Prepare Your Electronics Before Using the Cobbert Drive Drop-Off
Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center is a San Jose electronics drop-off business that accepts a broad range of computers, monitors, phones, networking gear, batteries and other electronics. Some materials are free while TVs, printers, lamps, batteries and selected household electronics currently have published charges.
The company also provides free pickup for qualifying organizations with larger e-waste loads, but it does not advertise residential pickup. Because its own pages currently disagree on several prices, check the current rate before bringing a paid item.
Quick answer: how does the San Jose drop-off work?
Reducing Ewaste’s current drop-off instructions list 3588 Cobbert Dr, San Jose, CA 95148. The company says no appointment is needed and instructs visitors to leave accepted electronics by the front door, protected from rain, then send the business a text after completing the drop-off.
The company asks visitors to attach a note describing device condition—for example, working, not working, dead battery, broken screen or will not power on. Phones should be factory reset and disconnected from iCloud, Google and other associated accounts before recycling.
On this page
- Business and address
- Hours and unattended drop-off
- Accepted electronics
- Current fee conflict
- Items not accepted
- Phone and account preparation
- Hard drives and data
- Batteries and lamps
- Business pickup
- Repair and reuse
- California e-waste rules
- Drop-off checklist
- When to use another route
- Related guides
- Map
- Official sources
- FAQs
Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center in San Jose
The company says it was founded in 2021 with a focus on reducing the number of usable electronics that are immediately scrapped. Its current site emphasizes repair, component reuse, refurbishment and data wiping in addition to recycling.
| Detail | Current information | Verification note |
|---|---|---|
| Business | Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center | Business name used on reducingewaste.com |
| Address | 3588 Cobbert Dr, San Jose, CA 95148 | Published on the company’s official drop-off page |
| Public phone | (408) 320-5119 | Consistently listed by current business directories; the official parsed contact page does not currently expose a phone number |
| Website | reducingewaste.com | Official business website |
| Drop-off appointment | Not required | Stated on the official drop-off instructions |
Is Reducing Ewaste Open 24 Hours?
Several current directories list the San Jose location as open 24 hours. The official drop-off page also describes an unattended process: leave electronics at the front door, keep them out of the rain, and send a text after drop-off.
However, the company’s official site does not currently provide a normal Monday-through-Sunday staffed schedule. That distinction matters if you need someone onsite to inspect a paid item, issue a hard-drive wipe certificate, answer a pricing question or help with a heavy device.
Electronics Reducing Ewaste Says It Accepts
The company currently states that it accepts most types of electronics in any condition when the device plugs into an outlet or operates on batteries. Its published list is broad.
Computers and laptops
PCs, laptops, notebooks, docking stations, servers, hard drives, CPUs, memory, circuit boards and other computer components are listed.
Displays
Monitors purchased and used in California are listed. The company also accepts televisions but currently publishes a fee for TVs.
Phones and tablets
Cell phones, smartphones, iPads, tablets, Kindles, home and office phones, conferencing equipment and walkie-talkies are listed.
Networking and servers
Modems, routers, telecom equipment, networking equipment and data-center electronics are included.
Power and components
Power supplies, transformers, meters, electronic motors, adapters, chargers, wire and cable are among the accepted categories.
Gaming and AV equipment
Game consoles, DVRs, TiVo equipment, projectors, cameras, security electronics and related devices are listed.
Lead-acid batteries
The published list includes UPS/APC backup devices, auto batteries and forklift lead-acid batteries.
Solar panels
Solar panels are listed as accepted for a small fee. Confirm the current amount before transporting panels.
Industrial electronics
Testing equipment, industrial equipment, credit-card machines, cable boxes, electronic meters and similar devices appear on the accepted list.
Reducing Ewaste Fees: The Website Currently Shows Two Price Lists
Reducing Ewaste’s current homepage and its separate drop-off page do not agree on several charges. This is important enough to show explicitly rather than selecting one number without warning.
| Item / service | Homepage currently shows | Drop-off page currently shows |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-drive wipe certificate | $25 per drive | $15 per unit |
| Inkjet printer | $2 per lb | $10 one-person carry / $20 two-person carry |
| TV | $2 per lb | $20 one-person carry / $40 two-person carry |
| Microwave / air fryer / cooking appliance | $15 | $10 |
| Light bulbs / fluorescent tubes | $3 per lb | $2 per lb |
| Alkaline / lithium-ion / Ni-Cd batteries | $3 per lb | $1 per lb |
| Paper shredder | $15 | $10 |
| Miscellaneous household electronics | $3 per lb | $1 per lb |
Items Reducing Ewaste Says It Does Not Accept
The company’s current homepage excludes large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and water heaters. It also says coolant and oil should be taken through the appropriate San Jose / Santa Clara County hazardous-waste route instead.
