Disposing of Electronics

The digital age that we live in is an exciting time, but it has ushered in a problem that no one really thought about. What do you do with electronics that are for trash? E-waste is considered to be anything that you plug in and has electronic components. Many electronic devices, no matter how small, have components that have noxious materials that will eventually leach out and run into the ground at the landfill, causing many potential hazards.

Lead and Mercury are two of the most toxic products you will find in many different electronic devices. When these two toxins leach out in a landfill, ground water contamination can occur.

There is a right way and a wrong way to dispose of electronic equipment. There are actually a couple of different things that you can do with electronics that will prevent them from becoming a potential toxin. It is important that you act in a responsible manner when discarding old electronic devices.

It Matters

Different electronics have different disposal requirements. For example, if you have an old laptop that can not even be scrapped for parts, pull the battery out before you trash it. Each town, city, or municipality should have addressed this issue by now; if where you live has yet to set a standard for disposing of electronics, get involved and help to set one!

Recycle

There are many recycling options available for electronics. Most states have some sort of program in place for recycling electronics. If the item is still usable, consider donating it to a charitable program.

Computer equipment can be broken down and some of the parts can be reused. A computer fix-it store may take it. There are websites that also will take spent computers and other electronic devices. Many charitable organizations are happy to take old cell phones that can be refurbished or traded in.

Before you give your computer or useable cell phone away, make sure to wipe the drive clean to remove any personal information. There are web sites where you can get free software that will wipe your drive clean.

Computers are relatively easy to find homes for beyond the dump. What about products that are just not useful anymore, like VCRs? VCRs and VCR cassettes can be recycled; just contact your recycling facility and check to see if there is a fee involved.

Reclaim

There is supposed to be a place at every landfill that old electronics are supposed to go to. In rural and suburban areas you can just head to the landfill and place your spent electronics in the correct bin.

In urban areas there are designated collection points through out the city where you can place your unwanted electronic items. Call your city government office and ask what the protocol is for getting rid of unwanted electronics that no longer have a function.

Apple will buy back your unused Apple electronics with a gift card. Then, they tear it down and reuse the glass and metals after recycling them!

Check out Earth911.com for further help on where to dispose of E-waste!