Electronic Waste
Protocols for Electronic Waste at Emory University
All Emory University-owned electronic waste must be returned to Emory for proper handling and processing prior to reuse or recycling. Electronic waste may contain Emory proprietary data, and may contain materials that are regulated under environmental, health and safety laws; therefore, Emory electronic waste may not be disposed of outside of Emory’s process. In addition, Emory rigorously seeks to reuse or recycle all electronic waste.
What is Electronic Waste? Electronic waste is defined by the EPA as “electrical and electronic equipment that is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to function (including all components, subassemblies, and consumables from the original equipment at the time of discarding).”
Emory's Office of Information Technology (OIT) manages the electronic waste vendor contract and related operations for decommissioning university IT data-bearing electronics. These items are collected by your local area IT department for disposal using that department’s procedure for requesting IT support. Local IT support will securely store all items collected and schedule the pickup of items with the recycling vendor when needed. We maintain a list of local IT support contacts authorized to schedule electronic waste pickups with our vendor.
Required items for collection include*:
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Tablets
- Mobile phones
- Keyboards and mice
- Computer monitors containing data
- Lab or clinical equipment containing data
- Printers and fax machines
- Thumb drives and memory sticks
- Optical media containing data, such as CDs and DVDs
- Portable external hard drives
If you do not see your equipment listed above, please see the full list of electronic waste collected by Local IT.
*Please note: All data-bearing electronic equipment from Emory laboratories must be properly decontaminated and tagged prior to pick up by local IT. We have additional information for guidance and the form for decontaminating laboratory equipment.
For Emory Healthcare IT electronics disposal, email: EHC.IS.New.Request@emoryhealthcare.org.
For discarded IT data-bearing electronics found unsecured (hallway, loading dock, etc.), please report the location immediately to the University Service Desk at 404-727-7777 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8AM – 5PM) or the Emory Police Department at 404-727-8005 during non-business hours (Monday-Friday, 5PM – 8AM; Saturday/Sunday; University Holidays).
University Campus Services is responsible for the collection and disposal of ALL other university electronic waste items that DO NOT contain data, but DO contain electronic circuit boards. Required items for collection by Emory Recycles include*:
- Desk telephones
- Televisions, remotes, DVD players, stereo equipment
- Household appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves
- Lighting devices like desk lamps and ballasts
- Sports and leisure items like fitness machines and remote-controlled toys
- Personal space heaters are not allowed at Emory due to safety and energy use concerns and should be collected via work order by Campus Services
To place a work order to have non-data electronic waste picked up, please place a work order with Campus Services Work Management at: cscsc@emory.edu.
*Please note: All electronic equipment from Emory laboratories must be properly decontaminated and tagged prior to pick up by local IT. We have additional information for guidance and the form for decontaminating laboratory equipment.