With ever-changing technology, the hottest new products often become obsolete in the blink of an eye. The result? Tons of outdated equipment gone to waste. But, before dumping that old computer or other item into the trash, try to find out if there are electronics donation and/or recycling programs in your area. Both options are great ways to keep old equipment out of the landfill.
Most of us have at least one old electronics item just sitting around the house collecting dust. It could be that there’s nothing wrong with the item at all — perhaps it was replaced by a newer model. And chances are as our lives become more technologically enhanced, this problem will only continue to grow. But, by donating an old computer or other electronic item, schools, non-profit agencies and lower-income families can have access to items they may otherwise not be able to afford.
To pursue this option, it’s important to make sure that the equipment is still in good working condition. In most cases, the donation centers and recipients do not have the resources to repair electronics. It’s always best to check with the donation organization to see what their minimum requirements are (in some cases, the donation center may still accept out-of-date items but may charge a small handling fee). And, depending on the organization, a donation of old equipment may be tax deductible.
If donating the item for reuse is not an option, consider recycling it. More than 100 million pounds of recyclable materials are recovered from electronics each year, saving valuable resources as well as the energy that would have been expended to harvest new materials. Often, old electronics items contain dangerous chemicals that can be toxic to the environment, making it particularly important to avoid simply throwing away these items whenever possible.
The Environmental Protection Agency has set up a website dedicated to eCycling, or electronics recycling. On this website, the EPA says: “Depending on where you live and the amount of equipment you have, the best recycling option might be a county recycling drop-off center, TV repair shop, charitable organization, electronics recycling company, or even your local electronics retailer, which might collect used products and send them to a recycler.”
In 2005, about 15 to 20 percent of obsolete electronics items were recycled. Although more and more people are recycling every year, that percentage tends to remain constant because so many new electronics hit the market every month. While the specifics of recycling electronics vary from city to city, more than a thousand areas now offer it. To search for electronics recycling in your area, visit the Where You Live section on the EPA website.
