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E-Waste Disposal Rules for Kern County Businesses

E-Waste Disposal Rules for Kern County Businesses

By Alianza Recycling & Recovery•

Every business eventually retires computers, monitors, printers, and phones. In California, how you dispose of that equipment is regulated, and the data on it is your responsibility until it's destroyed. This guide covers the basics for businesses in Bakersfield and Kern County.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check with your compliance or legal team about requirements that apply to your organization.

Electronics Don't Belong in the Trash

California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) treats most discarded electronic devices, such as computers, monitors, televisions, and phones, as universal waste. That means they can't go in the regular trash or a landfill and must go to a facility that can manage them properly.

CalRecycle runs the state's Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) program, which approves collectors and recyclers of covered devices such as many TVs and monitors. You can confirm a company's status in CalRecycle's CEW participant directory. Alianza Recycling & Recovery is an approved collector (CEW ID 110994).

You're Responsible for the Data

California law requires businesses to take reasonable steps to destroy customer records containing personal information when the records are no longer kept, by making the information unreadable. Those records often live on hard drives in old computers and servers. Industries such as healthcare and finance may have additional rules.

Alianza physically destroys hard drives by drilling them and provides a certificate of destruction, which gives you a record that the data-bearing devices were destroyed. See Hard Drive Destruction in Bakersfield.

Keep Records of What You Retire

A simple paper trail makes audits and internal reviews easier:

  • Inventory the equipment you're retiring, including serial numbers for data-bearing devices.
  • Keep certificates of destruction for hard drives.
  • Keep recycling documentation for processed equipment.
  • Record dates and the vendor used for each disposal.

Plan Larger Clean-Outs

Office moves, upgrades, and closures can retire a lot of equipment at once. Alianza can help with de-installation, secure handling, IT asset disposition, and remarketing of eligible equipment that still has value.

Working With Alianza

  • Drop-off: 2301 Gibson Street, Bakersfield, CA 93308, Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM. No appointment needed.
  • Business pickup: Contact us or call 661-873-4011 to coordinate eligible pickup in Kern County and surrounding areas.
  • Compliance: Alianza maintains compliance with CalRecycle, DTSC, EPA regulations, and Kern County Weights & Measures standards. See certifications and compliance.