Services Reference¶
Last Updated: February 2026 Target Audience: Sales, CSRs, Dispatch, All Employees
This document provides a detailed reference of all services offered by Scott Recycling, including what we accept, our material streams, pricing models, customer types, and coverage areas. Use this as a reference when speaking with customers or processing incoming materials.
Overview¶
Scott Recycling provides free pickup and recycling of electronic equipment for businesses and organizations. We also offer secure data destruction services with certificates of destruction for data-bearing devices. Our Scott Plastics division handles industrial and commercial plastics recycling.
Electronics Recycling Services¶
1. Computer Recycling¶
What we accept:
- Desktop towers (all brands, all ages)
- All-in-one computers
- Workstations
- Mini PCs / thin clients
What we do NOT accept:
- Household appliances that are not computers (microwaves, refrigerators, etc.)
Material recovery: Steel cases, aluminum heatsinks, copper wiring, circuit boards (precious metals), power supplies, hard drives (data destruction), RAM, processors
2. Laptop Recycling¶
What we accept:
- Notebooks / laptops (all brands, all ages)
- Chromebooks
- Ultrabooks
- Portable workstations
- Tablets with keyboard docks
Material recovery: Batteries (lithium-ion -- recycled separately), LCD screens, circuit boards, keyboards, hard drives/SSDs (data destruction), RAM, processors
Laptops with Value
Working laptops in good condition may be refurbished and resold through our eBay channel. The Laptop Processing team tests and grades all incoming laptops. See the Laptop Inventory guide for processing details.
3. Server Recycling¶
What we accept:
- Rack-mount servers
- Tower servers
- Blade servers and chassis
- Network-attached storage (NAS)
- Storage area network (SAN) equipment
- UPS systems (battery backup units)
Material recovery: High-value components (processors, RAM, hard drives), steel/aluminum chassis, copper wiring, circuit boards, batteries (from UPS -- handled per battery procedures)
UPS Batteries
UPS systems contain lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. These must be separated and handled per the battery safety procedures.
4. Monitor Recycling¶
What we accept:
- LCD monitors (all sizes)
- LED monitors
- CRT monitors (tube-style, older)
- Touchscreen monitors
- Digital signage displays
Material recovery:
- LCD/LED: Plastics, metals, circuit boards, backlight assemblies
- CRT: Copper yoke, circuit boards, steel frame, CRT glass (leaded -- handled as Universal Waste)
CRT Handling
CRT monitors contain lead in the glass (up to 4-8 lbs per unit). They require special handling per our CRT handling procedures. Never break a CRT outside of the controlled processing area.
5. Printer Recycling¶
What we accept:
- Inkjet printers
- Laser printers
- Multifunction devices (printer/scanner/copier/fax)
- Copiers (standalone)
- Scanners
- Wide-format / large-format printers
- Label printers
What we do NOT accept:
- Ink and toner cartridges by themselves (must be inside a printer or part of a larger pickup)
Material recovery: Steel/aluminum frames, circuit boards, motors, plastics, toner cartridges (recycled separately)
Toner Cartridges
Open or leaking toner cartridges should be sealed in a plastic bag before handling. Toner dust can be an irritant. See environmental compliance for handling guidance.
6. Phone & Tablet Recycling¶
What we accept:
- Cell phones (all types -- smartphones, flip phones, feature phones)
- Tablets (iPad, Android, Windows)
- Desk phones (IP phones, analog phones)
- Phone systems / PBX equipment
- Pagers, two-way radios
- Chargers and accessories
Material recovery: Circuit boards (high precious metal content in phones), batteries (lithium-ion), plastics, glass screens, copper
Data Security
Phones and tablets contain personal and business data. These devices must go through the data destruction process before any resale or material recovery.
7. Networking Equipment¶
What we accept:
- Routers (enterprise and consumer)
- Switches (managed and unmanaged)
- Modems
- Firewalls / security appliances
- Wireless access points
- Cable modems
- Patch panels
- Network cables (in bulk)
Material recovery: Circuit boards, copper, plastics, steel/aluminum chassis
8. Secure Data Destruction¶
What we offer:
- Software wiping to NIST 800-88 standards (drives can be resold)
- Physical destruction (shredding) for drives that must be destroyed
- Witnessed destruction available upon request
- Certificate of Destruction provided for every shipment with serial number tracking
Covered devices:
- Hard disk drives (HDD)
- Solid-state drives (SSD)
- USB flash drives
- Backup tapes
- Phones and tablets
- Any device with data storage capability
For full details, see the Data Destruction Procedures guide.
Scott Plastics Services¶
The Scott Plastics division handles commercial and industrial plastics recycling:
| Plastic Type | Resin Code | What We Accept |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE | #2 | Bottles, containers, drums, pipes, automotive parts |
| PET | #1 | Beverage bottles, food containers, thermoforms |
| PP | #5 | Automotive parts, containers, caps, industrial components |
| LDPE / Film | #4 | Stretch wrap, shrink film, plastic bags, industrial film |
| Industrial Plastic | Various | Large-format industrial plastics, thick-wall components |
| Mixed Plastics | Various | Unsorted or mixed-resin plastics |
What We Do NOT Accept¶
The following items are outside our scope of service:
| Item | Reason |
|---|---|
| Household appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, etc.) | Not e-waste; requires different handling |
| Large industrial machinery | Beyond our processing capability |
| Medical devices with biohazard risk | Requires specialized hazardous waste handling |
| Radioactive materials | Requires specialized disposal |
| Items containing asbestos | Requires specialized abatement |
| Household chemicals, paints, solvents | Not e-waste; take to household hazardous waste facility |
| Loose ink/toner cartridges only (no equipment) | Not cost-effective as standalone pickup |
| Furniture (desks, chairs) that are not electronic | Not e-waste |
Customer Communication
When a customer asks if we accept a specific item, check this list. If the item is not on either the "accept" or "do not accept" list, ask your supervisor before committing.
