| Modern technology provides society with many | | | | programs varies from place to place. Some |
| conveniences, from Wi-Fi enabled cell phones and | | | | municipalities may provide such services to area |
| ever-smaller laptop computers that make our | | | | residents. In some areas, annual collections are |
| entire lives portable to energy-efficient washers | | | | held once or twice a year as a means of |
| and dryers that use half the power and time to | | | | disposing of electronic waste as well as used |
| complete their tasks. However, these new toys | | | | engine oil or other waste that is harmful to the |
| and gadgets leave behind them a wake of | | | | environment. When purchasing new appliances |
| outdated, unwanted contraptions. | | | | that are being delivered, retailers like Sears often |
| It's all electronic waste and it includes everything | | | | offer free removal of the appliance that is being |
| from empty printer ink cartridges to broken | | | | replaced. Since some appliances, such as |
| refrigerators. As people purchase new items to | | | | refrigerators, cannot be disposed of without |
| replace aging electronics or make upgrades, more | | | | costly removal of hazardous substances, this |
| electronic waste is generated. In some cases, | | | | saves you not only time but money as well! |
| such as 2009's switch from analog to digital | | | | Other retailers, like Best Buy, also offer electronic |
| television broadcasting in the United States, | | | | waste recycling programs to their customers. |
| changes in technology are so great that old | | | | There are also some good alternatives to |
| equipment may not even work at all with new | | | | recycling your electronic waste. Any items that |
| systems. | | | | are in working condition can be given to friends or |
| There are many reasons why it is important to | | | | donated to charities like Goodwill or the Salvation |
| recycle electronic waste. Much of the material | | | | Army, who rely heavily on donations. Freecycling, |
| used to construct electronics, including metal and | | | | or passing on your unwanted items to those in |
| plastic components, can be recycled into new | | | | need of them, is also a means of finding new |
| items at a fraction of the cost and energy use | | | | homes for used items. Websites like Craigslist and |
| needed to create things from new raw materials. | | | | Freecycle.org are good places to list any usable |
| Additionally, many electronics contain toxic | | | | items you would like to give away. Interested |
| substances that are harmful to the environment | | | | parties can contact you to ask any questions |
| and could be catastrophic if leached into an area's | | | | they may have about your items and to arrange |
| groundwater. For example, television tubes contain | | | | picking up their new treasures. |
| mercury, which is known to be extremely | | | | Electronic waste recycling helps preserve the |
| poisonous. When properly recycled, electronic | | | | environment by reducing the amount of toxic |
| waste is stripped of all toxins and other harmful | | | | materials placed in landfills and salvaging recyclable |
| materials, which is then properly and safely | | | | components to save energy and other resources. |
| disposed of. Because of these environmental | | | | Contact your local government officials or waste |
| concerns, many areas require by law that | | | | management companies for details on any |
| electronic waste be properly recycled. | | | | e-waste recycling programs in your area. |
| The availability of electronic waste recycling | | | | |