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Reduce Electronic Waste
Posted On: May 3, 2020
While it’s natural for us to replace outdated electronic devices, like laptops, appliances and smartphones, just throwing these items in the trash contributes to the millions of tons of electronic waste in landfills. If you’ve committed to energy efficiency by upgrading your appliances and electronics, take the next step by disposing of your older models properly. We’ve compiled a few solutions to help you get rid of your electronic waste.
Electronics
Many of your old laptops, televisions, tablets and other electronic gadgets can be recycled, donated or resold to companies as part of buyback programs. Your city or town may have local businesses or organizations that offer drop-off locations for these products, including SERI, which has a directory with recycling options close to you. Also, check with the manufacturer to see if it offers programs that let you recycle directly with the brand or a local retailer.
Appliances
Large appliances like refrigerators and freezers are great candidates for recycling because they are mostly made of metal. You may need to take a few steps to ensure that your appliance is ready for recycling, like cleaning it and finding out if it uses Freon. If the appliance still works, consider donating it to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill or another nonprofit in your area.
Batteries
Single-use batteries can pile up quickly, and once they’re dead, they are of no use. Earth 911’s Recycling Search will find local recycling centers that accept AA and AAA batteries in your area. Call2Recycle.org will also locate the closest drop-off location for your old cell phones and batteries via your ZIP code.