Material Streams¶
After processing, materials flow to downstream recyclers and processors. Here is where the major material streams go:
| Material Stream | Downstream Destination | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit boards | Precious metals refiner | High value (gold, palladium, silver, copper) |
| Processors (CPUs) | Precious metals refiner | High value |
| RAM | Precious metals refiner or resale | High value |
| Copper (wire, components) | Scrap metal processor | Moderate value |
| Aluminum (heatsinks, cases) | Scrap metal processor | Moderate value |
| Steel (cases, frames) | Scrap metal processor | Low-moderate value |
| Hard drives (wiped, working) | Resale | Moderate value |
| Hard drives (destroyed) | Scrap metal (shredded) | Low value |
| Working laptops (graded) | Resale (eBay, wholesale) | High value |
| Working desktops (graded) | Resale (eBay, wholesale) | Moderate value |
| Plastics | Scott Plastics or downstream plastics recycler | Low value |
| CRT glass | Licensed CRT glass recycler / lead smelter | Negative value (disposal cost) |
| Batteries | Licensed battery recycler | Negative to low value |
| Toner cartridges | Toner recycler / manufacturer return | Low value |
Pricing Models¶
Scott Recycling offers several pricing approaches depending on the customer type and volume:
Free Pickup (Primary Model)¶
- No charge for pickup of standard e-waste
- Customer must have a minimum volume to justify the trip (typically a pallet or more, but varies by location and route)
- This is the standard model for most business customers
- Revenue comes from material recovery and resale, not from charging the customer
Fee-Based Services¶
| Service | Fee Structure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CRT monitor recycling | Per-unit fee (varies) | CRT glass disposal has a cost; fees may be charged for large CRT volumes |
| Secure data destruction (witnessed) | Per-unit or per-hour fee | Premium service for customers requiring on-site witnessed destruction |
| Expedited pickup | Case-by-case | Rush pickups outside normal routing may incur additional fees |
| Small quantity pickup | Case-by-case | Very small pickups that do not justify a route stop may have a minimum fee |
Revenue Streams¶
| Revenue Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Resale (eBay, wholesale) | Working laptops, desktops, components sold through eBay or to wholesale buyers |
| Scrap commodity sales | Circuit boards, copper, aluminum, steel sold to downstream processors by weight |
| Service fees | CRT disposal fees, data destruction fees, special services |
| Plastics (Scott Plastics) | Revenue from plastics recycling operations |
Customer Types¶
Scott Recycling serves a diverse range of organizational customers:
| Customer Type | Examples | Typical Equipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Businesses (general) | Offices, retail, manufacturing | Desktops, laptops, printers, phones | Largest customer segment |
| Schools / School Districts | K-12 schools, school system offices | Chromebooks, desktops, projectors, network equipment | Often large volumes; seasonal (summer cleanouts) |
| Colleges / Universities | Higher education institutions | Servers, desktops, laptops, lab equipment | Large volumes; may require witnessed destruction |
| Hospitals / Healthcare | Hospitals, clinics, medical offices | Desktops, monitors, printers, medical peripherals | HIPAA data destruction requirements |
| Government | City, county, state agencies | Desktops, laptops, servers, networking | May require R2 certification; strict data destruction requirements |
| Financial Institutions | Banks, credit unions, accounting firms | Desktops, laptops, servers | High data security requirements |
| Nonprofits / Churches | Religious organizations, charities | General office equipment | Typically smaller volumes |
| Data Centers | Co-location facilities, enterprise IT | Servers, networking, storage arrays | High-value equipment; strict data destruction |
| Residential | Individual homeowners | Various | Not a primary customer type; accepted on case-by-case basis |
Service Area Coverage by State¶
Tennessee (Headquarters State)¶
- Coverage: Statewide
- Major markets: Knoxville (376), Nashville (174), Chattanooga (84), Cookeville (56), Morristown (48), Memphis (45), Johnson City (39), Cleveland (34)
- Service: Full pickup service with regular route coverage
Virginia¶
- Coverage: Western and central Virginia
- Major market: Roanoke (42)
- Service: Regular pickup routes
Kentucky¶
- Coverage: Central and eastern Kentucky
- Major market: Lexington (33)
- Service: Regular pickup routes
Arkansas¶
- Coverage: Select areas
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes (less frequent)
North Carolina¶
- Coverage: Western North Carolina primarily
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes
South Carolina¶
- Coverage: Select areas
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes
Georgia¶
- Coverage: Northern Georgia primarily
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes
West Virginia¶
- Coverage: Southern West Virginia
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes
Alabama¶
- Coverage: Northern Alabama
- Service: Scheduled pickup routes
Arizona¶
- Coverage: Select areas (Phoenix metro)
- Service: Specialized service (less frequent)
Quick Reference for Customer-Facing Staff¶
When speaking with a prospective customer, here are the key selling points:
- Free pickup -- we come to you at no cost
- Secure data destruction -- NIST 800-88 compliant, with Certificate of Destruction
- Serial number tracking -- every data-bearing device is tracked from receipt to destruction
- Environmentally responsible -- no materials go to landfill; hazardous components handled properly
- 10-state coverage -- we serve businesses across the Southeast
- 20+ years in business -- established, experienced, and trustworthy
- Convenient scheduling -- pickups are scheduled around the customer's availability
Questions? Contact your supervisor or refer to the Getting Started guide.