Detroit Electronics Refinery

What We Do

We help the Metro Detroit community dispose of old electronics in a way that helps the economy and the environment. We accept donations of old electronics, which are then disassembled by hand, and directed into our processing steps. Metals are sorted and refined, then returned to the supply chain instead of ending up in a landfill.

What We Accept

Laptops, desktops, and servers
Phones and tablets
Networking equipment — routers, switches, modems
Printers
Power supplies
Stereo and audio equipment
TVs and monitors
Microwaves
Transformers
Cable and wire

If it plugs in and has a circuit board, we'll take it! If you're not sure, snap a picture and send it to us via text or email.

A few things we don't take

Bulk Batteries — batteries in laptops are okay, we'll remove and safely dispose of them
Anything with refrigerant — refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers
Smoke detectors — can't be recycled due to hazardous materials

Our Story

Detroit Electronics Refinery started the way a lot of family businesses do: a father and his sons tinkering with electronics in the garage. The processes we developed during the hobby operation formed the basis for the commercial scale e-waste recycling that DER does today. To date, we’ve handled thousands of pounds of e-waste, putting metals back into the supply chain instead of the landfill.

The work ethic and curiosity our dad fostered in that garage led to both sons graduating from Michigan State University with honors. While the company has grown in a lot of ways over the years, some things never change: my brother and I can still often be found in the garage helping our dad take stuff apart.

- Joseph Mulka