Go Green Clinton! Recycle Those Electronics

April 22 is Earth Day, as it has been for more than 40 years. But why limit it to just one day? Join us here on Katrina’s Corner throughout the month of April for 30 Days of Green--each day a new environmentally-friendly tip!

A growing problem when it comes to landfills these days concerns electronics and other technological gadgets--sometimes called “technotrash” or “e-waste.”

Generally they contain toxic chemicals and metals that contribute to air, land, and water pollution. Examples include computers, cell phones, televisions, digital cameras, music players, and video game consoles. (Not to mention all the batteries required to power these gadgets.)

We all love new gizmos, but what happens when they are broken beyond repair? When we're done with them or we upgrade? When large companies decide to overhaul their communication or computer systems?

What can we do to prevent them from ending up in landfills? There’s no perfect solution, but you can do your part by properly recycling your electronics.

Do your research! Check out www.earth911.org to find a local recycler near you. Contact your local Public Works Department for their recycling policies. You can also get great information from the U.S. EPA’s website.

Many electronics or office supply stores such as Best Buy or Staples offer incentives for recycling or trading in your used equipment. Some stores have buy-back programs for relatively new electronics. If you’re purchasing new, check with the store or manufacturer (e.g. Dell or Home Depot) to see if they will take your old equipment.

There are also many websites that offer to buy your old gadgets for cash or for points toward rewards, including www.gazelle.com and www.recyclebank.com.

For cell phones, if they are in working condition, you can donate to charities (or check with your cell phone company) so they can be refurbished and provided to the needy or underprivileged, to senior citizens, or to soldiers on deployment.

Please don’t throw away electronic equipment with your regular trash. And don’t just pile it into a closet or your garage. Take the time to dispose of it properly. And who knows, by preventing technotrash from accumulating in landfills and polluting the Earth, you might end up with a pile of cash!

Editor's Note: Beginning last month (March of 2011), the Clinton Department of Public Works and Transfer Facility on Nod Road no longer charges a fee for the cost of disposing electronic or e-waste. So recycle your cell phone, DVD, CD player, copier, computer, laptop, or television for free in Clinton. This service is available to Clinton residents only.