Recycling Electronics

Let's be honest: almost all of us have some long-forgotten device laying somewhere in our home. Whether it be a broken gadget we have yet to get rid of, or a functional one that got replaced by something new, there is always at least one thing that can be gotten rid of. Unfortunately, many of us never end up getting rid of these items, and they sit unused for years. As a result, our society ends up becoming needlessly wasteful when it comes to the materials we put in gadgets, creating unnecessary pollution and degradation. So, in this post, I wanted to talk about the different methods one can use if they hope to recycle their electronics in a responsible, environmentally-friendly way.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Ironically, one of the best ways to recycle an electronic is to avoid recycling it at all. Before deciding to drop off or throw out an old product, see if it can still be used. Adding replacement parts, fixing broken pieces, and finding new uses for these items are all great ways to ensure you are generating the least amount of waste possible. However, this strategy comes with a risk. Many (including myself) keep electronics for long periods of time because they hope that they will eventually find a use for them. And, in most cases, this use never presents itself. So, if you do try to find another use for an electronic, make sure to consider whether or not you will actually end up using it. After, all, a device recycled is much better than one abandoned.

Drop it off

So, if you've deemed an electronic to be broken beyond repair, or unusable in any way, then it's time to recycle it. This can be done through a multitude of different means. The first is to bring it to a company-sponsored drop off site. Companies like Samsung, LG, and Dell, as well as stores like Best Buy and Staples, offer numerous locations for you to bring in your old gadgets. Some of them even partner with recycling nonprofits to create these drop off sites. So, if you're interested in bringing your electronics to one of these, click here. This link will take you to the EPA's comprehensive chart on which companies have sites, as well as what devices they recycle.

Donate!

This is a bit similar to the last method talked about, but with a slight twist. If you don't feel like giving your device back to a company, or there isn't a drop off site near you, then you can donate your electronics to an organization. The big difference between these and the companies is that most organizations require the device to be in a fairly good working condition, as they will be provided to another group of people. There are some, however, that will take broken devices, so even if your device no longer works it's worth taking a look. Consumer Reports has some really good suggestions for electronics donations, so take a look at their article if you want to learn more.

Buy-Back Programs

If you're looking to get a little bit of money back for your old tech, then there are a couple options out there for you as well. TechForward and Gazelle are great places to sell as well as buy used gadgets. Obviously, you won't get a ton of money back for these, but if you're looking for something this is a good option. Plus, that gadget will continue to be used, and won't end up generating any more waste then it had to. Just another good option to choose from.

Miscellaneous Items

That pretty much wraps up the options when it comes to recycling devices. However, while on the topic of recycling items outside the norm, I figured I would talk about some miscellaneous items, and how to recycle them as well. Here are some tips:

Light Bulbs- because light bulbs such as CFLs and fluorescents contain mercury, they cannot be thrown out. So, the only other option besides leaving them in your house, is to recycle them. In the United States, stores like Ikea will take back bulbs for recycling, and offer convenient locations within the stores themselves to drop them off. Additionally, organizations like lightbulbrecycling.com allow you to package and ship your light bulbs directly to the organization, where they will then recycle them responsibly. And finally, some towns/states even offer their own recycling plans for light bulbs (and some require them to be recycled too) so make sure to take a look and see if your state/town has one.

Printer Cartridges- these are fairly easy, because most companies making the cartridges will actually take them back and recycle them. For instance, HP has their own recycling program for people who want to bring back these cartridges. If the company you purchased cartridges from doesn't have a program for recycling, then there are plenty of organizations that will take them as well. For instance, needempty.com even allows you to sell your empty cartridges back, so you can help save the environment and make a bit of money out of it too. These are just two examples of the many groups willing to take these empty printer cartridges.

Conclusion

Obviously, I can't include all the materials you can recycle and how to do so in one post, but electronics, light bulbs, and printer cartridges are some of the most easy to do. You may have noticed, however, that I didn't include one BIG item you can recycle: batteries. This is because, depending on the type of battery you recycle, there can be different processes and nuances for each. I feel that it almost warrants it's own post, so that is most likely what I will be covering next week.

So, recycling electronics is just another one of the many small ways we can help to minimize our impact on the environment. Whether it be dropping it off at a company site, donating it to an organization, or even trying to keep it in use for just a bit longer, all of these methods help in some way. So, next time you look at that broken gadget you've had sitting in the corner for years, consider recycling it, and help us move one step closer to sustainability.

All credit for information used in this post goes to:

https://www.consumerreports.org/recycling/how-to-recycle-electronics/

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling#why

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-recycle-your-electronics-and-gadgets/

https://worldcomputerexchange.org/donate-computers/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/how-to/how-to-recycle-your-electronics/

https://www.epa.gov/cfl/recycling-and-disposal-cfls-and-other-bulbs-contain-mercury

Images:

https://www.wired.com/2014/12/product-design-and-recycling/

http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/sustainable_brands/circular_business_models_could_unlock_%C2%A344b_electrical_re

https://wp0.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu/what-we-do/surplus/

http://www.androidguys.com/2012/10/23/lg-spectrum-2-details-found-on-best-buy-ahead-of-announcement/

http://creative-green-life.com/en_US/repair-broken-phone-screen/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-a-weil/money-is-like-manure_b_2287494.html

http://greenlivingideas.com/2014/08/30/light-bulb-shapes-and-sizes/

https://shopping.yahoo.com/

http://wonderfulengineering.com/what-is-an-electric-battery/

http://happyhauler.com/reduce-recycle-reuse/