BETTER LIVING: Green + Easy Ways to Streamline Your Office

Email to a friend Permalink

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Candita Clayton, GoLocalProv Lifestyle Expert

When it comes time to clean out and streamline your office, whether it be at your home or in a commercial space, start with the big E. For electronic.

It’s hard sometimes to remember just how much waste our modern technology generates, and how much it can impact the environment. Every time we purchase a new cell phone, computer, or television, we need to dispose of an old one. Besides an enormous amount of plastic and metal material, these items use toxic materials like mercury, arsenic, and lithium, among others. When these items end up in landfills, those toxins end up in our soil and water. It takes only a little extra effort to recycle or donate these items, and you’ll feel great about doing it.

Getting rid of your old computers and electronic devices is not as difficult as you think.  It doesn’t have to cost you anything except a few minutes of your time, and by disposing of your techo-trash properly you’re helping to prevent new toxic waste from entering landfills and our ecosystems. Now doesn’t that make you feel good?

Here are some ideas for getting rid of your techno-trash – and for creating less of it in the future.

Computers

Get Rid of the Old Stuff

    •    Many companies, including Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Sony will arrange to dispose of your 
old computer when you purchase a new one from them.
    •    Computers up to 5 years old can be donated to charities like the Salvation Army for a tax 
deduction. Just be sure to clear your hard drive of all personal files before donating, or send it to 
a professional refurbishing company for cleaning.

    •    Your local recycling facility may have a drop-off center for electronics. Many regions also have 
‘tech drives’ or similar programs on a monthly or quarterly basis, during which the recycling facility 
arranges to pick up techno-trash at various public or retail locations.

    •    If you create a lot of techno-trash (i.e. cd’s, floppy discs, etc.), or if your local recycling facility 
doesn’t take computers, you may want to consider a recycling program from a company like 
GreenDisk, Back Thru the Future, and Electronic Recyclers, all of which accept computers, 
electronics, CD’s, and old hard drives at no cost to you (except shipping).

    •    For more information about recycling techno-trash you can check out these links: Earth 911, The 
EPA, and the Computer Take Back Campaign.

    •    Donation is a great option if your old computer is still in working order.
    •    Inveneo is an organization which provides students and professionals in the developing 
world with low-power, low-cost ICT infrastructure.
    •    Donate any and all used technology to organizations like The Salvation Army, Goodwill, and 
the Collective Good Foundation.  Just make sure to clear your hard drive of any personal 
files before you donate. Goodwill has plenty of information about disc cleaning on their 
web page at goodwill.org.

Buy the New Stuff

    •    ‘Close the Loop’: Look for new products made from recycled materials. GreenDisk sells CD-RWs, 
jewel cases, and soft CD sleeves made from the stuff they recycle. Green Earth Office Supply  sells re-manufactured printer cartridges, ergonomic computer accessories, mouse pads, and even 
surge protectors and power strips. Ecomall lists dozens of companies selling products made from 
recycled materials in all categories.

    •    We buy pre-owned cars, why not pre-owned computers? Fewer new materials used means 
markedly less manufacturing impact on the environment. Plus, refurbished machines are often 
half the price of their brand new counterparts, but still come with full manufacturer’s warrantees. 
Also look for gently used keyboards, monitors, speakers, and other accessories.

    •    Keep the stuff that still works: Unless your monitor, keyboard, and speakers are seriously 
outmoded, there’s no reason you can’t use them with a newer, faster tower – and conserve 
materials and money at the same time.

    •    If you must buy new, try to buy conscientiously.  Look for mouse pads, keyboards, and other 
accessories made without PVC, and research your company’s manufacturing practices.

    •    Buy CD-RWs instead of CD-Rs – they’re a little pricier initially, but you can erase and rewrite them 
several times, so you’ll use fewer CD’s overall.

There are literally hundreds of computer recycling companies on the Web, some affiliated with states or 
municipalities, others independent. Check out the links I’ve provided, or just type ‘computer recycling’ 
and your state or city into your search engine, and watch what comes up.

Other E-Waste Recycling Resources

Recently, I was in Staples picking up some office supplies, and I discovered to my delight that they offer 
e-waste recycling services in addition to their ink and toner recycling program. I’m not sure how long 
this program has been around, but I don’t think it’s received the publicity it’s due.  So if you are getting 
rid of your old desktop, laptop, mouse, speakers, printer, fax machine, or another electronic device, you 
can now bring it to your local Staples to be recycled. You will be charged a $10 fee for large equipment 
like towers and monitors, but smaller stuff is free. Get more info about this program at staples.com.



General recycling and information

•    http://www.mygreenelectronics.org

Cellular phones

    •    www.recyclewirelessphones.com

    •    www.recellular.com/recycling

    •    www.recyclemycellphone.org

    •    www.charitablerecycling.com

    •    Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist to help 
soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan call home. By donating your cell phone, you can help raise money 
to provide soldiers with prepaid calling cards.

    •    AT&T, who sponsors Cell Phones for Soldiers, also has a Reuse and Recycle program.
If you're interested in larger-scale recycling for your business, check out these sites
    •    www.crc.org

    •    http://www.ewasteservices.org
;
    •    www.pcdisposal.com


Technology makes our lives better. Let’s not let it make the planet sick!

Candita Clayton is the founder of Your Life Organized and author of Clean Your Home Healthy. Visit her online, here.

If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.

For more Lifestyle ideas and coverage, don't miss GoLocalTV fresh every day at 4pm and on-demand 24/7, here.

Related Articles

• BETTER LIVING: 26 Ways to Organize Your Car
• BETTER LIVING: Tap Water Versus Bottled Water
• BETTER LIVING: 5 Steps to Taming (and Beautifying) Your Closet
• BETTER LIVING: Energy-Saving Lightbulbs
• BETTER LIVING: Recycling Dos and Don’ts

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink