Publix GreenWise Market: Eclying Electronics
Filed under: Earth 911 - July 1, 2008
You love your brand-new laptop, but ever since you hauled the hunkering old desktop out to the garage, it’s been gathering dust next to the bubble-jet printer and broken VCR. You know you should do something with all this e-junk, but you’ve heard that dumping electronics is bad for the environment. Instead of letting your outdated equipment languish in limbo, why not look into upgrading, donating or recycling it?
Take Out the E-trash
Rapid changes in technology mean we’re constantly replacing computers, printers, cell phones, video game consoles and other electronic devices. All that obsolete equipment piles up. In fact, the United States generates 1.5 billion pounds of e-waste a year, or more than 171,000 pounds an hour.
Many consumer electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium. “These are dangerous chemicals that can contaminate soil and drinking water,” says Anne Reichman, a program director at earth911.org, a consumer environmental portal.
Some electronics also contain valuable raw materials that can be harvested and reused. “Gold, copper and other precious metals can find their way back into the manufacturing process. Electronics have a much greater potential out of the landfill than in it,” says Kristina Taylor, manager of environmental communications for the Consumer Electronics Association.
Repair and Reuse
Before looking into recycling equipment, check out options for repairing or donating. Consumer Reports’ greenerchoices.org website has a “Fix It or Nix It?” chart that can help you decide. “Your first choice should be upgrading your existing equipment by adding more RAM memory or an extra hard drive,” Reichman says. “Buying used equipment is also an option. You might not need the latest and greatest model, and someone’s old version can save you money and save the equipment from the landfill.”
Several nonprofits, such as Goodwill and the March of Dimes, accept certain old electronics for reuse or to refurbish and sell. However, be sure to call your local branch and confirm that they will take your donations before driving over. The Giving Works program (givingworks.ebay.com) allows you to sell your equipment on eBay and donate the proceeds to the nonprofit of your choice. Or check within your community for organizations that need used gear. Schools, churches, nonprofit groups and community agencies are all good bets. “Passing your old stuff on to others is a win-win,” Taylor says. “Just make sure it’s still in good working order. Most nonprofits don’t have the technology staff to repair old products.”
Recycle
If your old electronic device is past its prime, recycle it, but look for a responsible recycler. The nonprofit Basel Action Network (ban.org) reports that some recyclers export e-waste overseas for improper disposal.
“Ask basic questions like, ‘Are you handling the items in the U.S.? What happens after I turn them in to you?’” Reichman says. “The problem [occurs] when U.S. recyclers send the products overseas and they’re improperly dismantled, putting workers and the environment in danger from the toxic chemicals inside.”
“Consumers are the best catalyst for change in how electronics are recycled,” Taylor adds. “Ask questions, and if the recycler doesn’t give good answers, find someone else.” To search for a recycler in your area, start with the following websites: mygreenelectronics.org, eiae.org and earth911.org. Some cities recycle electronics within their solid-waste departments; others have seasonal recycling dates. Where e-waste isn’t handled at all, you may be able to find a private company.
Many electronics manufacturers and retailers also run their own recycling programs. “It’s a natural progression to recycle your old equipment at the place where you’re buying new,” Reichman says. “Many retailers are taking the initiative to be good product stewards and to educate their customers about recycling.” Find a list of e-cycling partners, including Best Buy, Staples, Sprint and more, at epa.gov/e-cycling.
After finding a good home for your obsolete electronics, rest easy knowing that you’ve saved the world from a few pounds of e-waste.
Scrub It Clean
Before donating or recycling your old computer, make sure your hard drive is completely data-free to guard against identity theft. “The one thing hard drives do really well is hang on to data,” says Billy Rudock, a tech support engineer with hard-drive maker Seagate Technology. “Unless the files are completely erased by overwriting the hard drive, the original data will always be there.”
Tom Merritt, executive editor at cnet.com, recommends Darik’s Boot and Nuke program, a free download that wipes the hard drive to Defense Department standards. “It takes awhile, so let it run overnight,” Merritt says. “If you don’t want to do it yourself, a computer store can do it for you for around $20–$50 per drive.” Some recyclers will scrub or destroy the drive and certify that the data is erased, but Anne Reichman, program director, earth911.org, says it’s safer to do it yourself.