How to Eliminate E-waste

Ever stop to think about the impact that you and your family can have on the planet? Sure, you can minimize them by turning the thermostat down and driving a car that gives you good gas mileage, but what about your E-waste? That's the term for older electronic products that have been overtaken by new product developments, such as a conventional TV being replaced by a High Definition model or a CRT computer monitor replaced by an LCD. Even though some of it works just fine, to some of us it's virtually worthless and it often ends up in the trash and landfill. Here's some thought on how you can handle your E-waste in a more environmentally friendly fashion.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Concern for the environment
• Commitment to preserving the earth for your children

Dealing With E-waste

1. Know that legislation has been enacted in many jurisdictions aimed at reducing E-waste, however much of it is aimed at business and industrial operations, not at individuals. So each of us should consider using the 3 R's for dealing with our E-waste–—reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce

2. Buy products with a proven record of reliability, that way you won't have to consider throwing them away too soon.
3. Think about repairing older electronics rather than just trashing them. Sometimes something as simple as replacing a battery in a remote control will give it a new lease on life.
4. Consider upgrading rather than replacing. Older computers can often be "made new" by adding a new hard drive, some additional memory or a new peripheral.

Reuse

5. Donate working computer equipment that you don't want to bother with. Charities, schools and non-profit organizations are often happy to receive and make valuable use of older, working equipment.
6. Think about reselling working equipment that just isn't for you. Advertise in the classifieds or put the equipment into a garage or street sale. Bargain hunters will be happy to keep your old, working electronics out of the trash.

Recycle

7. Check the Yellow pages or neighborhood bulletin boards for recyclers who will take your electronics if it's beyond repair and no one wants it. Recyclers dismantle electronic equipment to recover reuseable materials and valuable components.
8. Determine if your computer manufacturer offers a recycling program. Some are now taking back their old equipment in an effort to keep it out of landfills.
9. Find out if your community has a responsible recycling program for E-waste. A growing number of communities are implementing programs to help keep E-waste out of their trash.

Tips & Warnings

• E-waste is a serious environmental hazard. Electronics often contain hazardous chemicals and materials that shouldn't just be dumped into landfills. For example, television screens and CRT's contain large amounts of lead; batteries and switches can contain mercury, cadmium and lead; while printed circuit boards can contain beryllium, which is a carcinogen.
• Check with any recycler to determine what they do with your E-waste. Responsible ones will recover components but some do nothing more than sell it as scrap to Third World countries, where it just ends up in landfills on the other side of the world.

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