Comments on: Where to Recycle or Donate Electronics

By: Fcmem

Fcmem — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:22:14 +0000

I actually recommend freecycle.
It’s a news group where people post stuff they want to get rid of, others come and pick it up.

It’s like thrift store without the middle man.
since the person picking it up likely wants the item.. considering it’s the sole reason they come, it’s much better then even thrift stores because they’ll keep it.

You would not believe the amount of trash thrift stores generate, not just broken stuff but stuff that doesn’t sell after X amount of time.

If your ultimate goal is to keep it out of the landfill I strongly believe freecycle or posting on Craigslist (free section) is the way to go.

even so called “recyclers” produce some waste, they use powerful chemicals to extract the precious metals and there is quite a bit of waste left over after they take the juicy profitable trace amount of gold.

A system that is reused is better then a system (so called) recycled.

By: Fcmem

Fcmem — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:16:08 +0000

Freecycle is awesome.
Why pay someone to take your electronics?
Companies that make you pay a fee turn right around and sell them to recyclers who scrap them for raw material (namely gold)

Making you pay for something they’re going to make money on is a slap in the face.

Whats worse is most recycling centers care nothing for the market value of the hardware they recycle, most of it still in working order.
They take them apart with hammers.

You are much better off using Freecycle someone who will actually put he hardware to use rather then destroying it.
It’s much better to reuse then to recycle.

If your hardware is only a few years old you can make some money selling it on ebay, yet again keeping the system out of the landfill as well as putting money in your pocket.

some retailers have begun paying in gift cards based on how new the system is, only the amount they give is pathetic well below even used market value.

Many wont pay a dime for anything that isn’t current generation or top tier last generation.

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:31:42 +0000

Hey Tom – Unfortunately I don’t have any more tricks up my sleeve. And most unfortunately, OfficeMax scaled back their program to only 20 cartridges per month. They now limit what kind of cartridge you can recycle and they only will pay out an amount equal to what you spend in the store. Lucky for me I still spend well over $1,000 a year there so I can get my rewards, but for the people who were recycling and cashing out in gift cards without actually spending in the store, the ride is over.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:48:28 +0000

hey what other recycling tricks do you have soccer9040 like the officemax and staples ones?

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:01:14 +0000

Officemax is where its at. 10 cartriges per week. Last month had 5 weeks in it. The real bonus is that some stores will let you buy gift cards with your reward check.

I also have 3 staples accounts (Me, wife & a work account). I staggered them so that one account’s reward checks are always expiring. (Think CD ladder) Its $90 bucks a month of free $$.

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:53:53 +0000

HOw did you get $150? I recycle printer cartridges at Staples and it’s only $3 each, limit 10 a month.

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:29:19 +0000

The Staples & OfficeMax recycling program is AWESOME! I hope I’m not the only one taking advantage of this program. I earned $150 bucks this past month. It just doesn’t get any easier.

By: CAB

CAB — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:52:20 +0000

I need to properly dispose of a few things and I’m in Columbia, SC. What is the name of the place that recycles e-trash here, and where is it located?

By: e-man

e-man — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:04:35 +0000

im new to this but i hate receling but its true wat u guys are saying so i have just recyeled 100 elctronies that i had laying around my house isnt that great yeahhh =]

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:05:26 +0000

I just bought ink cartridges and they came with an insert to recycle the old ones and they would cover the shipping cost. Great link Jon. If I never need to recycle electronics I can go there since it is pretty close to me.

By: Posco

Posco — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:29:54 +0000

Pay ten dollars??

Check with your city’s or county’s sanitation department. They may not charge anything, though you’ll need to transport to some collection point that may be less convenient than Staples.

Los Angeles has a program called S.A.F.E. (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) for recycling and disposal. Check it out: http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/special/hhw/safe_centers/

And, yes, I agree that CFL bulbs ARE electronics.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:54:08 +0000

The Goodwill in our area won’t accept any electronics unless they are in working order because they don’t have the capacity to repair them for resale.

You can also drop off old cell phones in most cell phone stores like Sprint, Verizon, etc. I’d try donating it to someone who could use it first, but if it is beyond repair or too old, just drop it off in the recycle box.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:26:20 +0000

Don’t forget Freecycle!

By: jim

jim — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:18:26 +0000

Glenn – You are totally right, many people, including myself, just don’t think of them as electronics in the way that a television, receiver, or computer as electronics. Technically, anything that runs on electricity is electronic right?

By: Glenn Lasher

Glenn Lasher — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:39:21 +0000

I hope you won’t mind a minor nitpick . . . I disagree that CFLs aren’t really electronics. If you were to open the base of one (I don’t recommend this, by the way), you will find that the ballast consists of a combination of different components built up into a controller that rectifies the input power (i.e. turns AC to DC), re-inverts (i.e. turns DC to AC) at a higher frequency (this is to prevent visible flickering) and provides a widely-varying complex of voltages in order to make the tube light and warm up quickly, then run at a reduced voltage once it is started. The benefits of these electronics are (a) no observable flicker (b) instant-on (c) instant-full-power (on some models), (d) no audible hum/buzz.

This is in addition to the mercury that they contain.