NYS businesses and consumers are required by law to recycle many electronic waste items, such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions, small scale servers, and small electronic equipment, etc., in an environmentally responsible manner.

The NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Environmental Conservation Law, Article 27, Title 26) requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling of electronic waste in the state. Both consumers and businesses are responsible for data disposition or data destruction prior to recycling.

Consumers eligible for free and convenient recycling (not including data destruction or disposition services) include individuals, for-profit businesses, corporations with less than 50 full time employees, not-for-profit corporations with less than 75 full time employees, not-for-profit corporations designated under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, schools, or governmental entities located in NYS. For-profit businesses with 50 or more full time employees and not-for-profit corporations with 75 or more full time employees may be charged.

The separate NYS Wireless Telephone Recycling Act (Environmental Conservation Law, Article 27, Title 23*2) requires wireless telephone service suppliers that offer wireless phones for sale, to provide for the free reuse and recycling of up to 10 cell phones from any person or provide for the free shipping of those phones to a recycling program.