by Krystie Bohmer

Created on: August 20, 2010

Americans alone have managed to dispose billions of electronic devices into local landfills. Without proper disposal of e-waste, your local community can suffer the consequences of those who are irresponsible in regard to keeping the future generations’ earth as clean and healthy as possible.

Due to technology improving on a daily basis, electronic devices are constantly being improved. They are being made smaller, thinner and faster.  Electronics are also being made to provide more conveniences to the consumer by adding more advanced functions to the devices. This in turn tempts and entices the consumer to ditch their current devices such as TV’s, DVD players, cell phones, and computers even though they are still in good working condition. This situation is forcing the landfills to fill up much more quickly than previously estimated.

Electronic devices contain toxic substances that seep into the earth’s soil and groundwater. According to the Global Futures Foundation, electronic waste is accountable for 70 percent of all toxic waste currently being found in our landfills. Mercury, lead, and cadmium are among the toxic materials found from e-waste. The health of our environment is being severely threatened through these toxins as they continue to enter into the air and water sources. Obviously this imposes a great risk in the health of people living in our communities.

The manufacturing companies of these devices are very much aware of the dangers these toxins impose on the environment. That is why most of the manufacturers do have a recycling program. Some of the companies will only take items that are particularly made by them while others will take products that are made by other companies in addition to their own brand. To find out the policy on returning products for recycling you can easily look up the manufacturer on line and find a link pertaining to recycling. There are several links to popular manufacturers and other helpful information about recycling your electronic devices on Earth911.

There are many options available to responsibly dispose of unwanted electronic devices. Keep in mind the three R’s; recycle, reuse, and reduce. To reduce or at least halt the fast growth of toxins developing in local landfills, caring people need to recycle and reuse.

Offer unwanted electronic devices to be reused and or recycled. Goodwill gladly accepts computers and TVs that are in working condition or not for free. Goodwill has partnered

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