How to Recycle Electronics and Appliances

If you’re trying to live greener, you probably already have some of the basics of recycling down. But recycling electronic equipment can be more challenging even as you keep replacing outdated machines with more powerful and sophisticated versions. Here are some tips for keeping your old electronic equipment and appliances both out of your apartment and out of landfills.


Try your manufacturer
Some manufacturers and retailers are now more aggressively promoting electronic recycling. Dell Computers will recycle your old Dell-branded computer for free. Apple’s recycling program is free in some areas. If you don’t have a Dell or Apple computer, you may be able to bring your equipment in for recycling to a nearby office supply store: both Staples and Office Depot have electronics-recycling programs.

Recycling centers
The Environmental Protection Agency offers information on “e-cycling” and allows you to search locally for e-cycling centers. Also check with your state or city to see how electronic recycling is handled. Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality, for example, has a list of local programs and “e-waste” events. The city of Chicago has a program that allows residents to recycle batteries at local drugstores and public libraries. Your apartment community will probably not have resources specifically for electronic recycling, but your managers might be able to give you local information, or even help you organize a community-wide e-waste pickup.

Should you give away instead of recycle?
Are you getting rid of the appliance because it no longer works, or because you needed a replacement? Even the most obsolete computers and phones can find homes. You can see if someone will give your old equipment a new home by describing it on your local version of Craigslist.org or Freecycle.org. People will often be happy to come to your apartment — or to a designated meeting space, if you’re concerned about your personal security — to pick up interesting items.

Programs also exist to put older computers and accessories into schools, such as those listed by TechSoup, a technology resource site for non-profit organizations. Check with your city, county, or state to see if it has such a program. Similar programs for cell phone recycling are more numerous, including Cell Phones for Soldiers and ReCellular. You can also check with your service provider about whether they’ll recycle your old phone.

Talk to your office
One final option, if you’re having trouble, is to talk to the human resources department at work. If you’re in an office where computers and machinery are changing constantly, it’s possible your company has a contract with an electronic equipment recycler. You may be able to add your electronic equipment to their next recycling haul, or even organize an e-waste recycling day company-wide.