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. Various government jurisdictions are 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 http://www.2good2toss.com/snohomish/ for others to reuse it
- Give away to charitable organizations, thrift stores, see a list of them here: https://recyclopedia.org/wa/snohomish/thrift-second-hand-stores
- If it's not reusable, ask a local electronics repair service if they reuse and recycle certain components
- Give to shelters or schools that may accept computers and periphery in working condition
- 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.
Non-working or obsolete electronics can be recycled through the State of Washington's E-cycle program.
There is no cost for households to recycle the following:
- Televisions
- Computers
- Computer monitors
- Portable or laptop computers including "tablet computers"
- E-readers (also called e-book readers)
- Portable DVD players
For further details see E-Cycle Washington, below.
Or call 1-800-RECYCLE to find electronic product recycling services in your area.
Waste electronic and electrical equipment (listed below) 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
