Green Advice from Quill: Dead Electronics? Recycle Them!

It seems like today's electronics are constantly updated and consumers jump at the first opportunity to upgrade their gadgets. Newer, faster, smaller and cheaper products hit the market every day. Other than donating to schools or charity, what to do with your old computers, notebooks, televisions and printers, working or not?

We should make sure our obsolete electronic equipment is handled responsibly. Less than 10% are collected for recycling, the rest are stored in homes and offices, disposed in landfills or burned in incinerators.

Many local programs are happy and willing to accept old computers and consumer electronics but it's up to you to search them out. They pride themselves on being environmentally friendly and assist you through the process.

The most responsible way to get rid of electronic equipment that's no longer in use is to re-sell or donate if it's fairly new and in good shape. You should bring it to an environmentally responsible recycler if the product is too old or no longer working.

Contact the product's manufacturer if you have questions about recycling your electronics. Many computer manufacturers will take back your old equipment by mail, and some will offer trade-in credit towards future purchases.

The Rethink Initiative offers a fresh perspective on the challenge of e-waste, with information, tools and solutions that make it easy to sell, donate or recycle used computers and electronics, including cell phones. See www.collectivegood.com for more information

Earth 911 offers environmental hotlines, websites and other information sources nationwide, and consolidated them into one network. Once you contact the Earth 911 network, you will find community-specific information on eCycling and much more. Visit Earth 911 at www.earth911.org.

Electronics improve the way we live, work and play, but there's one place where electronics should have no impact-the environment. Through responsible use, reuse and recycling, the consumer electronics industry and consumers can protect and preserve the environment-together.

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