#217 - E Recycling

The electronic gizmos that we have become addicted to have a nasty down side.  How do you get rid of them when they break or just get old?   The average US consumer keeps their laptop for only 3 years and their cell phone for only 2 years.  This means there are literally tons of electronics being discarded, many of them still have useful life. 

Electronic devices are a complex mixture of several hundred materials. A mobile phone, for example, contains 500 to 1000 components. Many of these contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants. Polluting PVC plastic is also frequently used.  Putting them in a landfill is not a good idea.

There are several ways to recycle.  If the product has useful life there are organizations that will clean them and offer them for resale.  The Salvation Army does this in Covington for PCs.  There are also many organization that will take your old usable cell phone.  You need to ensure that your personal data has been cleaned from the item.  Many electronic items can be restored to their original state without any stored information. Check with the manufacturers web site about restoring to original state.

If the item is broken there are recyclers that will disassemble the device and recover the valuable minerals and properly dispose of the hazardous ones.  Up to 99% of the materials in electronics can be recycled.  Gold, copper and even circuit boards can be melted and then reused in new electronics.  Metals like aluminum and steel can be sent to their own recycling industries.  Most of this recycling produces product that is indiscernible from virgin materials.  Its a win/win process that we should all embrace.

So where can you e-recycle?  Many computer companies, phone companies and many retail stores will take back what you bought from them to recycle.  You just need to ask them about it.  In the Highlands our local recycler, Jackson River Enterprises, has contracted with an e-recycler to come in twice a year to take your electronics.  Still looking for a place to take your stuff?  Try this link:  E-Recyclers!

Just say NO to putting your old electronics into the trash.  The damage to the environment and your health could be serious!