| Today, everyone is making changes to help | | | | Find a Local Program |
| preserve the environment for the next | | | | If your area is one of the 800 communities that |
| generation. In your home or business, you have | | | | have set up electronics collection events or |
| likely installed energy efficient light bulbs or | | | | programs, use the local program to recycle your |
| appliances, become more conscious about turning | | | | computer. Contact the electronics retailers in your |
| off lights in rooms you are not using, and learned | | | | area to find out if they offer computer recycling |
| to turn down the thermostat while donning a | | | | programs. If you cannot find a local program in |
| sweater when the weather turns chilly. | | | | this way, do a simple online search to find one. |
| Your computer represents a large drain on | | | | Mail-In Programs |
| environmental resources. Many steps can help you | | | | Some communities may not have computer |
| limit this drain. For example, when you are not | | | | recycling options. In this case, consider using a mail |
| using the computer, turn it off and unplug it rather | | | | order recycling program. For example, Hewlett |
| than letting it go into "hibernation" mode. This will | | | | Packard offers a mail in take-back program that |
| save electricity. When your computer is no longer | | | | will accept computer hardware of any type. The |
| functional, you are faced with another opportunity | | | | company then reuses or recycles the machine. |
| to do something to protect the environment. | | | | Other programs may charge a small fee, but this |
| Rather than tossing the machine into the garbage | | | | fee is worthwhile in light of the help recycling your |
| heap, you can recycle it through a computer | | | | computer provides to the environment. |
| recycling company. | | | | Donation Programs |
| The Need for Recycling | | | | If your computer is still usable, but you simply |
| According to the Environmental Protection Agency | | | | need a better or more modern machine, consider |
| (EPA), over 40 million computers will become | | | | donating the computer. Many non-profit |
| obsolete each year. This is a tremendous amount | | | | organizations will take older computers, upgrade |
| of garbage to add to already overflowing landfills. | | | | them, and then sell them at a discounted rate. By |
| Consumer electronics make up approximately two | | | | recycling your computer in this way, you not only |
| percent of the entire solid waste stream in the | | | | help the environment, but also your local |
| country, and this number is continually increasing. | | | | community. |
| While this is a small percent, recycling the | | | | Before you throw your unwanted computer in |
| computers will make a tremendous impact on the | | | | the garbage, take the time to look for a recycling |
| overall health of the environment, because in | | | | or donation program. Erase all personal information |
| reality this percent represents 2.25 million tons of | | | | from the machine before donating or recycling it |
| consumer electronics, which includes computers. | | | | to protect yourself, but then drop it off at the |
| Sadly, only about 18 percent of those are | | | | center of your choice. By helping to protect the |
| currently being recycled, which means 1.84 million | | | | environment today, you ensure that your children |
| tons of electronic waste is hitting the landfills each | | | | and grandchildren can still enjoy it someday for |
| year. | | | | themselves. |