Dmytro Angelovskyi / Shutterstock.com Tablets Illegal in Garbage & Drains E-Waste Dmytro Angelovskyi / Shutterstock.com If your tablet is in good condition, consider donating it. Never Throw in the Trash Most electronic tablets are known to contain one or more of the following hazardous chemicals: lead, brominated flame retardants, and chlorine. Although these chemicals are only present in small amounts, hazardous chemicals do leach out of electronics sitting in landfills. Remove Personal Information Before donating or recycling a tablet, remove all sensitive and personal information from the device. Just deleting items won’t erase this information in its entirety: visit a local software store to pick up software to wipe the device completely.