Recycle your old computer, phone, or PDA
You probably know you shouldn't throw out your cellphone, computer, PDA, or rechargeable batteries. But figuring out the responsible way to recycle those items can be a lot of work. Most cities don't have curbside electronics recycling. Here's a few tips for keeping your electronic goods out of the landfill:Check with the manufacturer
- We've had an old PDA from Dell lying around the apartment for a few months now. It died, we replaced it, and we had no idea what to do with the broken unit. Finally I went onto Dell's website a few days ago and discovered that the company offers for any Dell branded product, not just printer ink and toner. The next day a DHL driver came to my door and picked up the package. You'll need a box or padded envelope to pack your item, but Dell picks up the charges.
- HP offers free recycling for rechargeable batteries, toner, and ink cartridges. You can also recycle computer parts but you'll have to pay a fee.
- Palm has a free recycling program for phones and PDAs.
Find a recycling center
- The Electronics Industries Alliance maintains a list of e-cyclers across the US. Just select your state and find out if there's a place to drop off electronics near your home.
- The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation maintains a list of locations where you can drop off rechargeable batteries for recycling. This list is somewhat larger than the EIA's e-cycling list, so even if you can't find a place to drop off your computer, I'd definitely recommend checking this list out if you're trying to figure out what to do with that dead battery from your phone, laptop, or PDA.
If you're tired of your old PC, but it still works, you might want to consider donating it to a local school or selling it on eBay or Craigslist. You might make a few bucks or get a tax deduction while clearing out space in your house. And you'll also be keeping dangerous metals out of a landfill.
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