What can you do to help?
If you'd like to help solve the problem, instead of being a part of it, the first thing you should do is educate yourself. If you'd like to learn more about how e-waste effects the world, and how it effects third world countries this National Geographic article is the place to start. Greenpeace has a great article about green electronics, and over at TreeHugger they have a guide on recycling your computer. There are a lot of great videos about e-waste on YouTube and Vimeo.
Where Can I recycle my electronics?
Most electronic devices require special recycling facilities. These facilities need to take special steps and precautions to dispose of potentially hazardous materials. To find nearby recycling centres you can use the map to the right. If you'd like to find out more specific information you can contact your city's waste management department.
Things to consider:
- If the device is still working, why not donate it to a local school, or someone who can use it?
- Some places offer free recycling, but be prepared to spend some money when recycling your electronics.
- If you're recycling a computer or a hard drive, be sure that your sensitive data is properly erased. Lifehacker has a good article on this topic.
