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?

Post from: EveryJoe

Old Computers on Earth Day

A laptop that served you, that kept with you in good times and bad, deserves a good send off. If not a wake, a private “I will miss you” would be nice. The riddance itself could mean careful planning. Dumping the computer dude in a dump is a serious offence, just like DUI. Most electronic components are non-biodegradable and some are even toxic.

Brian Reich has a wonderful article about responsible disposing of computer equipment. Of the three R’s — Recycling, Reducing and Reusing — he says that while the former is catching up, the latter two are preferrable.

For those in a hurry, here is the gist of the article. But don’t forget to bookmark this and get back to it later.

1. Buy quality products. Consider that extra pay as an investment than an expense.
2. For reasons of law and security, wipe your hard drive clean before initiating disposing. Before you do that, back up.
3. Resell and consider buying resold goods.
4. Donate. Libraries, charity organizations, poor students,…
5. If you can’t resell or donate, recycle. Earth 911 and UNICOR Recycling Program can be your place to start. If these services don’t offer any viable solution in your locality, you can always call the service center of the company from which you bought the hardware and give it back to them.

Post from: EveryJoe

Responsible Disposing of E-waste