If you are like many people today you purchase new electronics multiple times a year. In the last 5 years, more consumers and manufacturers are aware of the thousands of pounds of recyclable materials and toxins that are dumped. So, in honor Earth Day and our heritage with cool electronics, we thought it would make sense to serve up some ways that you can recycle an old laptop or tablet, instead of throwing it away.
- Trade in your old cell phones: If you don’t want to hand it to your kid (or your vice versa), most of the major brands will take ANY brand of cell phone and charge. Check out their web sites for a location near you. One in particular that we like is AT&T’s participation in , which donates the proceeds from refurbishment to fund phone cards for U.S. soldiers.
- Take in your old electronics: Major office supply retailers, like Office Depot or Staples, both offer recycling programs through which you can recycle laptops, monitors, and printers. Printer cartridges will even get you a credit for future purchases.
- Give your laptop or tablet to a kid: It might be your child, the neighbor’s or someone in one of your community’s schools. Even though the perception is kids are smarter than adults with electronics, not everyone can afford the newest models. While you are at it, buy them an eco-friendly laptop case or a tablet case to give a new feel while you are helping to keep the environment safe. Some of the creative materials include PVC reduced neoprene, recycled rice sacks, recycled plastic bottles and cotton.
