Project Reboot in Baltimore: Drop-off Recycling and E-waste for Residents Without Curbside Service
Project Reboot is a nonprofit recycling and electronics-waste facility in South Baltimore that accepts materials from residents who lack curbside pickup or need to dispose of items larger than standard bins allow.
What Project Reboot actually is
Project Reboot operates as a donation and recycling center focused on repairing, refurbishing, and responsibly recycling electronics. The facility accepts working and non-working computers, monitors, printers, phones, and other tech equipment, either donating functioning items to nonprofits and schools or breaking down e-waste for material recovery. Beyond electronics, it functions as a general drop-off recycling point for residents in neighborhoods where Baltimore's curbside program has limited coverage, particularly in older residential areas where alleys or lot configuration make regular pickup impractical. The operation sits between a traditional municipal recycling center and a specialized e-waste handler.
What you can drop off and what it costs
Project Reboot accepts most electronics at no charge: desktop and laptop computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, phones, tablets, and networking equipment. Larger items like old televisions and appliances are accepted but may incur a small fee; confirmation is necessary before drop-off since pricing shifts based on material commodity values and operational costs. The facility also takes standard recyclables including cardboard, paper, metals, and plastics, again at no cost for residents. No charge applies to donations of working equipment, which the organization attempts to place with schools, small nonprofits, and individual users before recycling components. Verify current fees and accepted items before arriving, as e-waste pricing is tied to scrap metal and rare-earth element markets.
How Project Reboot compares to other Baltimore recycling options
Baltimore residents have three main recycling routes. Curbside pickup, managed by Baltimore City's Sanitation Division, covers much of the city but excludes some older neighborhoods and oversized items; it accepts standard commingled recyclables only. The city's Quarantine Road Landfill and Transfer Station on Quarantine Road accepts drop-off recycling and bulky waste but requires a city permit for larger loads and operates on limited hours, typically Tuesday through Saturday. Project Reboot differs by specializing in electronics diversion and repair, accepting items at no cost, and operating with extended weekday hours suited to working residents. Choose Quarantine Road if you need to dispose of bulky non-electronic items like furniture or construction debris; choose Project Reboot if electronics or lack of curbside access is your constraint.
Who Project Reboot serves and who should look elsewhere
Project Reboot works best for residents in South and Southeast Baltimore neighborhoods without regular curbside pickup, those upgrading computers or phones and wanting to avoid landfill dumping, nonprofits and small offices with surplus equipment, and people seeking to donate working devices rather than recycle them. It is less suitable for residents with full curbside service who need only occasional drop-off (curbside is more convenient), or for those with hazardous waste like batteries, paint, or chemicals (the facility does not handle these; contact Baltimore's Hazardous Waste Collection Program separately). The facility does not accept CRT monitors or tube televisions in all cases; call ahead if that is your primary item.
What happens on your first visit
Arrive with your items sorted by category: working electronics separate from broken ones, standard recyclables separated from e-waste. The staff will visually inspect items, note their condition, and direct you to the appropriate drop-off area. If your equipment is functional, they will ask whether you want it considered for donation or recycling. Processing takes 10 to 20 minutes for a typical drop-off. No appointment is required for standard visits, though large institutional donations should be coordinated in advance.
Hours, location, and logistics
Project Reboot operates at 1431 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. Hours are generally Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though these shift seasonally and with staffing; verify before traveling. Street parking is available; the facility is accessible by the #8 bus route. No formal parking lot exists, so plan for on-street spots and a short walk. Check the website or call ahead if you have items heavier than 50 pounds or need to confirm acceptance.
Project Reboot fills a gap for South Baltimore residents whose neighborhood geography or zoning has left them without curbside recycling and for anyone with electronics that deserve reuse before materials recovery.
