Certified and Secure
Free Electronic Waste Drop-Off San Diego
At Dream E Waste, we are committed to making electronic recycling as accessible and convenient as possible for the residents of San Diego. Dream Electronic Recycling operates five walk-in drop-off locations across San Diego County. No appointment, no scheduling, no hassle. Our Free E-Waste Drop Off service allows you to dispose of your unwanted electronics in an environmentally responsible manner. We also ensure that your e-waste like old computers and printers to unused cables and phones is recycled properly, helping to keep harmful materials out of our landfills.
Submit Form for Free E-Waste Drop Off
Everything is processed at our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility. The only e-waste recycling facility in San Diego open to the public that meets the standard with certified data destruction on every device that stores data.
FREE E-Waste Drop-Off Locations In San Diego
San Diego free e-waste drop off is available at five permanent, walk-in locations, no appointment needed. California classifies electronics as universal waste, a hazardous-material category that’s illegal to put in the blue bin or regular trash. Violations can carry fines up to $70,000 per day, according to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. These e-waste drop-off sites serve the full county:
San Diego’s only R2v3 certified facilities for responsible electronics recycling
Free Electronic Recycling
Free E-Waste Drop Off San Diego for Recycling & Disposal
Dream Electronic Recycling makes it easy to recycle them for free. We provide convenient free e-waste drop off services for residents, businesses, schools, offices and organizations throughout San Diego County.
Our Free E-Waste Drop Off service allows you to dispose of your unwanted electronics in an environmentally responsible manner. We also ensure that your e-waste, like old computers and printers to unused cables and phones is recycled properly, helping to keep harmful materials out of our landfills.
Everything is processed at our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility. The only e-waste recycling facility in San Diego open to the public that meets the standard, with certified data destruction on every device that stores data.
Recycling
Electronic Items We Accept for Drop-Off
Unacceptable Items
Items We Don't Accept at E-Waste Drop-Off
To ensure the safety, compliance, and efficiency of our recycling services, we cannot accept the following items:
- Hazardous liquids, including oil, paint, gasoline, and chemicals
- Damaged, leaking, or swollen batteries
Not sure if we can accept your item? Call us at (619) 889-1305 or email [email protected] before bringing it in, and we will help you determine the best recycling option.
Dream Electronic Recycling Small Fee Items
A small fee applies only to a few specialty electric items, which are listed below so you will know exactly what to expect before you visit.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Computers, laptops, tablets | FREE |
| TVs and monitors | FREE |
| Servers and networking equipment | FREE |
| Cell phones, cables, small electronics | FREE |
| Batteries | $2 / lb |
| Fluorescent bulbs | $2 each |
| Microwaves, vacuums | $3 each |
| Mini-fridges | $5 each |
| Large appliances (washers, dryers) | $10 each |
Our Certified Free E-Waste Drop
Why Our Certified E-Waste Drop Off Protects Your Data
Dropping off an old computer means trusting someone with the data still stored on it. That’s why a certified e-waste drop off should provide certified data security, not just recycling. Every device that stores data is processed at our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility under a documented chain of custody. Before any materials are recycled, all data is securely erased using NIST 800-88 data destruction standards.
R2v3 is the current standard for responsible electronics recyclers. It requires both verified data destruction and strict downstream environmental controls, which is why enterprise and government clients trust the same process. For organizations replacing computers or retiring IT equipment, our IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) service provides the same secure, certified handling from pickup through final recycling.
Community Recycling Events & Business Solutions
E-waste disposal doesn’t have to be a one-time trip. Beyond our five permanent sites, Dream E-Waste hosts free community recycling events with schools, businesses, and HOAs across San Diego County. A convenient local e-waste drop off option for neighborhood cleanouts and office clear-outs. For offices, schools, and government facilities, we also provide scheduled free pickup and certified IT asset disposition and data destruction, the same R2v3-verified processing, coordinated from your location. Whether you’re a household with one old laptop or an office decommissioning a server room, the process is free and certified end to end.
Why Proper E-Waste Drop Off Matters
Electronics should never be thrown in the trash. In California, e-waste is classified as universal waste, making it illegal to dispose of electronics in regular household trash.
The reason is simple. Many electronic devices contain hazardous materials that can harm people and the environment. A single CRT television can contain several pounds of lead, one of the largest sources of lead in municipal waste. Older electronics may also contain mercury, while newer devices often include lithium-ion batteries that can catch fire if damaged or crushed.