Large appliances
Refrigerators, stoves and water heaters are specifically listed as not accepted.
Coolant and oil
These are directed to a household hazardous-waste program rather than the Cobbert Drive electronics drop-off.
Prepare Phones, Tablets and Account-Locked Devices Before Drop-Off
Reducing Ewaste specifically asks customers to remove associated email accounts and factory reset phones before recycling them. Apple users should sign out of iCloud, and Android users should remove the Google account.
This is not merely cosmetic. Activation locks can prevent a still-functional phone or tablet from being reused, even after the physical device has changed ownership.
Hard Drives, Removed Drives and Data-Wipe Certificates
The company promotes data wiping as part of its effort to reuse equipment when possible. Its site says hard drives from incoming laptops are wiped before reuse or recycling.
If you remove a laptop hard drive yourself and keep it, Reducing Ewaste asks that you leave the hard-drive caddy and screws with the computer and tape down the screws so they are not lost.
Keeping the drive
Remove only the storage device you intend to keep and leave the laptop’s mounting hardware with the machine when possible.
Standard recycling
The company says it wipes hard drives that come in with devices, but that does not automatically mean you receive formal destruction documentation.
Certificate needed
The site advertises a paid hard-drive wipe certificate. Because two official pages currently show different prices, confirm the current certificate cost before drop-off.
Batteries, Bulbs and California Hazardous-Waste Rules
Reducing Ewaste currently accepts or charges for several battery categories, but damaged batteries require more care than ordinary electronics. California also treats many batteries and e-waste products as universal or hazardous waste.
| Material | Reducing Ewaste information | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Auto / forklift lead-acid batteries | Listed as accepted | Keep upright and protected from tipping |
| UPS / backup devices | Listed as accepted | Call for a large commercial quantity |
| Alkaline / lithium-ion / Ni-Cd batteries | Fee category appears on both company price lists, but the listed rate conflicts | Confirm the current per-pound charge |
| Fluorescent tubes / bulbs | Accepted as a paid category, with conflicting rates on the official pages | Protect bulbs from breakage |
| Swollen or damaged lithium battery | No clear public acceptance instruction was verified | Call before transporting; do not puncture, crush or dismantle it |
Free Business, School, Nonprofit and Government E-Waste Pickup
Reducing Ewaste currently advertises free pickup for qualifying businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Its homepage says organizations with 10 or more items qualify for free pickup.
The same page states that residential pickup is not offered. Residential customers should use the San Jose drop-off rather than submitting a home pickup request.
10+ qualifying items
Prepare an inventory before contacting the company so it can determine whether the load qualifies for free pickup.
Business address
The contact form asks for company information, pickup address, preferred pickup date and the equipment to be collected.
Residential load
The company currently says there is no residential pickup. Use the drop-off location or another local residential service.
Useful business pickup request
“We have approximately 18 items: 8 desktop PCs, 5 monitors, 3 laptops and 2 network switches at our San Jose office. Does this qualify for free pickup, what data-wipe documentation is available, and do any of these items carry a fee?”
Repair and Reuse Before Recycling
Reducing Ewaste’s stated approach is not limited to dismantling devices. The company says it tries to refurbish usable electronics and currently advertises laptop and desktop repair for non-Apple computers.
Published repair examples include CMOS battery replacement, hard-drive replacement or upgrades, RAM replacement or upgrades, cloning, hard-drive wiping and software-related support. Pricing is quote-based.
California E-Waste Rules That Apply to San Jose Residents
California DTSC treats unwanted electronic devices as e-waste and explains that e-waste is a type of universal hazardous waste because electronics can contain materials such as lead and mercury. Regulated e-waste should not be placed in ordinary household trash.
| Current California rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| E-waste is universal waste | TVs, monitors, computers, phones and many other devices need an authorized recycling or hazardous-waste route. |
| Do not place regulated e-waste in household trash | Use a recycling handler, HHW program or another approved collection route. |
| Covered video-display device fee | California currently charges $4, $5 or $6 at retail depending on the covered display’s screen size. |
| Covered battery-embedded products | Beginning in 2026, certain products with batteries not easily removed by the user are part of California’s expanded covered e-waste program. |
| Battery-embedded retail fee | The current 2026 fee is 1.5% of retail sales price, capped at $15 per device; California is already pursuing a lower 2027 cap. |
San Jose Alternatives if Reducing Ewaste Does Not Fit Your Item
The City of San José states that e-waste cannot be placed in normal garbage or recycling containers. The city points residents to take-back locations, its Junk Pickup Program and the Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline at (800) 533-8414.
