Why Electronics Removal Requires a Specialist
Most people don't realize that old electronics can't go in regular trash. Fairfax County prohibits TVs, computers, monitors, and most electronics in regular trash or bulk pickup. Arlington, Alexandria, and Montgomery County have the same restrictions. Put a flatscreen at the curb with your regular trash and you're violating county ordinance — and it won't get picked up anyway.
The reason is simple: electronics contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other hazardous materials. A single CRT monitor can contain up to 8 pounds of lead. Flatscreen TVs contain mercury in the backlight. These materials require certified handling under Virginia state law and federal EPA regulations — they can't go into a standard landfill.
DMV Go Junk takes all residential and small-office electronics directly to EPA-certified e-waste recycling facilities in Northern Virginia. We're licensed, insured, and we do this properly — not just drop it at the county recycling center hoping it's handled right.
⚠️ Fairfax County and most Northern Virginia jurisdictions prohibit electronics in regular trash. Bulk pickup will not take TVs or computers. Violations can result in fines.
Electronics Removal Pricing
We price electronics removal two ways depending on your situation: by item (for single pieces) or by load (for full rooms or large quantities). We always quote before we start — the price you approve is the price you pay.
Single Item Pricing
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-screen TV (any size) | $99 | Including wall-mount removal |
| CRT TV (old tube TV) | $99 | Very heavy — contains lead |
| Desktop computer + monitor | $99 | Wipe your hard drive first |
| Laptop | $99 | Minimum applies |
| Printer / scanner / copier | $99 | Any size |
| Stereo system / speakers | $99 | Full system or individual pieces |
| Home theater setup | $149–$199 | TV + receiver + speakers |
| Full office electronics | $199–$349 | Multiple monitors, towers, printers |
Added to an Existing Load
If you're already having junk removal done and want electronics included, we add a $50 per item surcharge on top of the load price. This covers the separate e-waste disposal fee — electronics can't go in the general waste stream even at the transfer station.
💡 Have a full room of electronics — TV, computer, printer, stereo, cables? We'll price it as a load job rather than item-by-item. Text photos and we'll give you the better number.
What We Take — and What We Don't
✅ We Take
- Flat-screen TVs — any size
- CRT (tube) TVs and monitors
- Desktop computers and towers
- Laptops and tablets
- Monitors — all types
- Printers, scanners, copiers
- Stereo systems and receivers
- Speakers and subwoofers
- Gaming consoles and accessories
- Cable boxes and routers
- Home theater systems
- Cameras and camcorders
- VCRs and DVD players
- Phones and tablets
- Office equipment — fax, shredders
- Cables, cords, and accessories
- Smart home devices
- Projectors and projection TVs
❌ We Don't Take
- Large commercial server racks
- Industrial electronic equipment
- Medical electronic devices (special disposal)
- Anything with active lease or ownership dispute
Almost all residential and small-office electronics are accepted. Text a photo if you're unsure.
How We Handle E-Waste Disposal
This is where we're different from companies that just "haul it away" without telling you where it goes. Every electronic item we remove is handled through a certified chain of custody:
Step 1 — Sorting and Transport
Electronics are kept separate from general waste in the trailer. They never go in the same stream as furniture or junk — that would contaminate the load and violate EPA regulations.
Step 2 — EPA-Certified E-Waste Facility
We deliver electronics to licensed e-waste processors in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia. These facilities are certified under Virginia's Electronic Waste Recycling Act. They are not municipal recycling drop-offs — they are industrial processing facilities with certified staff.
Step 3 — Material Recovery
At the facility, electronics are disassembled. Valuable metals — copper, aluminum, gold contacts — are recovered and recycled. Hazardous materials — lead, mercury, cadmium — are extracted and disposed of under strict environmental regulations. Nothing goes to the landfill.
Data Security Note
We do not perform certified data destruction. Before we arrive, wipe your hard drives, factory-reset tablets and phones, and remove SIM cards. For devices requiring certified data destruction (government, medical, legal), arrange that before we pick up the hardware. For consumer devices, a standard factory reset or drive wipe is sufficient.
✅ We use EPA-certified e-waste processors — not the curb, not the landfill, not an unverified middleman. Virginia law requires certified handling of electronics waste, and we comply.
Wall-Mounted TV Removal
Wall-mounted TVs are one of the most common calls we get — and one of the trickier items to remove without help. The TV itself isn't the hard part; it's the mount and the cables running through the wall.
