How the University keeps tons of e-waste from landfills each year

The University powers progress, and whether it's researchers dreaming up new ways to incorporate AI into wheelchair design or sociologists exploring links between mental health and social media, groundbreaking discoveries require hardware. But staying ahead of the curve means leaving behind outdated electronic devices - e-waste.

In Pennsylvania, it's illegal to put electronics in the trash, in part because e-waste in landfills leach toxic heavy metals like lithium, mercury and lead into groundwater and soil, negatively impacting personal and environmental health. That's where Pitt Surplus, the department responsible for collecting, repurposing and recycling discarded materials, comes in. In fiscal year 2026, Pitt Surplus diverted more than 31 tons of e-waste from landfills. That success brings the University a step closer to reaching its goal of reducing landfill waste 25% from 2017 levels by 2030.

Sustainability is a University-wide value, said Karl Zellars, manager of surplus inventory in Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services. "People want to know that the organizations they are a part of, that they support, care about the environment," he said.

E-waste collected by Pitt Surplus is dismantled off-site at a warehouse east of the Pittsburgh campus. Scrap metal is recovered and sold to various companies and may eventually be repurposed into new electronics or other materials. Breaking down electronics is a time- and labor-intensive process, and the sale helps offset, but doesn't entirely cover, the cost of processing materials. Relatedly, Pitt Surplus generated $88,369 in scrap metal sales last year, which included e-waste.