Portsmouth Herald News: Organization is resource for recycling e-waste
Filed under: Earth 911 - April 18, 2007
Seacoast.com
April 18, 2007 11:40 PM
LOS ANGELES — How many old computers, cell phones, used batteries and televisions do you have piling up in your garage? Many Americans are stockpiling these defunct electronic items because they are at a loss as to how to properly dispose of them.
Earth Day, which takes place Sunday, is a great time for people to clean out their closets and to move those old electronics back into the recycling food chain.
Earth 911, which powers the nation’s largest environmental Web-portal and a toll free national recycling hot line, provides local recycling locations for electronic waste and more throughout the country. By entering a zip code, users can find a comprehensive list of recyclable items and locations that accept them in their community.
Electronic waste, or “e-waste” consists of unwanted computers, monitors, televisions, audio equipment, printers and other home electronic devices. Technological advances for all electronic equipment quickly render them obsolete.
More than 20 million personal computers went out of use in 1998 alone. Only about 14 percent of those were reused or recycled, while most were disposed of or remain in storage.
“The good news is that more and more people know that tossing an old computer into the trash can is not the right thing to do. But people also end up hanging on to old equipment because they’re not sure where to take it,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 program manager. “Earth 911 can help everyone recycle these items, which is one contribution we could all make this Earth Day.”
Earth 911’s three most common recyclable electronic items:
Computers:
In 2005, the National Safety Council estimated that 63 million computers became obsolete. It is estimated as of 2007, these stored computers will amount to about 500 million computers. Earth 911’s Web site and hot line have ideas about how to prolong the life of your computer as well as local computer donation and recycling locations in your community.
Cellular phones:
As of 2005, estimates indicate that over 130 million phones are disposed of every year. Many consumers store old cell phones because they are unsure of how to discard them. Earth 911 has information about why it’s important to keep cellular phones out of landfills and can help consumers properly dispose of older models.
Batteries:
Batteries are made with toxic substances that must be recycled to avoid land and ground water contamination. According to the U.S. EPA, despite the fact that batteries make up less than 1 percent of municipal solid waste, they are responsible for a large portion of toxic heavy metals found there. Most communities require batteries be recycled, but many of us don’t know where we can take our used batteries. Earth 911’s zip code locator feature can help people in every community throughout the U.S. to properly dispose of these toxic items.
Other common types of home-generated e-waste include printers, fax machines, scanners, copy machines, televisions, radios, microwave ovens, stereo system components, camcorders, digital cameras, telephones, hair dryers, electric typewriters and video game consoles.
“If everyone followed the three Rs with their e-waste, we could really make a difference for the Earth,” said Rappaport. “Reduce by maintaining and keeping electronics for as long as possible by upgrading whenever possible instead of purchasing a brand-new item; reuse old computers by donating them or buying refurbished models; and recycle older items for recovery of metals, plastics, and other valuable materials. It’s that simple, and it can really go a long way in protecting our natural resources.”
Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence. For details, call Severn Williams at (510) 336-9566.
TO RECYCLE
To find a comprehensive list of recyclable items and locations that accept them in your community, visit Earth 911’s Web site at www.earth911.org or call (800) 253-2687.