Staff Blog

E-Waste Management

As a card-carrying member of the YouTube generation, my laptop is my best friend. It's there when I wake up in the morning to give me the latest rundown of headlines; it braves the subway twice a day to follow me to work; and it keeps me company at night, providing hours of entertainment when my flakier cohorts fail.

But even the most loyal of companions sometimes need replacing, raising the question of how to properly say goodbye to our reliable tech toys. Electronics can contain lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants and other less-than-friendly materials, making their proper disposal endlessly important. In order to promote the healthy habit of recycling electronics, or eCycling, Best Buy has agreed to follow the urgings of As You Sow, an organization that promotes corporate sustainability, to test free on-site recycling of items such as TVs, computers, phones and cameras at 117 locations, starting June 1. The program will be tested at 117 locations in the Baltimore, San Francisco and Minnesota markets, covering nine states. (To find out if there is one near you, visit Best Buy's News Center.)

Other retailers practice similar efforts, like Staples' EcoEasy program, which provides drop-off bins for unwanted handheld devices and offers in-store recycling of large electronics for a fee of $10. Most cell phone companies, including Sprint, Samsung, T-Mobile and Motorola, offer recycling services for any cell phone.

With all of the options becoming available, it's time for the rest of the electronics industry to step up. A lot of time is spent developing new gadgets and gizmos, but figuring out what to do with them is just as important. Programs like Best Buy's could--and should--become second nature. With all my laptop has given me, I can at least make sure it gets the chance to give back.

For more information about eCycling, visit the EPA's Web site.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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