Recycling in Maine
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 19 cities and towns across Maine. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
Find your city or county
Maine rules
- It is illegal to throw away cathode ray tubes and LCD screens in Maine, so TVs must be recycled. Source: Maine DEP: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Computer monitors with CRT or LCD screens may not be thrown away in Maine. Source: Maine DEP: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- State law bars disposing of a cathode ray tube in a solid waste disposal facility. Source: Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 §1306: Prohibition (opens in new tab)
More Maine rules (14)
- Under Maine's e-waste product stewardship program, manufacturers pay to recycle TVs, monitors, laptops, tablets, printers, game consoles and other screens of 4 inches or more. Source: Maine DEP: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Each municipality must make sure its residents have a collection site or event for covered electronic devices; some sites charge a small fee. Source: Maine DEP: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Many transfer stations collect electronics; some charge a fee. Source: Maine DEP: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- DEP notes that Best Buy and Staples offer free recycling for many electronics. Source: Maine DEP: What can I recycle, and where? (opens in new tab)
- Covered entities under the e-waste law are Maine households, small 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and primary and secondary schools. Source: Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 §1610: Electronic waste (opens in new tab)
- Businesses may not put rechargeable batteries in the trash. Source: Maine DEP: Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- There is no free recycling program for single-use (alkaline) batteries in Maine; small quantities may legally go in household trash. Source: Maine DEP: Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Button cell batteries should not go in the trash; recycle them or take them to a household hazardous waste collection. Source: Maine DEP: Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- In 2025 DEP sought public input on extending producer responsibility to all batteries not covered by the existing law. Source: Maine DEP: Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- A 2025 law (38 M.R.S. §1617) will require battery producers to join an approved battery stewardship program, starting 180 days after the first plan is approved. Source: Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 §1617: Battery stewardship program (opens in new tab)
- Lead-acid batteries may not be buried, burned or dumped. Source: Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 §1604: Lead-acid batteries (opens in new tab)
- Most Maine solid waste facilities accept tires for recycling, many for a small fee; some tire retailers take them for a fee. Source: Maine DEP: What can I recycle, and where? (opens in new tab)
- Appliances may not be crushed or shredded until fluids, refrigerant, batteries and mercury switches are removed. Source: Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 §1306: Prohibition (opens in new tab)
- DEP says the Environmental Depot in Lewiston and Portland's Riverside Recycling Facility take household hazardous waste from all Maine residents, and many towns hold one-day collections. Source: Maine DEP: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)