrigerators, washers, dryers and other large units.
If you want a broader list of household items and where each should go, our guide to e-waste disposal options is a good next read. For a quote, start from our home page.
A quick checklist before you drop off or schedule pickup
- Sort what works from what does not. Offer working items for donation or sale first.
- Back up and wipe every computer, phone and tablet.
- Bag or tape lithium-ion batteries and keep them from touching metal.
- Cover and protect items from breakage and moisture.
- Call the transfer station for hours, permit rules and fees.
- Keep cables and accessories with the matching device where you can.
- If the load is large or heavy, get a hauling quote before you start carrying.
FAQ
Is it illegal to throw electronics in the trash in New Hampshire?
State law bans many electronics from landfills and incinerators, including TVs, monitors, computers and printers. NHDES says the ban as described on its page does not apply to households at this time. It still tells residents to recycle these items, and many transfer stations will not take them as ordinary trash.
How much does it cost to recycle a TV or computer in New Hampshire?
It depends on your town. In NH Recycles' fee listing, one program charges $20 each for computers, monitors and TVs, and Derry charges $15 or $25 for TVs depending on screen size. Call your transfer station for its current rate.
Where can I take old electronics?
Start with your town transfer station, then check for collection events, curbside e-waste pickup from your hauler and participating retail drop-offs. NHDES also points residents to Call2Recycle and Earth911 to find locations.
What should I do with an old laptop before recycling it?
Back up what you need, then delete your personal data and sign out of accounts, as the EPA advises. Remove the battery if it comes out easily, and do not force one that is built in. Bag or tape lithium-ion batteries before drop-off.
Can someone pick up my electronics for me?
Yes. Some curbside haulers offer e-waste pickup on a schedule, and junk removal crews like ours will haul electronics as part of a larger job. Ask what happens to the items afterward and how the crew handles donation and recycling.
Sources
- NHDES: Waste Reduction and Diversion
- NHDES: Electronics
- NHDES: Universal Waste
- NHDES: Permitted Facilities
- New Hampshire solid waste facility guidance on disposal bans for electronics and batteries
- Lebanon, NH: Batteries and Electronic Devices
- NH Recycles: Disposal Fees at NH Municipal Transfer Stations
- US EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling