What to do with old electronics [View All]

What to Do with Old Electronics
November 2004

Rapid advances in technology come with a price: the equally rapid pace of obsolescence. The average lifespan of a computer, for example, will have dropped from 4.5 years in 1992 to approximately two years by 2005.

As a result, "e-waste"—discarded computers, TVs, cell phones, and other electronics—comprises one to four percent of the municipal solid waste stream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. What's worse, this equipment is often made from non-renewable resources and contains hazardous chemicals including lead, chromium, cadmium, and mercury.

Here are some ways you can cut down on this e-waste:

Buying

*
Before you buy replacement technology, assess your current equipment. Can you improve your computer's performance with a memory or video card upgrade? Do you need a cell phone with all the newest features when your old one works just fine? Is it worth buying a new portable CD player if you eventually want an MP3 player?
*
Choose a product that has all the features you will need for the foreseeable future, has space to add components such as memory if needed, or takes the place of two separate gadgets (for example, you could consolidate equipment by buying a cell phone with integrated personal organizer, or a printer with integrated scanner or fax).
*
Purchase used or refurbished electronics (but be aware that these products might not come with a warranty).

Reusing

*
Before discarding obsolete electronics, find out whether a local repair shop, electronics training program, or even a technologically inclined friend or family member could use it for parts or practice.
*
Consider donating used electronics to a nonprofit organization or school. Some organizations, for example, reprogram used cell phones for emergency use by senior citizens or victims of domestic violence. Computers that are less than five years old should be donated through an electronics refurbisher (see the link below), who will clean out old files and software and ensure all of the components are running properly. Computers that are more than five years old should be recycled, since software and technical support for older systems is difficult to find.

Recycling

*
General electronics: Many cities and towns now offer electronics recycling as part of their household hazardous waste collection program. Contact your local public works department to find out what equipment it will accept and on what days; some charge a small fee per item.
*
Computers: If your town does not accept computers, look for a commercial recycler that can break down and distribute usable components and dispose of the rest properly (see the links below).
*
Cell phones: Many cell phone manufacturers and service providers will take back used phones for reuse or recycling.



You might be able to upgrade your computer hardware instead of buying an entirely new system.



For more information:

EPA—ECycling
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/

High Tech Goes Green
http://www.futurenet.org/article.asp?id=596

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
http://www.svtc.org

Computer Take Back Campaign
http://www.computertakeback.com

Ten Tips for Donating a Computer
http://www.techsoup.org/products/recycle/articlepage.cfm?ArticleId=524

MAR Refurbishers
https://www.techsoup.org/mar/mars.asp

Electronic Industries Alliance—Cell Phone Recycling and Donation Programs
http://www.eiae.org/whatsnew/news.cfm?ID=100

EPA—Computer Take Back Options
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/epr/products/computers.html

Recycling Resources
http://www.cio.com/archive/041503/tl_resources.html

Electronic Industries Alliance—National Database of Reuse and Recycling Programs
http://www.eiae.org

More info: http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/green_tips.cfm?publicationID=948