Computer Recycling in Hayward
Hayward businesses and residents — if you have old computers, laptops, or electronics that have outlived their usefulness, GreenCitizen makes responsible recycling straightforward. We offer scheduled business pickups across the East Bay and a convenient drop-off option at our Burlingame EcoCenter for residents who want their devices handled correctly. No long drives across the Bay, no guesswork about where things end up.
We are open from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM. (Closed on Major Holidays)
74,685
Business Customers
Served
413,951
Individual Customers
Served
No appointment is needed for drop-off recycling. Just come to our Burlingame EcoCenter to recycle your computers and electronics.
Where to Find Us?
GreenCitizen, Inc.
1831 Old Bayshore Hwy Suite 2, Burlingame, CA 94010
- +16504938700 Extension 103
- info@greencitizen.com
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
(Closed on Major Holidays)
Closed on Holidays: New Year, President’s Day, Memorial Holiday, Independence day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the day after Christmas.
Hayward: The Heart of the Bay Leads on Climate Action
Hayward wears the nickname “Heart of the Bay” with good reason. Sitting at the geographic center of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, it is one of the region’s largest and most connected cities, with a population of approximately 158,000 residents and a workforce that spans manufacturing, healthcare, biotechnology, logistics, and higher education. California State University, East Bay anchors the city’s educational presence, while a broad industrial corridor along I-880 and the Bay shoreline has made Hayward one of the East Bay’s defining commercial and manufacturing hubs for decades.
That scale of economic activity generates a correspondingly large environmental footprint — and Hayward has taken that responsibility seriously for a long time.
The city adopted its first Climate Action Plan in 2009, and the track record since has been genuinely notable. Hayward achieved its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target two years ahead of schedule, in 2018 — a milestone few Bay Area cities could claim.Â
That success prompted an ambitious update: the 2024 Climate Action Plan, adopted by the City Council on January 30, 2024, sets a new target of reducing community GHG emissions by 55 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. The plan addresses five sectors — transportation, building energy, solid waste, water and wastewater, and carbon sequestration — and was developed as an amendment to the City’s General Plan, giving it binding policy force.
The city’s energy commitments extend well beyond paper. Hayward was among the first municipalities to transition its customers to Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy), which since January 2022 has supplied most Hayward residents and businesses with 100 percent renewable electricity sourced from California solar and wind facilities. This includes a dedicated wind farm in Livermore and solar installations tied to local and regional grids.
Hayward’s Wastewater Treatment Facility has taken that renewable energy commitment further still. The facility generates nearly 11 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually through a combination of solar arrays and biogas co-generation — enough to power more than 100 percent of the facility’s own electricity needs, with surplus energy routed to other City buildings. This achievement earned Hayward the U.S. EPA Green Power Leadership Award in 2015, placing the facility among the nation’s top on-site renewable energy generators — ranked ahead of Google on the EPA’s list at the time of the award.
The city has also embedded environmental justice directly into its general plan. Hayward’s 2024 CAP update includes an Environmental Justice Element that specifically acknowledges the disproportionate health risks faced by disadvantaged communities in the city and requires that sustainability measures address — not sidestep — those inequities.
At the community level, Hayward runs an annual Environmental Awards program recognizing local businesses, schools, and nonprofits for sustainability leadership, and has consistently supported programs to increase waste diversion, expand solar adoption, and reduce vehicle miles traveled across its industrial corridors.
For a manufacturing city of Hayward’s size, this combination of early action, measurable results, renewable energy infrastructure, and equity-centered planning puts it in a distinct category among East Bay communities.
How GreenCitizen Supports Hayward's Environmental Goals
A city that achieved its 2020 climate targets ahead of schedule and then immediately raised the bar for 2030 has made its expectations clear: environmental commitments need to be backed by action, not just intent. Electronics recycling is one concrete area where those commitments translate directly into real outcomes.
Electronics — laptops, monitors, servers, phones, and the full range of devices used in Hayward’s manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, university offices, and family homes — contain both valuable recoverable materials and toxic components that cause genuine environmental harm when landfilled. Lead, cadmium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants leach into soil and water. Proper recycling keeps them out of the waste stream entirely.
