Recycling.

The Green Movement is upon us, and thankfully, it’s gaining momentum every day. If we want to preserve our planet, we all have to do our part. One simple and highly effective way to make a difference is by recycling.

In essence, recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste in landfills into valuable resources.

Benefits of recycling include:

• Reducing the need for landfilling and incineration.
• Saving energy and preventing pollution caused by extraction and processing of virgin materials and the manufacturing of products using virgin materials.
• Decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
• Conserving natural resources such as timber, water and minerals.
• Helping sustain the environment for future generations.

So how does it work? Recyclable materials are transported to a processing facility where they are separated to create the highest-value raw materials. These raw materials are then sold to manufacturers for making new materials. The cycle repeats itself when consumers purchase products with recycled content.

Recycling is vital to protecting our resources. However, its success depends on a community’s desire and commitment to protect the environment. In many cases, it is the local government’s decision to offer residential curbside recycling collection with its solid waste collection program.

For information on residential recycling services in your area, click here.

If your community does not currently offer recycling service, we encourage you to contact your local city council member or county commissioner and request it.

E-Waste.

The rise in technology has resulted in some amazing products — ultra-thin computers, tiny smart phones, flatter televisions. However, these advancements don’t come without a price. According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Americans now own approximately 24 electronic products per household

When we no longer want any of those products, it becomes e-waste. And it refers to the millions of electronic products that are discarded into landfills each year.

Consider this:

• In 2006, an estimated 1.5 billion pounds of e-waste was generated, 44 million pounds of which were TVs and computers.

• The EPA reports that over 112,000 computers are discarded every single day. That’s 41.1 million desktops and laptop computers per year. And that’s just here in the U.S. not including computer monitors.

• 20 million TVs are trashed in the U.S. every year and 100 million cell phones.

• About 75 percent of retired computers in the United States are in storage, 15 percent are in landfills, and only about 10 percent are recycled.

• Less than 5 percent of all personal computers are donated to schools, charities or non-profits.

• E-waste is growing at three times the rate of municipal waste. 

• According to the UN Environment Programme, the worldwide total for e-waste could be 50 million tons per year, and only 13 percent of electronic waste is disposed and recycled properly.

• The good news is that the majority of these products can be recycled or reused, preserving much-needed room in landfills and minimizing the amount of new materials being manufactured. 

StEP is an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and academia actively participating in StEP, we work toward the sustainable handling of e-waste. 

E-Cycling and E-Donation.

While steps can be taken to safely dispose of e-waste, it is much better for our communities to donate or recycle old electronics.

In fact, 99 percent of materials from electronics can be recycled or reused, including glass, copper, plastic, aluminum, gold, silica, silver and steel.

Plus, donating old computers, TVs, cell phones and other electronics not only benefits the environment, it betters your community by enhancing the lives of many people in your area.

For e-waste disposal options in your area, visit www.earth911.com.

E-Donation Links.

E-Waste Recycling and Donation Links:

• EPA — lists options for donating or recycling e-waste.
• Techsoup — lists non-profit organizations and recyclers of e-waste.

Cell Phone Recycling Links:

• AT&T Wireless
• Nokia
• Sprint Wireless

Cell Phone Donation Links:

• Cell Phones For Soldiers collects old cell phones to be recycled for cash, and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for our soldiers serving overseas. Cell Phones For Soldiers has a goal of providing every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free.
• The Wireless Foundation's Call to Protect. The National Donate a Phone CALL to PROTECT campaign collects wireless phones to benefit victims of domestic violence when faced with an emergency situation.
• Hopeline from Verizon Wireless
• Call to Recycle
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Computer Donation Links:

• Computers For Schools
  The Computers for Schools Program welcomes contribution of quality computer equipment and support dollars to accomplish their refurbishing work from donors across the nation.
• Electronics Industry Alliance
  The EIA maintains a listing of organizations nationwide that accept donations of electronic products.
• Goodwill
  Includes tips on where and how to donate computers.
• National Cristina Foundation
  The NCF provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.
• EAL Works!
  Educational Assistance Ltd. turns excess inventory, gently used equipment, services and other donations into college scholarships for needy students.