Tips for proper disposal of old technology

Q: Where can I take my old electronics for proper recycling?

This time of year, many of us are asking the same question as a result of newly-acquired electronics during the holiday season.

The vast majority of U.S. households include some form of electronics in their gift-giving every year, so odds are, you have older electronics sitting in a closet or garage.

Sadly, far too few consumers think like you, so e-waste (electronic waste) is the fastest growing municipal waste issue according to the EPA.

E-waste represents 2 percent of our trash but accounts for 70 percent of overall toxic waste in our landfills and it’s growing as our appetite for gadgets grows (the average U.S. household has 24 electronic devices).

Most statistics suggest that we only recycle 15 percent to 25 percent of our e-waste so we can all do a better job of keeping the lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and many other toxins out of our landfills and groundwater.

Before recycling electronics, I like to encourage thinking about repurposing first. Just because the device is no longer good enough for you, doesn’t mean that it won’t be useful for others.

Start with your schools, churches and local charities, especially if you have older cell phones, computers, printers and tablets that can still be used.

The National Cristina Foundation is a great resource for individuals and businesses that have technology that they think can still be of use.

The foundation focuses on service-providing organizations targeting people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged populations through their non-profit locator tool.

You can also make it available to others in your community by using resources such as FreeCycle, which is a virtual equivalent to putting it out on the sidewalk with a sign that says “FREE.”

If you have a cellphone or smartphones that still works, you may be able to trade it in or recycle it with your current wireless carrier.

There are also a whole host of companies like Gazelle and Cellular Recycler that offer to buy your older phones, tablets and computers through online pricing forms.

You can also check with your municipality’s website to see if they have a structured e-waste recycling process, drop-off locations or annual events.

The EPA has also put together a list of national companies that offer recycling programs for PCs, televisions and mobile devices. These companies offer everything from drop-off locations to recycling events and mail-in options.

Another list of recycling options for things like batteries, printer ink cartridges and computers is Computer Hope.

Before you donate or recycle your computers, make sure you take steps to securely wipe your personal data from the hard drives.

Your cellphones and smartphones are also loaded with lots of personal information, so make sure you perform a factory reset before getting rid of it.

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Editor’s Note: Saturday, the Arizona Technology Council, Westech Recyclers and Data Doctors are hosting another Technology Recycling Day. Here are the drop-off locations and a list of acceptable items.