Is it illegal to throw away computers and electronics in the trash?

Yes, in California, it is illegal to throw away computers and electronics with regular trash. State law classifies items like monitors, laptops, hard drives, and other electronics as universal or hazardous waste, which must be recycled through approved channels. Beyond the environmental violation, discarding devices that contain business data also poses serious data security and compliance risks. For businesses, fines can range from:

• Up to $25,000 per violation per day under some California e-waste enforcement actions
• Up to $70,000 per violation per day for serious hazardous waste violations enforced by California DTSC