How to Recycle Your Used Electronics

From Apple iPhones to HP ink-jet printer cartridges, recycling e-waste is easy.

     

Photo: Istock

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By Brian Clark Howard

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Buzz up!

Most people love getting new gadgets for the holidays, whether they are tech-savvy professionals or folks who never figured out how to program their VCRs or set up a Facebook page.
But the burgeoning market of electronics and accelerating pace of technology have meant increased environmental impact. This is perhaps never more true than after the holidays, when people clean out their old gear in favor of the new shiny toys and appliances they have just received, or purchased through gifts, bonuses or seasonal sales. With the 2009 change in TV transmissions around the corner, even more e-waste is being generated. Plus, consider that the average cell phone user changes handsets every 18 months.
The good news is awareness of the potential ecological impact is also rising, and there are ways to make a difference, especially at the end of your product's life.
It's no small step, considering that 20 to 50 million tons of electronics waste (often called e-waste) is discarded globally every year, according to Greenpeace. If all that e-rubbish were put into containers on a train it would go once around the world! E-waste is the fastest growing component of the municipal solid waste stream, and currently makes up five percent of all municipal solid waste.
In the past, no one thought of recycling computers and other electronics. The only option was tossing them on the curb. But these days engineers have taken notice that electronics usually contain a wealth of valuable materials. Plus, recycling almost always means lower net carbon emissions, which is something everyone is now paying closer attention to because of global warming. Finally, electronics are made with a sizable amount of lead, cadmium, brominated fire retardants and plastics that can leach toxic breakdown products — that's stuff no one wants in their water supply!
The Consumer Electronics Association, which represents electronics manufacturers, encourages people to recycle their e-waste, and has set up a handy Website to make the process simple. Log on to mygreenelectronics.org, where you can search for local recycling drop-off points by zip code and product category. You'll also find tips and info on electronics recycling, and a cool energy calculator that will show you how much juice each product uses.
How to Recycle E-Waste, by Brand

Apple - Dell - Sony - HP - Gateway - Best Buy

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/computer-recycling-electronics-recycling-461219#ixzz19YRkfTeN

Where have I been?

Ok, I know it's been a while since I've been here. I have a really good excuse. My daughter had the baby early and we have been pretty busy with all of that. He is doing so well but things have been so hectic.

In the meantime, I haven't stopped working or thinking about the various issues I want to address here. One issue that I have always been working on is to stop using all that paper! It was something that I did since I was in high school and into college. Boy, if I could re-use a piece of paper! When I was teaching I would save scraps of paper. I would allow my students to dig through whenever they needed a piece of construction paper in a particular color for a project. My daughters always knew that if they needed a piece of paper for something, they knew where the scrap pile was kept. We always used the back of the piles of paper my husband would bring home from work. I would cut them into fourths to use as message paper or take notes on them. Add to that, recycling containers. I could find a use for just about any container (this was long before containers could be recycled). Anything from Pringles cans (they make great pencil holders) to coffee cans to cigar boxes to cardboard. You name, I could find a use for it. We even recycled our junk mail to teach students. Ah, but those days are gone. You see I no longer teach a class of students. I now work from home (my own business). My daughters are grown (and I might add that they do a great job at recycling!)

So, as I continue to recycle, the junk mail became a huge issue. Everyday, 3 or 4 applications for credit cards I don't want and never asked for, would arrive in the 'mail'. Then there are the coupons and catalogs. Well, I am so excited to say that I found a solution. There is a website that will take care of your junk mail for you. This company will contact all the companies and catalogs to take your name off the lists. It takes a lot of doing so now there is someone who will do it for you. There is a small fee involved but to me that was so worth it. Yeah! One more problem solved and I am helping the environment. By putting a stop to all that junk mail, you could save a tree! I'm not kidding!

Go to www.41pounds.org. Read all about the process. You will find a video from WXYZ-TV where the founder of 41 pounds is interviewed to explain the process. Get rid of junkmail and help save the environment. What more could you ask for. If we all spread the word, think of how many trees we'll save! That doesn't even begin to mention the post office workers who won't have to sort through all the junk.

Do your part! It's a small bit that can make a huge difference.