Updated: Recycle Your Gadgets

Earth Day comes only once a year, but concern about the environment should should be an everyday occurrence. Do you know that many of your older gadgets are actually toxic? But do you also know that you can recycle them instead of throwing them out? Both public and private organizations want to recycle your old gear. I say let them!

According to California's Integrated Waste Management Board (ciwmb.ca.gov), electronics should not be disposed of with regular garbage. Try to prolong the life of working equipment by selling or donating it to the less fortunate, and recycle non-functioning equipment by finding an organization equipped to do so. Check out this list to find a recycle center near you.

Tech Companies with Recycling Programs

Apple Recycles program recycles your old equipment for a $30 fee that includes shipping. Cupertino residents recycle free.

Dell Recycling recycles your old PC and monitor at no cost when you buy a new Dell computer.

HP rewards you with up to $50 towards your next purchase when you recycle your old computer hardware.

Verizon Wireless' Hope Line program collects wireless phones from any provider to refurbish and donate them to victims of domestic abuse. Last year it donated 10,000 phones with airtime to shelter victims, and raised $750,000 to support awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

Visit Eiae.org for a list of other tech companies that recycle.

Do you recycle or are you guilty of holding onto your gadget for years? Share your story. 

(This story is an update of an earlier post.)