Since 2005, GreenCitizen has helped over 74,653 Bay Area businesses and 413,925 residents recycle electronics responsibly, diverting more than 33,932,657 pounds of e-waste from landfills across the region. Every item we process goes through R2 and e-Stewards certified U.S.-based recyclers — no overseas dumping, no incineration, no shortcuts.
For Hayward’s businesses — from small manufacturers and logistics operators along the industrial corridor to healthcare providers and university departments — our Business Recycling Pickup service offers a scheduled, documented, and fully traceable path for retiring IT equipment. For residents ready to clear out old devices, our Burlingame EcoCenter is approximately 20 miles away — typically a 20 to 25-minute drive — making it a practical same-day option for the East Bay.
California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act sets the legal floor: covered electronic devices must be handled through certified recycling channels. GreenCitizen’s services are built to meet and exceed that standard in every job we take on.
Acceptable & Non-Acceptable Items for Electronics Recycling
Accepted
Laptops
Desktops
Servers
Monitors/ TVs
Networking Equipment
Tablets/ Smartphones
Computer Components (Hard Drives, Circuit Boards, Keyboards, etc.)
Office Electronics (Printers, Fax Machines, Paper Shredders, etc.)
Kitchen Appliances (Toasters, Blenders, Microwaves, etc.)
Stereo Equipment (DVD Players, VCRs, Receivers, etc.)
Styrofoam (#6 Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) ONLY)
Console Video Games (Xbox, PS3, Wii, etc.)
CD/DVDs
Cables/Cords
Toner/ Ink Cartridges
UPS Batteries (SLA Only)
Not Accepted
Bottles/ Cans
Furniture
Polyurethane
Large Appliances (Stoves, Washers, Dryers)
Non-Rechargeable Batteries (Alkaline, Carbon Zinc, Disposable Batteries)
Light Bulbs (Incandescent and Fluorescent Bulbs)
Items containing liquid mercury (Thermometers and Thermostats)
Smoke Detectors
Styrofoam #4 Low-Density Polyethylene foam (LDPE/PELD)
Hazardous Waste (Paint, Motor Oil, Sharps, Bio Hazardous Waste)
Medical Electronics (Bodily contact devices such as Glucose Sensors)
Business Electronics Recycling Pickup for Hayward Organizations
Hayward’s commercial landscape is one of the most industrially diverse in the East Bay. Manufacturers, biotech companies, healthcare networks, logistics operators, distribution centers, and university departments all run equipment-heavy operations — and all face the same recurring challenge: retiring old computers, servers, monitors, and networking gear without creating compliance risk or operational disruption.
GreenCitizen’s Business Recycling Pickup service is built for organizations of exactly this kind. We come to you, handle logistics, document everything, and make sure nothing ends up somewhere it shouldn’t.
Pickup That Works Around Your Operation
For qualifying business loads of at least 5 eligible items — laptops, desktops, servers, enterprise networking equipment, phones or tablets 4 inches or larger, and LCD or LED monitors — GreenCitizen waives pickup fees. We accommodate IT refreshes, employee offboarding, facility cleanouts, warehouse equipment turnover, and ongoing recycling programs. Submit a request online and we confirm scheduling — same-day service is available for pickups confirmed before 11:00 AM.
Data Security Built for Industrial-Scale Operations
Hayward’s manufacturing and biotech sectors often handle proprietary processes, research data, and sensitive operational records. GreenCitizen provides software-based data erasure following DoD 5220.22-M and NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 standards and physical hard drive destruction for drives that require it. Data erasure is $5 per drive. Physical destruction is $20 per drive. For mobile devices with non-removable storage, physical destruction is available at $35 per device. A Certificate of Destruction — available at $5 per unit — provides the documentation your compliance team needs.
Chain-of-Custody Tracking With GTAMS
Every major item we collect is logged and tracked through our proprietary GreenCitizen Total Accountability Management System (GTAMS). Each device receives a unique asset ID at pickup and is tracked through the full recycling cycle. This creates an audit-ready chain of custody for internal records, ESG reporting, and regulatory compliance — particularly relevant for Hayward organizations that report to state environmental agencies or hold industry certifications.
