Your Helpful Guide to Recycling E-Waste

Photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

The demand for new technological gadgets is never ending, technology is always moving forward. Billboards and advertisements do a great job in convincing consumers that they need the newest gadgets such as, cell phones, laptops and other personal technology in the market. What happens with our old technological devices that we have no use for? According to an article on NRDC.org titled ‘What to do About E-Waste’, it says “Two million tons of tech trash ended up in landfills in 2005, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and only about 380,000 tons were recycled.”

A major concern is the toxic chemicals these gadgets release into the air when they are improperly disposed into the landfills, such chemicals as lead, mercury and cadmium, according to the article. The article mentions alternative ways such as recycling, donating or selling our unwanted gadgets that can help reduce the amount of E-waste in our landfills.

The concept of recycling is not a new one, it is a key player of the Go Green movement. When recycling gadgets there are three alternatives according to the article. One, is to find E-waste recycling events within your community. Two, is to send used gadgets back to the manufacturer. A good resource is to check the manufactures’ website for their recycling policy. Or lastly, is to recycle your gadgets at a retail store such as Best Buy that has a program called, Greener Together, which allows recycling of a wide range of gadgets free of charge. The article also mentions taking advantage of the United States Postal Service's free e-waste recycling program, that allows recycling of “small electronics such as inkjet cartridges, PDAs, digital cameras and MP3 players.”

Another option is to donate or sell unwanted electronics. The article mentions that, “EPA and eBay provide lists of organizations that accept donations of used electronics and some services provide second-hand computers to schools or nonprofits, so your old computer could become a valuable tool for someone in need.”

There are many programs in place to help dispose of E-Waste properly, and is our responsibility as citizens of this world to help Mother Earth and keep E-Waste away from landfills.