Electronics Recycling: Perhaps you have a way out-of-date computer or monitor. It’s too old to give to someone else, yet you don’t want to damage the environment by sending it to the garbage dump. Your old TV too can harm the environment if simply sent to the dump. The site below tells you about the dangers and gives you options for disposing of your old electronic devices responsibly.

http://earth911.org/electronics

     Taking The Data Off Your Old Computer: The item below tells how to clean your data off your old computer (hitting delete is NOT the solution), and suggests some things you can do with the computer afterwards (you’ll find other suggestions in this section):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2007/12/28/AR2007122803238.html

     Don’t throw away that toxic cellphone! Send it to COLLECTIVE GOOD instead. They say, "Mobile phones and other mobile devices (pagers, PDAs) present a growing threat to the environment. As of 2007, there are more than 750 million mobile phones waiting to be recycled in the U.S., either in drawers, or already in the waste stream. Another 150+ million or so will be added this year and even more next year. Once in the waste stream, these devices may leak lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and other toxic substances into the water supply. Municipalities often incinerate their waste, instantly putting these toxic elements into the air, and they return to earth in rain water. Since life on Earth depends on water, the threat is clear."

http://collectivegood.com/environmental.asp

     The RETHINK INITIATIVE is also concerned with e-waste. They say, “The Rethink Initiative brings together industry, government and environmental organizations to offer a fresh perspective and new answers to the challenge of e-waste. On this site you can find information, tools and solutions that make it easy – and even profitable – to find new users for idle computers and electronics, and responsibly recycle unwanted products.”

http://rethink.ebay.com

     THE EPA’S BASIC RECYCLING SITE not only gives sound advice on disposing of old electronic equipment, it helps you buy responsibly in the first place. Check it out before you buy anything electronic:

http://epa.gov/e-cycling/basic.htm