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Esurance Insight: Ditch Your E-waste the Green Way!
Many of us have become tech-savvy, gadget-obsessed trend hunters. We look forward to buying new laptops, wireless devices and cell phones every few years.
As our technological consumption increases, so does our environmental awareness. Green consciousness is, of course, a good thing, but the issue now becomes: how do we dispose of our unwanted electronics in an eco-friendly way?
Why e-cycle?
While the overall amount of general municipal waste is decreasing, electronic waste is on the rise. From 2004 to 2005, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2.63 million tons of electronic waste (or e-waste) was generated in the U.S. More than 87 percent of that waste ended up in landfills or incinerators.
E-waste is both an environmental problem and a health hazard as those discarded computers and cell phones leave behind lead, mercury, chromium, and other hazardous waste, which is not usually biodegradable. Other e-waste products include TVs, VCRs, DVD players, video cameras, and stereo systems. So instead of dumping your obsolete electronics, consider recycling, donating, or upgrading.
Recycling, donating or upgrading
If recycling or donating is a better route for you, contact your manufacturer or retailer to see if they have programs in place. More and more companies are stepping up to the plate on e-cycling with trade-in programs or collection events at retail locations. Some of these companies also partner with local organizations and support recycling events.
Another source to contact is your municipality. Many communities organize e-waste recycling days throughout the year. Your municipality should also know the law regarding electronic waste disposal in your area.
Here are some other resources to check out:
- Plug-In To eCycling is a program that partners the EPA with consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers to give consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle.
- Visit the Electronic Industries Alliance’s Web site, www.eia.org, for a list of recyclers.
- Call2Recycle, a nonprofit organization, lets consumers search via their ZIP Code for local places to recycle used portable rechargeable batteries and old cell phones.
- Use sites www.freecycle.org, www.ebay.com, and www.craigslist.com to sell or give away your electronics.
If you plan on donating your product for reuse, your first step is to make sure it works and isn’t outdated. Donation organizations have limited resources to repair and diagnose.
Before you donate, check what the organization’s minimum requirements are. Generally computers should be no more than 5 years old. EPA’s Do the “PC” Thing: Donate Computers outlines steps to take in donating your computer, including how to clean-up your computer beforehand.
“Do the PC Thing” also recommends what to do if you’re considering upgrading your software instead. According to the EPA, computer hardware generally lasts 7 years, while software typically becomes outdated in just 3 years. You might have to pay a fee to get rid of your e-waste, but consider it an investment in the planet.
Buy Green
Besides taking an eco-responsible stance in disposing your e-waste, buying green-friendly electronics will also help appease any potential guilt on being part of our culture’s rampant consumerism.
The EPA recommends that consumers look for electronics that:
- Contain few toxic constituents
- Use recycled materials
- Are energy efficient (look for the Energy Star label)
- Are designed for easy upgrade and disassembly
- Use minimal packaging
- Offer leasing or takeback options
- Meet performance criteria showing they’re environmentally preferable. Take a look at: www.epeat.net. By searching its database, consumers can evaluate and compare different products.
When it comes to recycling our electronics and buying greener products, we have to take proactive measures. But in the end, we’ll leave a smaller footprint. For more green information, check out our Insight: Small Steps for a Smaller Global Footprint.
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