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Proper Disposal and Recycling of E-Waste
Used electronic devices, known as
e-waste, are increasingly becoming a larger part of our waste.
Fortunately, there are a number of options available to those
who want to recycle their old electronic items.
To address the increasing amount
of e-waste, many state and local governments, electronics
manufacturers, and non-profit organizations have created
comprehensive recycling programs. Several states,
including California, Maine, Maryland, Texas and Washington,
have even enacted laws requiring the collection of certain
electronics.
E-waste recycling options vary
across the country. So, the first step to determine what
options are available in your area is to review information
about your local recycling program. This information is
available on Earth911.org, some local government Web sites and
the following Web sites:
In addition to “traditional”
recycling programs, some electronics manufacturers and retailers
also offer e-waste recycling. Many manufacturer-sponsored
programs will
accept and process their brand for free. Some accept
other brands for a small fee.
After determining what options are
available, it is important to determine whether a recycler is
operating under strict environmental controls and high worker
safety protections. A few general questions to ask include:
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Is the recycler certified
(such as an ISO 14001 environmental management
certification) and does it follow a set of industry
recognized guidelines?
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Does the recycler actually
recycle most of the e-waste materials collected (it is best
if the company can recycle 90 percent or more of the
materials)?
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Does the recycler have written
procedures for removing and disposing of mercury lamps in
electronic products? Many manufacturer and government
sponsored programs have extensive online information
detailing the way in which recycling is handled.
In addition to choosing a
recycler, it is also important to prepare your e-waste for
recycling. For computer recycling, one important concern
is to erase all data from the computer before sending it off for
recycling.
However, this should be a factor
regardless of what one does with an old computer because
electronic data can be retrieved from hard drives. There are
many options (such as software) to ensure that the data is
permanently erased. In fact, many recycling firms will
scrub the hard drive and certify that all data has been erased.
Before sending your computer to a recycler, check to verify that
this option is available.
Manufacturer Specific Programs
Retailer Programs
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Circuit City
(Easy-trade in program)
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Best Buy
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Staples (accepts computers, monitors, laptops, and
desktop printers, faxes and all-in-ones)
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EPA Plug-In Partners (lists manufacturers, retailers
and service providers that offer recycling of e-waste)
Donation
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EPA — lists options for donating or recycling
e-waste
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Techsoup — lists non-profit organizations and
recyclers of e-waste
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Goodwill (some locations accept computers) — Web
site includes tips on how to donate computers
Cell Phone Recycling/Donation
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