The Horizon Goodwill Recycling Program
Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Reinvest
We are dedicated to Reusing, Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing, and Reinvesting.
In 2021 diverted 4,183,417 lbs of unsold store items, unsellable donations, and recycled products. That number includes the following:
- Books/Paper/Cardboard Recycling 675,067lbs
- Metal Recycling 203,733 lbs
- Computer Recycling 98,184 lbs
- Resale books 19,000 lbs.
We collect the following items at our local retail stores and donation centers.
Small Electronics:
- Cell phones, iPods, iPads, Kindles, Tablets, and anything else of the same -Any condition – Device Only
- Not recyclable – gaming consoles, packaging materials, wires, chargers, loose batteries, etc…
Wires
- All wires in any condition. electrical cords, extension cords, cables, any cut-off wires, power cords, phone cords, etc.
Christmas Lights:
- All strings of Christmas lights in any condition are acceptable.
Computer? The Dell Reconnect Partnership
What is Reconnect?
“What is the cost of recycling? Dell Reconnect is a free consumer recycling program that allows residents to bring in any brand of computer equipment in any condition and recycles it for free.”
What Horizon Goodwill locations participate in the Reconnect program?
We are pleased to announce that all Horizon Goodwill Retail Stores and the Attended Donation Centers in Hagerstown will participate. Our retail stores are located in:
Is this a permanent program?
Each Reconnect partnership is launched as a one-year pilot so that various success factors can be evaluated quarterly by both Dell and Goodwill. These factors include criteria such as the volume of equipment collected, the value returned to Goodwill, the number of jobs Goodwill can create, etc. (environment responsibility) Dell and Goodwill share a long-term vision of making this a national program. Every Reconnect program that has been launched remains available today.
What happens to the computers that are collected?
Goodwill will collect the equipment, consolidate it into one location and sort it. Dell picks up the items and transfers them to a Dell-authorized recycling partner. Any refurbishment or recycling is managed per Dell’s Disposal Channel Guidelines.
What is the cost of recycling?
Dell Reconnect is a free consumer recycling program that allows residents to bring in any brand of computer equipment in any condition and recycles it at no cost to the donor.
What is Dell’s role in this program?
Computer Recycling in Maryland with Dell Reconnect
As part of the partnership, Dell provides the operational expertise necessary to ensure that the program meets the highest industry standards in environmental health and safety. A Dell-authorized recycler will manage the refurbishment and recycling of equipment. This pilot program is the latest in a series of Dell environmental initiatives to increase recycling participation rates and consumer awareness of the need to recycle computers responsibly.
What is Goodwill’s role in this program?
Goodwill provides the donations infrastructure and a sophisticated logistics system to gather and sort the computer donations. Goodwill is also building on its established partnerships with other public and community agencies to generate donations and jobs. Horizon Goodwill Industries will staff the sorting operation, creating jobs for people who may have had barriers to employment.
How much does it cost a consumer?
It’s FREE. There is no charge to drop off a used computer at any Horizon Goodwill Industries donation site. Click here to find the location nearest you.
What about data on hard drives?
Computer Recycling with Dell Reconnect to protect your privacy, Horizon Goodwill Industries recommends that you back up any necessary data and remove all data from hard drives — except for your operating system — before donating your computer(s). You are responsible for all confidential data that may be stored on your computer(s) or on any other storage devices with or on all products you donate. You bear sole responsibility for removing or securing such data or for transferring it to a medium under your continuing control. The following programs help aid in the purging of operating systems and other software:
Freeware Windows Disk Cleaning Software (available at Download.com )
- Eraser
- Active@ Kill Disk: Hard Drive Eraser
- Disk Cleaner
- BCWipe
- Macintosh Disk Cleaning Software
- Wipe Info feature in Norton Utilities
- iClean
- ShredIt X 5.8
Can residents recycle TVs and other electronics with Goodwill?
The Dell Reconnect program is intended to encourage the recycling of computers and computer equipment. Horizon Goodwill Industries no longer accepts the donation of televisions. Examples of computer equipment are:
Monitors, Computers, Printers, Scanners, Hard Drives, Keyboards, Mice, Speakers, Cords & Cables, Ink & Toner Cartridges, Software, Microsoft Xbox®, Microsoft Zune®, Microsoft Branded Webcams
Click here for additional information on items accepted.
Are donations of used computers tax deductible?
The donation to Goodwill may be tax-deductible. Consumers who drop off a computer at a Goodwill location can request a receipt for their donation. Residents should always check with a qualified financial advisor regarding tax issues.
Is Goodwill profiting from this program?
As with all other sources of revenue we generate, 90% of the proceeds from this program help provide community and job-training services for individuals with barriers to employment.
How is this any different from other computer collections in the U.S.?
One of the unique attributes of this program is it brings together the complementary strengths of a non-profit and a corporation to provide a service to consumers. The project may provide a model that other communities can use to provide community-based recycling of electronics.
Will people with disabilities be handling the equipment that comes into Goodwill?
One benefit of the program is that it may help create Goodwill jobs, traditionally jobs that individuals hold with barriers to employment. The proceeds that Goodwill receives from participating in the Dell Reconnect program help fund Goodwill’s programs that provide job skills training to those with barriers to employment.