For household hazardous waste, Santa Clara County’s HHW program is the better route for materials Reducing Ewaste does not take, including hazardous liquids and certain household chemicals.
Large appliance
Use the appropriate San Jose bulky-item, appliance or junk-pickup route rather than leaving a refrigerator, stove or water heater at the e-waste drop-off.
Hazardous liquid
Use Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste for coolant, oil and other applicable hazardous household materials.
Before-You-Go Checklist for Reducing Ewaste
When Another Recycling Route Is Better
Refrigerator or major appliance
Use an appliance or bulky-waste service. Reducing Ewaste currently lists large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and water heaters as not accepted.
Residential pickup needed
Use the City of San José Junk Pickup Program or another residential collection service because Reducing Ewaste currently says it does not offer home pickup.
Hazardous liquids
Use Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste for oil, coolant and other applicable hazardous materials.
Map to Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center in San Jose
The current official drop-off address is 3588 Cobbert Dr, San Jose, California 95148. Use the map for navigation after checking whether your item is free, paid or excluded.
Official Sources and Current Verification
The company website is the primary source for accepted items, drop-off instructions and pickup rules. California and San Jose government sources are used for statewide and local e-waste requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center
Where is Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center located?
The company’s current official drop-off page lists 3588 Cobbert Dr, San Jose, CA 95148.
Do I need an appointment to drop off e-waste?
No appointment is currently required according to the company’s official drop-off instructions.
Is Reducing Ewaste open 24 hours?
Several current directories list 24-hour access, and the official site describes an unattended front-door drop-off process. However, the official site does not publish a clear staffed 24/7 schedule, so contact the business first when you need assistance.
What electronics does Reducing Ewaste accept?
The current published list includes monitors, computers, laptops, servers, networking equipment, phones, tablets, UPS units, auto and forklift batteries, cables, hard drives, circuit boards, game consoles, DVRs, projectors, security equipment and other electronics.
Does Reducing Ewaste accept TVs?
Yes, but TVs are currently listed as a paid item. The company’s homepage and drop-off page show different TV prices, so confirm the current charge before visiting.
Does Reducing Ewaste charge for batteries?
The company’s current pages list alkaline, lithium-ion, Ni-Cd and similar batteries as a paid category, but the two official price pages currently show different per-pound rates.
How much is a hard-drive wipe certificate?
The official homepage currently lists $25 per drive while the separate drop-off page lists $15 per unit. Because both values are live on the company’s website, confirm the current price directly before drop-off.
Should I factory reset my phone before recycling it?
Yes. Reducing Ewaste specifically asks customers to remove associated accounts, sign out of iCloud or Google as applicable and factory reset mobile devices before recycling.
What if I want to keep the hard drive from my laptop?
The company asks that you leave the laptop’s hard-drive caddy and screws with the machine and tape the screws down so they are not lost.
Does Reducing Ewaste offer free business pickup?
Yes. The current homepage says qualifying businesses, schools, nonprofits and government agencies with 10 or more items can qualify for free e-waste pickup.
Does Reducing Ewaste offer residential pickup?
No. The company’s current site says it does not provide pickup for residential areas; residential customers can use the drop-off location instead.
Does Reducing Ewaste accept refrigerators?
No. The current exclusion list includes large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and water heaters.
Can I put old electronics in the trash in San Jose?
No. California and the City of San José direct residents to proper e-waste collection routes because regulated electronic waste should not be placed in ordinary garbage or recycling containers.
Is Recycling-Centre.org affiliated with Reducing Ewaste?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide and does not operate or represent Reducing Ewaste Recycling Center.
Best Way to Plan Your Cobbert Drive Drop-Off
Start by identifying the device and checking whether Reducing Ewaste lists it as free, paid or excluded. Back up personal data, remove mobile-device account locks, factory reset phones when possible and label each device with its condition.
For paid categories, call or contact the business before leaving because its two official fee pages currently disagree. Keep electronics dry, use the Cobbert Drive address, and choose a city or county hazardous-waste route instead when the business does not accept the material.