A look at how old electronics are shredded at CompuCycle

HOUSTON, Texas -- Help keep hazardous waste out of landfills. Bring up to 5 electronic items to ABC13's Earth Day ECycle Drive at CompuCycle this Friday, 6AM-5PM.

Are you wondering what happens to your electronics afterward? In the video above, CompuCycle President Clive Hess gave us a firsthand look at how the devices are sorted and shredded before being processed for use in new consumer products.

Join ABC13 and CompuCycle for the 19th annual ABC13 Earth Day E-Cycle Drive, an event focused on helping our communities safely recycle electronics.

What can I drop off?

Old computers and phones are just the tip of the iceberg. CompuCycle accepts various items from fax machines and Wi-Fi extenders to e-readers, MP3 players, streaming devices, and charging cables.

Read on to see the full list.

Computers & Mobile Devices

Desktops
Laptops
Tablets
All-In-One Computers
Cellphones
Smartphones
Pagers

Home Office Equipment

Routers
Modems
Wi-Fi Extenders
Network Switches
Printers
Fax Machines
Scanners

Personal Electronics

E-Readers
MP3 Players
Smartwatches
GPS Devices
Fitness Trackers
Portable DVD Players
Portable Hard Drives & USB Flash Drives

Entertainment & Gaming

TVs (LCD, LED, Plasma)
DVD/Blu-ray Players
Streaming Devices (Roku, AppleTV, etc.)
Gaming Consoles
Handheld Game Systems

Audio & Video Equipment

Speakers
Sound Systems
Home Theater Systems
Digital Cameras
Camcorders

Power Systems

HDMI Cables
Ethernet Cables
Composite Cables (red, white, & yellow)
All Charging Cables
Power Cords & Adapters

What items are not accepted?

While CompuCycle accepts a lot, there are some items they can't take on for the safety of their employees and the environment.

In general, the company can't accept items that pose a fire, explosion, or pollution risk.

Specifically, the below would be a no-go:

Household appliances

Fans
Refrigerators
Stoves
Washer/Dryers
Microwaves
Vacuum Cleaners

Hazardous Materials

Paint
Light Bulbs
Oil Waste
Mercury Devices
Medical/Biohazard Waste

Specialized Equipment

Smoke Alarms
Solar Panels
Dehumidifiers
Air Conditioners

If you have questions, reach out to CompuCycle.

Is there a limit to what I can drop off?

You can bring up to five items.

So whether you have one device or several, you can drop them off during the drive.