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Chances are a new game system, computer, iPod, cell phone or other electronics will come into your house this holiday season. What are you going to do with the older version the new goodie will replace? If you don't plan to use it yourself or pass it on to another member of the family, here are some ideas for recycling or freecyling those electronics.
Freecycle is a brilliant organization. I've used it to find new homes for still usable printers, scanners, and other electronics. Freecycle is all about free—give it away free, or get it free—Freecycle does both. Sign up at Freecycle for your local group. (The system works using Yahoo groups, so if you don't already have a Yahoo ID, you'll have to establish one.) Then post notices to the group about whatever you no longer want but don't want to see end up in the landfill. All sorts of things get passed on to new users this way, Freecycle isn't restricted to electronics.
If you can't find another family member or a Freecycle member who will use the electronics, you don't need to toss it in the trash for a trip to the landfill. Why add mercury, cadmium, lead, or even gold and platinum to our landfills when there are easy, better options?
Britt Bravo mentioned Recycle for United Cerebral Palsy in her article 10 Lists of Holiday Gift that Give Back. The Cerebral Palsy recycling plan is a money maker because it uses BCS Recycycling Specialists.
BCS also has recycling programs that benefit breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and others. BCS provides boxes for you to mail in electronics for recycling.
The state of California is a leader in the electronics recycling field. If you are in California, check out eRecycle. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists a few other locations around the U.S. at Where You Live. Consumer Reports offers advice on how to find a reputable recycler.
Lists of recycling centers at web sites like the ones mentioned are far from complete, however. Many municipalities and states have programs in place. In my own city, Albuquerque, the city organizes well-publicized recyling days every few months. Citizens can drive to a temporary collection center and drop off everything from TVs or phones to videocassette players and other electronics.
At EIAE there's a calendar giving dates of reycling events all around the country, and recyclers listed for each state. Non Toxic Vision has a good list of places where you can recycle old computers.
Manufacturers such as Dell and Apple are running their own recycling programs. Most cell phone manufacturers will take back their cell phones. Best Buy and Staples have electronics recycling programs in their stores. Radio Shack will take your electronics. In other words: electronics recyling is everywhere.
How Can I Recycle This? has a special section on Recycling at Christmas. It isn't specifically about recycling electronics. It's more about recycling the tree and the wrapping paper. However, the site does have numerous suggestions for recycling electronics.
You electronics can continue to serve if you donate them to a charity like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You get a tax deduction, the charity makes a little money, and the gear continues to be used instead of discarded. Jolly Green Girl has some tips for donating, such as giving your old computer to a school.
You may be able to earn gift cards for recycling, as The Sojourner and The Bargain Shopper Lady both point out. Sam's Club and Costco both give you gift cards in exchange for old computers. Petite Planet raves about the great green program at Costco.
A program I learned about from Ode to Simple is the Gazelle Company. Gazelle buys external drives, video games, cell phones, mp3 players, digital cameras, laptops, GPS devices and game consoles. You agree on a price, they send you a box, and you mail it in.
Don't overlook the possibilities of donating things to ReStore, the Habitat for Humanity project. ReStore accepts household goods like light fixtures, doors, kitchen ranges, toilets and other items that are still good and usable. While perhaps not truly an electronics recycling idea, it's still a good way to keep useful items in circulation and out of the landfill.
Doing the right thing with your old electronics is easier than ever. That's why more and more people are participating in recycling programs. It helps you, it helps others, and it
