Maybe you just got a new TV or computer. Great. What's going to happen to the old one?
You could sell it, donate it or recycle it. Just don't throw it
in the trash."There are so many toxics in electronics it is very
important that they be kept out of the landfill," said Tom Watson, King County's Eco-Consumer.
He says those toxic materials include mercury, cadmium and
lead. "In some of some of the older computer monitors and TVs, there are more than 4 pounds of lead in those," he said.
It's good for you and for the environment.
A team of "Total Reclaim" soldiers glean what they can from old electronics, taking what's salvageable and safely processing the toxic materials within.
"In particular, lead. Lead is found in the glass in televisions and monitors and it's also found in circuit boards in the solder," said Craig Lorch, Total Reclaim.
Lewis County residents with old computers and TVs will be able to recycle
them for free beginning in January, when a new "e-cycle" law goes into
effect.
A press release from the county said computer towers, laptops, computer
monitors and televisions are eligible for the program.
A collection center will be set up at the Centralia Goodwill store, at 519
Harrison Ave. Those interested can call the store at 736-3828 for collection
center operating hours.
Under the Washington Electronics Recycling Law, manufacturers will pay for
the program, and it is open to all state residents, schools, small businesses,
small governments, special-purpose districts and nonprofit groups
Wall Street Journal article by Ryan Knutson, 7/2/09. Small electronics makers are struggling with -- and fighting against -- new state laws mandating they pay for electronic recycling programs for consumers. Five companies, including ViewSonic Corp., CTX Technology Inc. and ToteVision Inc., are threatening litigation against Washington state's new electronic waste law, which requires manufacturers to fund recycling and collection services for old TVs, personal computers and monitors. The companies argue the law, which took effect this year, charges them too much and improperly includes out-of-state businesses. Meanwhile, the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade group representing 2,000 electronics companies, is negotiating with the New York City officials to change a city ordinance that would require electronics companies to pick up old gadgets door-to-door. The CEA says the ordinance, scheduled to take effect July 31, would cost the industry $200 million annually.
Elizabeth Wilmot's parents, like many from the "Greatest Generation," never let anything go to waste: They saved string and wrapping paper and purchased used cars. So perhaps it's not surprising that Elizabeth, a former international marketing executive, would establish a company dedicated to...
A state law that just went into effect to encourage recycling of electronics
needs some tinkering to make sure it doesn't inadvertently bankrupt businesses
that fix old computers, says a state legislator whose South Seattle district
includes several computer-refurbishing shops.
The law allows consumers to recycle computers, computer monitors, laptops and
TVs for free. In effect as of Thursday, it is being hailed as groundbreaking
nationally because it marks the first time a state has forced electronics
manufacturers to pay the entire cost of the recycling.
But there's a big problem with the law, according to environmentalists as
well as the computer refurbishers: It puts a big hurdle in the way of the
computer rebuilders.
Richland, Wash-- If
you have an old
T.V. or computer to get rid of think, before you put it in
your garbage. It's not illegal for households to put electronics in their trash,
but it could be dangerous for ground water around landfills.
All
businesses are required to E-Cycle their electronics.
If you take your
electronics to the Richland Landfill they will dispose them for free.
They
have already shipped six truck loads so far.
Our newsroom has received a number of calls and e-mails asking why if the
State Department of Ecology is promoting free e-cycling, some people are being
asked to pay anywhere from $5-15.
We hopped online to the Department of Ecology's website.
It turns
out
stores like Staples and Office Depot charge you money for what's called
a drop-off box; you buy a box and can fill it with electronic recyclables.
We talked to Office Depot, and they tell us they charge the money for shipping
and the state's new ecology law does not affect them.
Donating E-Cycle material to Goodwill helps in two ways: supporting
Goodwill's job-training and placement efforts; and through sales at our retail
stores, having a greater chance to reuse computers instead of having them end up
in the waste stream. Donations to Goodwill are, of course, tax-deductible and
Goodwill also will accept peripherals, keyboards, cel phones and other
electronic equipment.
SEATTLE - A new state law that helps you get rid of your old electronics for
free is hurting charities.
Charities can no longer fix up old equipment to reuse it, but a brand new
bill headed to the state legislature Wednesday could bring some relief.
Representative Zack Hudgins' new bill aims to allow electronics collectors to
make minor repairs so they can reuse old electronics.
The current law is a problem for charities like Interconnection in Seattle.
Since the new recycling law went into affect on January 1st, they now have to
throw away hundreds of computers that could be put to good use.
At Interconnection, you'll find trained hands tinkering with donated
computers.
E-waste has been in the news a lot lately, with the 60 Minutes expose on toxic electronic waste illegally shipped to other countries, and reports from organizations like the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, who recently traveled to India to track the global e-waste crisis. People are starting to pay more attention to where their electronics go when we lose interest in them.
Oregon e-Cycles has
a great website
up for consumers to help guide them through the whys and
hows of e-cycling. If you live in the area, simply
type in your zip
code
and you're given a listing of local collection points. Oregon has
another item that will launch next New Year's Day: on January 1, 2010, disposal
of computers, monitors and TVs
will be banned
.
Also launching on this New Years Day was
Washington's new
program
letting people drop off certain e-waste items for free. They too
have a
search database for
finding a local drop-off point
, as well as a call-in hotline.
If you got a brand new TV this holiday season, you might wonder what to do with your old one. Putting old electronics out with the trash can be bad for the environment, says Enterprise Sanitation owner Mark Deprospero. The batteries and tubing in the equipment can contaminate the ground, he says.
Which Electronics Companies Will Take Back Your Old Computer, TV, or Other Electronics?
Before you buy that new computer or TV, think about what you plan to do with your old one. If it still works and you think someone else can use it, then you might want to donate it to a reputable reuse organization. (Make sure the organization is accepting donations for local reuse - and not sending them overseas.) But if that's not an option for you, some of the electronics manufacturers offer recycling programs that you can use, often for free. Some will give you some trade-in credit towards new purchases. This report tells you who offers what services, how to use them, and how to get free recycling.
Starting New Year's Day, Oregonians will be able to recycle, free of charge,
the old computers and television sets filling their closets and garages.
The Department of Environmental Quality has worked with manufacturers,
collectors and recyclers to establish more than 230 drop-off stations throughout
the state, giving life to a bill passed during the 2007 Legislature.
Oregon is one of more than a dozen states that have made plans to deal with
discarded electronics, according to the department.
As it is now, customers typically have to foot the cost of recycling
televisions, computers and computer monitors. That's if the customer knows such
an option exists. The Department of Environmental Quality estimates only 18
percent of Oregon's electronic waste makes it to recycling centers. The rest
ends up in garages and landfills.