A massive amount of electronic equipment was bought between 1970 and 2000 and it is now coming to the end of its life, which has created a growing e-waste problem for communities. We are now wrestling with how to achieve a better system for designing, building, using and then recycling these items. The trend is towards ensuring that they're built to have a long life, be repairable, and that it be designed to be recyclable in the first place.
What we can do now:
Reuse it
- List on a classified ad website for others to reuse it
- Donate to charitable organizations, thrift stores, shelters or schools that may accept computers and computer periphery in working condition
- If it's not reusable, ask local electronics repair services if they reuse and recycle certain components
- If you can't hold on to it, ask your municipality what happens with your e-Waste. Hopefully they will say that it goes into a certified e-Waste program locally.
The following waste electronic and electrical equipment contains both hazardous and valuable materials that can be recovered by proper recycling.
Cameras
Digital cameras
Digital picture frames
Non-digital cameras
Security cameras
Video cameras
Web cameras
Cell Phones
Computers & Accessories
Desktop, laptop, portable & tablet computers
E-book readers
Modems, external drives, zip drives
Monitors, keyboards, mice, cameras, microphones
Printers, scanners, copiers & multi-function devices
Wires, cables, power cords
Home Office Equipment
Answering machines & dictating machines
Calculators & adding machines
Electronic typewriters
Fax machines, printers, copiers & multi-function devices
Pagers & PDAs
Telephones (corded & cordless)
Televisions & Audio/Video Equipment
Television, Home Theatre System
Audio Docking Station
CDs, DVDs (Music, Video, Software)
Digital picture frame
Radio, Clock Radio
Receiver, Amplifier, Equalizer, Speaker, Turntable
VCR/DVD/Blu-ray Player/Recorder
Vehicle Radio, Speaker, Player
Video & Audio Cassettes, 8-Track
Video Game System/Software
More basic information on e-waste here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-waste
