With an influx in the number of electronic devices being used by consumers, safe and environmentally friendly disposal of electronic devices is a priority. Any device that has reached the end of its useful life and includes a circuit board is considered e-waste.
E-waste, which includes TVs, kitchen and household appliances, computer equipment and consumer electronics, contain a variety of materials and metals that can be recovered for recycling. By recycling e-waste, new metals don’t have to be mined, which helps conserve resources. In addition, electronic devices that contain high enough levels of certain materials, such as lead, are considered hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of in the garbage.
Here are a few ways to safely dispose of these materials.
- Donate to organizations accepting electronics for reuse. Consider donation if the item is still working. Donating working electronics to friends, family members, non-profits or local thrift shops can extend the useful life of an item.
- Find a local drop-off station.There are a number of drop-off stations that accept unwanted devices. Your waste removal provider should have details on local e-waste stations. You can also search the Cal Recycle website for details on organizations accepting e-waste. Some local electronics stores now accept all kinds of e-waste regardless of where the device was originally purchased, the manufacturer or how old it is. In some cases, stores will provide trade-in value for items.
Remember, many electronic products (computers, cell phones, PDAs, etc) store personal information. Before you donate or recycle, remember to remove all sensitive and personal information from its memory. Note that simply using your keyboard or mouse to delete files may not completely remove the information from your device’s memory. Your local software store can provide you with the necessary drive cleaning software appropriate for your system.