Recycle those old electronic gismos

By Chris McGinn

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Each year, nearly two million tons of consumer electronics end up in our landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but only some 15 to 20 percent of discarded TVs, computers, cell phones and peripherals are being recycled.

As you upgrade to the latest and greatest products, consider these easy and responsible ways to reuse and recycle your stuff.

What can I do with my old cell phone?

More than 150 million cell phones will be retired this year as Americans upgrade to new models. So what will happen to those old phones? The EPA estimates that only about 30 percent are being recycled leaving millions in drawers or landfills across the country.

They have launched the Plug-In to e-Cycling initiative to make it easier for everyone to recycle their old phones. The program partners with wireless service providers and office supply companies such as Staples and Office Depot, and old phones – much like ink cartridges – are dropped off to be recycled.

In addition, hundreds of charities around the nation collect used cell phones to refurbish, sell, or recycle to fund their activities. Some web-based organizations such as WirelessRecycling.com and Charitablerecycling.com, make it easy to recycle with mailing labels available for print online. These organizations accept outdated or used phones and pass them along to those who need them or sell them for parts to fund worthwhile charities.

You can also return the phone to your provider as most have programs to recycle or refurbish phones. Verizon Wireless sponsors HopeLine  to refurbish or recycle used phones to fund programs that help domestic violence victims or to provide new phones or airtime to them. Sprint/Nextel’s Project Connect is a free wireless recycling service that raises funds to help keep kids safe online through Sprint’s 4NetSafety program.  You can pick up a postage-paid envelope at a Sprint store or print one from the website.

T-Mobile also recycles in support of its T-Mobile Huddle-Up program, which connect at-risk youth to positive afterschool programs. ATT’s Reuse and Recycle Program and Alltel also encourage customers to recycle used phones at participating stores nationwide.

Hundreds of local governments have also added e-waste management to their community waste collection facilities. Check with your local government for more information.

Should I donate my old computer too?
When it comes donating old computers, keyboards, printers and other accessories, there are some questions to ask first.

1. Is the equipment usable as is or does it need upgrading to be helpful to anyone?
2. Is the equipment more than five years old?

For some organizations, computers are a welcome gift, whatever condition they are in, but for most, there are guidelines that are required before you drop off your old CPU.

Before you donate, be sure to check with the organization for their minimum requirements such as operating system, type of printer, processor speed, etc. In many cases, it is better to donate your equipment to a licensed refurbisher who can upgrade your equipment more easily and at less cost than the school or organization can.

Check out our article, Recycle your old computer, for more information.

Why recycle?    

Cell phones and other consumer electronics contain harmful materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants that are toxic to the environment. In addition, they also contain valuable materials such as gold, silver and copper that are being mined to make new equipment. Recycling just a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year.

Be careful, though, not all recyclers are created equal. E-waste dumping in the developing world is a hot topic these days. The Basel Action Network (BAN) has a list of responsible “e-stewards” that have signed the Electronics Recycler’s Pledge of e-Stewardship to promise to dispose of e-waste in environmentally and socially responsible ways.