Recycle Your Electronics

When purchasing a new television, you may not have thought of what to do with the old one until the new one is already in your home, ready to be installed. Now what? There’s always the option of putting your old TV in your bedroom and the old computer in the basement. But then again, you replaced them because they were old and/or not working right.

Prevent waste before it happens. If your electronic items are still in working condition, considering selling them or donating them to a charity or other donation center for reselling. If your gadget has seen better days and is in dire need of repair, skip the charities and donation centers and just recycle the item.

WHY RECYCLE?

There are a multitude of reasons to recycle your electronics but one of the most important is preventing pollution. There are toxic chemicals inside a TV and other electronic devices that can pollute our earth and waterways. There are also the efforts needed to mine new resources—such as aluminum, gold, and steel—instead of reusing what’s already been dug up and processed.

Find a local recycling center to donate your items. If they have free, local pickup, your end of the deal could be no more than placing a phone call and setting the item outside in an area accessible to their crew. The recycling center will disassemble the unit to retrieve metals and other items that can be used to create new gadgets.

OPTIONS & CHOICES

Here are some resources to find an organization to handle your unwanted items:

myGreenElectronics – Learn about the 4 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink) and find recycling centers by ZIP Code.

AT&T Reuse and Recycle – They offer the option to bring unwanted cell phones, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) and other accessories (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to an AT&T operated store or participating authorized dealer store near you. Use the store locator to find a participating store near you.

Earth 911 – Earth 911 is a comprehensive communication medium for the environment. Once you contact the Earth 911 network, you will find community-specific information on eCycling and much more.

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) – If it’s rechargeable, it’s recyclable. RBRC can help you recycle portable rechargeable batteries commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. Search for collection sites by Zip Code.

Sony – Has a recycling program that makes it easy to dispose of electronics in an environmentally-safe way. Bring your unwanted electronic product to any participating drop-off center and recycle it for free.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) – Their recycling program includes hardware, LaserJet supplies, and Inkjet supplies). They also have a trade-in program.

LG Electronics – Offers consumers—free of charge—recycling of any product and accessories associated with those products that have the LG, Zenith, or Goldstar brands. Consumers can drop off up to five items at any one time for free.

Toshiba – With the Toshiba Free Electronic Program you can recycle your old electronics regardless of the brand and at no cost to you. They also provide a trade-in option should you want to trade in your used products for cash.

Motorola– Consumers can visit Motorola’s website to print out postage-paid mailing labels (PDF) and send in any unused phones or accessories. They accept any mobile phone or accessory—not just Motorola products.