Here's what's included in our wall-mount TV removal:
- We unmount the TV from the wall bracket
- We remove the wall mount hardware
- We take the TV, mount, and any loose cables
- We do not cut cables inside the wall — surface cables only
- We do not patch or spackle wall holes — that's a separate contractor job
Pricing: Standard TV removal price ($99) applies for wall-mount removal. No extra charge for standard mounts. Very large mounts (commercial grade, ceiling-mounted) may have an additional fee — we'll tell you upfront.
💡 If you care about the wall holes after removal, let us know before we start. We can leave the mount in place and just remove the TV if you prefer, or we can refer you to a drywall repair contractor for patching.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro — The Real Math
Can you dispose of electronics yourself in Northern Virginia? Yes. Here's what that actually involves:
DIY Options
- Fairfax County E-Cycle drop-off: Free for residents — but you have to transport it yourself. Requires a Fairfax County resident ID. Hours are limited. Not available for large quantities.
- Best Buy trade-in / drop-off: Free for smaller items like phones and tablets. TVs over 50 inches may be declined or charged a fee. Requires in-store trip.
- Staples Electronics Recycling: Accepts computers and small electronics for a fee per item. TVs accepted at some locations with a fee.
- Donation: Working electronics in good condition — Goodwill, Salvation Army, or local schools may accept. Non-working or outdated equipment usually rejected.
When Hiring Us Makes Sense
If you have more than 2–3 items, if any items are large or heavy (CRT TVs, projection TVs, large flat-screens), or if you're clearing out an entire room or office, the math changes fast. You'd need to rent a vehicle, make multiple trips to different drop-off locations, and spend half a day on it. Our starting price of $99 picks up everything in one visit.
For a full home office (2 monitors, tower, printer, old laptop, cables) — that's an afternoon of your time vs a $99–$149 call to us. Most people in Northern Virginia find the math obvious.
What Customers Say
"We had a mountain of old electronics taking up space — two broken flat-screen TVs, an old desktop setup, printers, cables everywhere. Matt came out the same day and cleared everything out in under an hour. Professional, fast, and exactly what he quoted."
"Finally cleared out our home office — old monitors, computers, a massive CRT TV from 2003. Matt was great, knew exactly how to handle e-waste responsibly. Highly recommend."
"Matt removed an entire home theater setup including a large projection TV. Showed up on time, worked fast, and left the room clean. Fair pricing, would use again."
Electronics Removal Across Northern Virginia
We serve all of Northern Virginia from our base in Herndon. Same-day available throughout the region:
Herndon & Reston
Our home base. Same-day available daily. Townhouse home offices and TV upgrades are the most common calls. McNair Farms, Countryside, North Point.
Fairfax & Burke
Large colonials with finished basements full of old equipment. Gaming setups, home theaters, decade-old computers. Same-day available.
McLean & Great Falls
Large home theater systems, projection TVs, whole-home audio systems. Estate cleanouts with decades of electronics. Same-day available.
Arlington & Alexandria
Condos and apartments — small loads, single items, office electronics from home workers. Building access coordination for large items.
Vienna & Annandale
Mid-century homes with accumulated electronics from multiple decades. CRT TVs, old stereo equipment, VCR collections. Same-day available.
Bethesda & Potomac MD
Maryland service with same pricing. Home offices, estate electronics, TV upgrades. Same-day available most days.
Common Questions
Starts at $99 minimum. Single TV or computer $99. Small pile of 3–5 items $99–$149. Full room $199–$349. Added to existing load: +$50 per item. All prices include EPA-certified e-waste disposal.
No — Fairfax County prohibits electronics in regular trash or bulk pickup. TVs, computers, and monitors must go to a licensed e-waste facility. Putting them at the curb is a violation of county ordinance.
Yes — we strongly recommend it. We don't perform certified data destruction. A standard factory reset or drive wipe is sufficient for consumer devices before we pick up.
Yes — we unmount and take the TV and the wall mount. Standard $99 pricing applies for any size flat-screen. We take the TV, the mount hardware, and any loose cables. We do not patch or spackle wall holes — that's a separate drywall job. If you want the mount left in place and only the TV removed, just tell us when you book.
All electronics go to EPA-certified e-waste recycling facilities in Northern Virginia. Never the landfill. TVs and monitors contain lead and mercury requiring certified handling under Virginia law.
Yes — same-day available when you call before noon. We serve all of Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland from our base in Herndon. Call (703) 828-7824.
Yes — working electronics in good condition may go to Goodwill or local programs. Tell us when you book. Non-working or outdated units go to e-waste recycling.
Related Services
Same-day available · EPA-certified disposal · $99 minimum · Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland
Call (703) 828-7824