Electronics also contain valuable materials such as gold, silver, palladium, and rare-earth metals that can be recovered and reused through responsible data center decommissioning. According to the UN Global E-Waste Monitor, only about 17.4% of the world’s e-waste is formally collected and recycled. Recycling your electronics at a certified facility helps protect the environment, keeps hazardous materials out of landfills, and returns valuable resources back into the supply chain.
Why San Diego People Trust Dream Electronic Recycling
Dream Electronic Recycling is a locally owned, public walk-in e-waste recycling center serving San Diego County. What sets our e-waste drop off centers apart:
- R2v3-certified facility — the only one in San Diego open to the public
- Certified data destruction — NIST 800-88, documented chain of custody
- California-compliant — CalRecycle registered (CEWID #127772)
- Free for all electronics — residential and commercial
- Five drop-off locations — no appointment required
- Free e-waste pickup available for businesses, schools, and organizations of San Diego
- Trusted by residents, offices, schools, government, and nonprofits
Benefits of Using Our Free E-Waste Drop Off Service:
- Environmental Responsibility: By recycling your e-waste, you help prevent the release of toxic substances into the environment and conserve natural resources.
- Convenience: Bring your e-waste to our designated drop-off location during our operating hours – no appointment necessary.
- Security: We handle all electronic devices with care, ensuring that any data-containing devices are securely destroyed.
Join Dream E Waste in our efforts to make San Diego a cleaner and more sustainable city. By recycling your electronic waste with us, you are not only disposing of them responsibly but also contributing to a circular economy.
HOW WE WORK
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Most electronics can be dropped off for free at all five Dream Electronic Recycling locations, with no appointment and no minimum quantity. Small fees apply only to a few specialty items, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, microwaves, mini-fridges and large appliances and those items are accepted at our Point Loma location only.
Our five locations have different hours. Point Loma is open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. San Marcos is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Miramar and Kearny Mesa are open weekdays 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and weekends 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Oceanside is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Three of our five locations are open on Sundays.
No. All five locations accept walk-in e-waste drop-offs during business hours. No appointment is required, just arrive during opening hours and unload.
Dream Electronic Recycling has five e-waste drop-off locations across San Diego County:
- Point Loma at 4009 Hicock St STE D
- San Marcos at 2930 Norman Strasse Rd STE 104
- Miramar at 9434 Kearny Mesa Rd
- Oceanside at 1501 S Coast Hwy
- Kearny Mesa at 5450 Kearny Mesa Rd.
Visit whichever is most convenient during its operating hours.
We accept most electronics with a plug, cable, or circuit board, including computers, laptops, tablets, TVs, monitors, printers, servers, networking equipment, cell phones, cables and other small electronics. If it has a cord or a battery, we can almost certainly take it.
After drop-off, your electronics are transported to our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility, where they are sorted and processed. Any device that stores data is wiped using NIST 800-88 standards before materials are responsibly recovered and recycled, so nothing usable ends up in the landfill.
Yes. TVs, computer monitors, LED and LCD screens, and older CRT televisions and monitors are all accepted free at any of our five locations. There is no charge and no size limit, and you do not need to remove the stand or cables first.
Yes, we accept appliances at our Point Loma location only, and a small per-item fee applies. Microwaves and vacuums are $3 each, mini-fridges are $5 each, and large appliances such as washers and dryers are $10 each. Appliances are not accepted at the San Marcos, Miramar, Oceanside or Kearny Mesa drop-off sites, so please bring them to Point Loma.
Batteries and fluorescent bulbs are accepted at our Point Loma location. Batteries are $2 per pound and fluorescent bulbs are $2 each. For safety reasons we cannot accept damaged, leaking or swollen batteries. Both are classed as universal waste in California and must not be placed in household trash or your blue recycling bin.
Yes, and you do not need to wipe anything first. Every device that stores data is processed at our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility using NIST 800-88 data destruction standards before it is recycled, and a certificate of hard drive destruction is available on request. If you would rather watch the drive being destroyed, we also offer witnessed on-site hard drive destruction at your location.
Working electronics are accepted free at all five locations, exactly like anything else. Whether a device is reused or recycled, every data-bearing device is wiped to NIST 800-88 standards at our R2v3-certified Point Loma facility first, so your personal information is protected either way. If a device is still in working order, mention it to our team when you drop it off.
Free Electronics Drop Off Services
Free E-Waste Drop Off in San Diego
Our closest location to you is 4009 Hicock St STE D, San Diego, CA 92110 and its completely FREE to drop off. You can call us at (619) 889-1305 or email us at [email protected] for more information.