Updated: Recycle Your Gadgets
Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:40AM EDT
See Comments (9)
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.)
Comments on Updated: Recycle Your Gadgets
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Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
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2 Posted by namoohooy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse
Wow i can not throw out my junk phones and earn enough cash to see a movie. now only if there was something good out.
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3 Posted by marvinzules on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't kow about you, but if companies are so interested in recycling my old tech, then why shoul I have to pay them. If you ask me, I say it's one more incentive to not do it. How about listing somebody who will do it for no charge, and I don't mean just the goodwill or Salvation Army.
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4 Posted by rkawesch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse
FYI: Staples will give you a $3 coupon for an empty ink cartridge.
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5 Posted by raquelbarela on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse
You can give your old electronics (and other stuff) by posting it at www.freecycle.org. Someone else may want your old junk.
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6 Posted by jacooker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse
To vagabonnie, Check with local shelters and the boys and girls clubs. I donate often to these two. You are right, they are useful to somebody. My local Boys and Girls club uses them to teach tech to those that want to learn. Do you have knowledge of systems? Donate some time to help them also. I have never been turned away for offering my help. Just a half hour can make a life time of differance. john
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7 Posted by jacooker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse
To vagabonnie, Check with local shelters and the boys and girls clubs. I donate often to these two. You are right, they are useful to somebody. My local Boys and Girls club uses them to teach tech to those that want to learn. Do you have knowledge of systems? Donate some time to help them also. I have never been turned away for offering my help. Just a half hour can make a life time of differance. john
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8 Posted by alpyne2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse
By appointment, Phoenix will send out a truck to pickup old appliances, electronics, and computer stuff. I think they add $10 to that month's trash collection bill, but it is convenient and you know they'll be recycled. Perhaps other cities do the same.
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9 Posted by cynamont on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
I have to agree with donating to local charities. I am involved w/the Salvation Army and run their afterschool program and summer day camp program. We can't just run out and get the newest equipment and the kids love playing and using old equipment b/c most of them don't have computers and such at home. You could also check local schools. Some of ours take them and use the old phones and such for fundraisers b/c the company will give the school money for them.
1 Posted by vagabonnie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Is there a place besides the landfill to send printers and calculators and fax machines? I have a pile of dead machines that should be useful to someone - I just don't know who.