Happy Earth Day everyone! Today’s topic is what the heck do you do with all of that old PC equipment you’ve got laying around the house and aren’t using anymore? I’ve got old hard drives, 4-5 old CRT’s, a couple of towers and a boat load of cords, chargers and other devices just sitting around and taking up space. I know I don’t want to just toss it out, but what do you do with it?

EPA website header graphic

A quick search and poll of twitter gave me some ideas on what could be done. First I found the eCycling website setup by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s got information about what to do with your e-waste and the different options that are available for you to take advantage.

This site offers:

• Basic Information about reducing and recycling electronics
• Where You Live provides information about regional and State eCycling programs
• Where Can I Donate or Recycle My Old Computer and Other Electronics? lists organizations and retailers with donation and recycling programs
• Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics
• Regulations/Standards for handling electronic equipment
• Frequent Questions and answers about electronic waste
• Resources publications and links that offer additional information on the management of electronics

A friend on twitter also let me know that you can take some old equipment to Best Buy and they will help you recycle it. Some items require you to pay a small fee, but Best Buy will give you a gift card for the equivalent fee for you to spend at a later time.

Pretty cool. So, what are you getting rid of today or this weekend? What ideas do you have for using old equipment for something useful?

Since it’s Earth Day, I thought I would take a break from showing you some cool electronic gadgets and perhaps make you aware of an ever growing problem in the environment from the electronics industry.

E-Waste (Electronic Waste) is becoming a huge problem throughout the world. We as American produce the most E-waste as we dispose of and attempt to recycle our outdated and obsolete electronics. Much of this out-dated product has toxic materials such as heavy metals like lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Hexavalent chromium.

Image: Newscom

I wrote a short article on E-Waste yesterday at Blisstree Men’s Health. Here is a short excerpt and if you have a moment, head on over to the original article and give it a read. There is also a video about America sending it’s E-Waste to third world countries for recycling and the conditions that the people that are recycling the material in are not exactly healthy. Read more

It seems like everyone wants to help the planet these days.

From solar panels and hybrid cars to more “eco friendly” lightbulbs, everyone is getting in on the act.

So, if you’re going to drink, why not be “eco conscious” while you do it?

Sailor Jerry, my all time favorite rum, has these great totes for sale on their website for $20. They come in natural or black and you’ll be able to hold true to what the bag’s tagline says, “My work speaks for itself” when you’re carrying your booze groceries around in the bag.

Definitely something to look into if you’ve been considering purchasing one of those ugly grocery store bags.

Cool looking AND earth friendly.

Image| Sailor Jerry

It was warm. It was cold. It was warm. It was cold. It was 60+ degrees all last week. Over the weekend, we got snow. Mother Nature is really being a headtrip this Spring. Maybe she’s worried about getting another Jiff and toilet paper roll bird feeder from the kids again this year? Just in case, I thought we should switch it up with an Earth Day Challenge that would really get to the heart of eco-friendly drivers.

Quite often, here and other places, you’ll see the advice to buy an electric car and rent a hybrid for longer trips. Now that there are more hybrid rentals than ever, it made me wonder. Why not ditch your car, and ride public transportation except for special occassions? Really put your money where your mouth is, Hil. Stop saving for that Aptera and buy a bus pass.

People might balk at that at first, especially if they have anything similar to our transportation. Do you know what the city calls it’s mass transit system? D.A.R.T. Yep, that’s right, in one fell swoop they guaranteed people would associate the bus with smelly people. Woe the poor child who had to ride the “F.A.R.T.” bus. I know they were crucified at our school. The only thing worse is the line’s actual state of cleanliness, which for years was subpar.

Our new mayor is kicking ass, and cleaning up the streets, buses included, but there still isn’t a lot of information for people who want to use public transportation. Lack of knowledge is a surefire way to keep people from taking an opportunity.

Which leads us to our 2008 Eco-Friendly Driver Earth Day Challenge: Find out how to use your public transportation. Can you use money, or do you need a ticket or pass? If so, where do you get it? How much does it cost? What is the route you’d take to school, work or a regular hang-out? Our town doesn’t have this information online, but several communities do. Even Google maps has taken notice.

The ultimate goal is to actually ride public transit somewhere by the end of the month. You can do it once, or twice, or maybe you’ll find out how easy it is to make it routine. How inexpensive. How much better for the environment.

Happy Earth Day, Gaia. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you something nicer.

[Image source NASA]

Remember Huddler.com? They’re giving away ten eco-friendly pack prizes (worth $140 each) filled with the following:

- A recycled Huddler messenger bag
- An EarthLED CL-3 bulb
- 2 TCP SpringLight CFL bulbs
- 1 bottle Eco Touch waterless car wash
- 1 bottle Biokleen all-purpose spray
- 1 bottle Earth Friendly Products dish washing liquid
- 1 bottle Method daily shower spray
- 1 pair GreenLaces

Go to http://greenhome.huddler.com/pages/contest for more information.