If you need to get rid of unwanted electronics, which many of us do after the Holidays – be sure that you recycle them responsibly. Electronic waste, AKA E-waste, is often shipped off to developing countries because it’s cheap to do so. Moreover, in these countries there are typically zero regulations, which means that they are torn apart in huge toxic waste dumps by impoverished people. The toxic innards of most electronics make these desperate people (many small kids,) sick and heavily pollute their environment.
Good news is that it couldn’t be easier – just take along all you old stuff to your local Staples store and take advantage of their EcoEasy program. No matter the brand or where you purchased it, Staples will pack it off for responsible recycling. The cost is 10 bucks per machine and they’re accept all the extras such as mice, speakers, modems, keyboards for free.
All the stuff is taken to their recycling provider, Eco International, who used industry-leading standards for date destruction to ensure your computers are purged off all personal info. All the equipment is then disassembled in the United States.
If you still have a newer device, like an old (ha ha) iPad 1 that you want to get rid of, you can check out the Staples Gazelle program, where you can get earn a Staples Gift Certificate for your old device. In an era where thanks to the constant up-grading of our tablets and smartphones, this kind of program is much needed. You enter the name and model number of any device you want to get rid of (MP3 players, cameras, phones, GPS devices, gaming consoles, camcorders etc,) you then fill out a simple form about the condition of the device, noting if you still have packaging and accessories – based on that info, Gazelle will make you an offer. When they receive your device in one of their postage-paid shipping boxes, if it’s as you described, they will pay you – easy!
Staples also takes cell phones or PDA’s free and has partnered with a non-profit called Collective Good, which makes low-cost phones available in developing Nations.
Two other great things that Staples are doing are that you get rewards points for future ink purchases each time you recycle either Lexmark, HP, or Dell ink cartridges.
While you’re at staples, pick up some of their 100% recycled printing paper or notepads. There’s honestly no reason not to buy 100% recycled paper anymore – why cut down virgin trees if you don’t need to? I only ever use their Sustainable Earth Notepads, which are not only pretty, but the best. Whoa – thank you Staples for making our high-tech lives a little more EcoEasy.