Certified Domestic Processing — No Overseas Dumping
All electronics are processed by U.S.-based R2 and e-Stewards certified recyclers. Nothing is brokered offshore or incinerated. This is meaningful not just from an environmental standpoint but also from a data security one: chain of custody doesn’t end at pickup, it extends all the way through final processing.
Aligned With Hayward’s 2024 Climate Action Plan
The CAP’s solid waste sector includes specific measures to increase diversion rates and reduce landfill contributions from commercial and industrial sources. Recycling IT equipment through certified channels is one of the most direct ways a Hayward business can contribute to those goals while meeting its own operational and compliance obligations.
Everything went great yesterday. Your guys were super professional and took care of everything for us. I’m sure that we will have more for you in the near future.
I have nothing but praise for their whole operation. From the easy to use website to even great, friendly pickup staff.
Your crew provides such a high level of service. It all went very smoothly!
Electronics Drop-Off for Hayward Residents — Easy Access Across the Bay
Hayward residents looking to responsibly recycle old electronics have a practical option just across the Bay: GreenCitizen’s Burlingame EcoCenter, approximately 20 miles from downtown Hayward and typically a 20 to 25-minute drive via the San Mateo Bridge. No appointment is needed — just come in during business hours and our team will process your drop-off quickly, often in under ten minutes.
Laptops, desktops, tablets, monitors, servers, and TVs are accepted free of charge. Most other consumer electronics — printers, cables, speakers, keyboards, and small appliances — are $1.00 per pound. Older media formats including CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, and floppy disks are $6.00 per pound.
How to Get to the EcoCenter from Hayward
Take I-880 South toward the San Mateo Bridge, then merge onto CA-92 West across the bridge toward the Peninsula. Continue onto US-101 South, then take the Millbrae Avenue exit and head east toward Old Bayshore Highway. Turn onto Old Bayshore Highway, then turn at Cowan Road and take the first driveway on the left. You’ll find us behind the building with the 1831 Old Bayshore Hwy address, directly across from the New England Lobster Market and Eatery.
Pro tip: Enter “GreenCitizen, Inc.” into Google Maps for the most accurate routing.
Your Data Is Handled Before Your Device Is Recycled
Any device containing storage — a laptop, desktop, tablet, or phone — can be processed with our secure data destruction service before it enters the recycling stream. We follow DoD 5220.22-M and NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 standards, and a Certificate of Destruction is available for $5 per unit if you need documentation. This applies to personal devices just as much as business ones — old data doesn’t disappear when a device breaks.
For drop-off recycling, these are the items that are FREE to recycle and can be dropped off at the GreenCitizen Recycling Center/Eco Center in Burlingame.
Note: All Macbook EFi, Device Enrollment Program, and Remote Management Locks Must Be Removed
- Desktop computers
- Laptops
- Servers
- Tablets
- Monitors
- Network switches
- TVs
And here are the items that cost $1.00/pound to recycle.
- Cables/cords
- CD players and Walkmans
- Christmas lights
- DLP Projector TVs
- Fax machines
- Remote controls
- Heaters
- Ink/Toner
- Keyboards
- Microwaves
- Printers
- Miscellaneous electronics
- Scanners
- Stereo equipment
- VCRs
- DVD players
- Speakers
- Vacuum cleaners
- Fans
- Toasters
- Blenders
- Coffee makers
And here are the items that cost $6.00/pound to recycle.
- CDs
- Cassette tape
- Vinyl recycling
- DVDs
- Floppy disks
- VHS
- 35mm slides
- DLT/LTO
- Film negatives
It’s great to have such a well-run organization in our community to help us with all of our old electronics, especially laptops, which have sensitive information.
They were awesome. I was helping clean my mother in laws garage out. There was one tv that was literally falling apart. No problem here. We dropped off a couple tvs, a monitor, coffee machine, an old speaker, all for around 11 dollars. We rounded up to $15 to help them continue their excellent recycling service. They were friendly helpful and have a drive through. We are customers now! Good location as well.
The staff at Green Citizen were incredibly informative, helpful and courteous.The process of dropping off computers and hard drives for destruction was so quick and simple. They have an efficient set up. I highly recommend them and I will definitely be going back to them when I have additional items to recycle. It’s an impressive organization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Computer Recycling in Hayward
Yes, drop-off is at our Burlingame EcoCenter, but the San Mateo Bridge makes it more accessible than it might sound. Take I-880 South to CA-92 West across the bridge, merge onto US-101 South, and exit at Millbrae Avenue. You'll reach us at 1831 Old Bayshore Hwy Suite 2, Burlingame — typically in 20 to 25 minutes from central Hayward. No appointment needed, and most drop-offs wrap up in under 10 minutes.
Yes. Hayward falls within our East Bay service area for business pickup. Submit a request online and we confirm scheduling — same-day pickup is available for requests confirmed before 11:00 AM, and most others are arranged within one business day.
It does. Diverting electronics from landfills directly supports Hayward's waste sector commitments under the 2024 CAP. When a Hayward business or resident recycles through a certified channel rather than disposing of devices as general waste, that diversion contributes to the city's progress toward its 2030 emissions targets. GreenCitizen processes everything through R2 and e-Stewards certified U.S.-based recyclers, which is exactly the kind of responsible, documented diversion the CAP's solid waste measures are designed to encourage.
Yes, that's a common scenario for us in Hayward. We handle mixed loads regularly — production terminals, office workstations, networking equipment, monitors, and peripheral devices all in one pickup. If your load includes at least 5 qualifying items, pickup fees are waived. For larger industrial loads or recurring schedules, contact us to discuss volume-based arrangements.
We offer two options. Software-based erasure follows DoD 5220.22-M and NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 standards at $5 per drive — suitable for functional drives. Physical hard drive destruction at $20 per drive is available for drives that require it, including non-functional or non-removable storage. A Certificate of Destruction is available for $5 per unit and provides formal documentation for your compliance records. We handle data destruction before devices leave our custody.
We serve universities and educational organizations across the Bay Area. IT departments at higher education institutions are a common customer — equipment turnover from labs, administrative offices, and classroom upgrades generates steady recycling needs. CSUEB and similar organizations qualify for business pickup under the same terms as other organizations.
Hayward's HHW programs are great for batteries, paint, and similar materials, but they typically do not cover the full range of electronics GreenCitizen accepts, and they run on limited schedules. GreenCitizen is open five days a week, year-round, accepts a wider category of devices, and provides certified data destruction — something HHW events generally don't offer. For anything with a hard drive or sensitive storage, GreenCitizen is the more complete option.
Free items — laptops, desktops, servers, tablets, monitors, network switches, and TVs — are accepted at no charge. Fee-based items like printers, cables, keyboards, speakers, and small appliances are $1.00 per pound. Older media formats — CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, floppy disks, cassettes, film negatives — are $6.00 per pound. If your load includes both categories, we weigh and price them separately at intake so you know the cost before anything is processed.
For business pickups, qualified laptops, desktops, servers, enterprise networking equipment, monitors, and tablets are included in the free-pickup threshold. Items like printers, cables, and peripherals are billable by weight. Data destruction services are priced separately per drive. We provide a full breakdown before confirming your pickup so there are no surprises.
Yes. Drop-off is open to everyone — residents, home offices, and small businesses alike. You do not need a commercial account or minimum quantity for drop-off. Business pickup, however, is for organizations with qualifying loads of at least 5 eligible items.
Absolutely. The laptop is free to recycle, and tablets are too. Cables and any other small electronics are $1.00 per pound — typically just a dollar or two for a normal household bag. The trip across the San Mateo Bridge takes about 20 minutes and the drop-off itself is quick. Many Hayward residents fold it into an errand day on the Peninsula.
We do not accept loose batteries (they must be installed inside a device), light bulbs, large household appliances like stoves or washing machines, items containing liquid mercury, smoke detectors, hazardous waste materials, or medical electronics designed for bodily contact. If you're unsure whether something qualifies, reach out before making the drive.