In a fact sheet released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for each new electronic product that comes along, one or more become outdated or obsolete. Studies estimated about 20 million computers became obsolete in 1998 alone. By 2005, computers were being discarded at a rate of up to 37 million per year. Combine those computers with all the other electronic equipment that has become a part of our way of life, such as TVs, VCRs, cell phones, etc., in 2005 more than 304 million electronics were obsoleted.  Download US EPA Fact Sheet

So, what are our options?

We have all heard much about recycling, but what about eCycling? According to the EPA, there are 3 fundamental areas of focus involving basic eCycling. These include:

• Reuse
• Recycle
• Greener Purchasing

The EPA details area on the ‘Plug into eCycling’ section of their website. Here is a brief overview;

Reuse

Reuse is defines as passing onto a new user a computer, cell phone and other electronics when you have retired it from use. Another way to reuse an electronic device is donate it in a manner that extends the life of the product and maximizes the energy and resources that went into making it. The most environmentally preferable alternative and beneficial to society is reuse. By donating your used electronics, you allow schools, nonprofit organizations, and lower-income families to obtain electronics that they otherwise could not afford.¹

Recycle

If reuse, repair, or refurbish the electronic device is not an option, the next best thing is to recycle it! There are valuable resources, such as precious metals, copper, and engineered plastics, contained with all of these products. Plus, a considerable amount of energy was expended to process and manufacture them. Recycling electronics recovers valuable materials, helps to conserve resources, and results in lower environmental emissions (including greenhouse gases) than making products from virgin materials.¹

Buying Green

Environmentally responsible electronics use involves not only proper end-of-life disposition of obsolete equipment, but also purchasing new equipment that has been designed with environmentally preferable attributes. When purchasing new equipment ask your retailer or electronics supplier about environmentally preferable electronics. Households, companies, and governmental organizations can encourage electronics manufacturers to design greener electronics by purchasing computers and other electronics with environmentally preferable attributes and by requesting takeback options at the time of purchase. Look for electronics that:

• Contain fewer toxic constituents.
• Use recycled materials in the new product.
• Are energy efficient (e.g., showing the Energy Star label).
• Are designed for easy upgrading or disassembly.
• Use minimal packaging.
• Offer leasing or takeback options.
• Meet performance criteria showing they are environmentally preferable.¹

If you would like to learn more about what you can do in your home, community, at the office, in industry, or at the store to reduce, reuse and recycle visit What You Can Do | Wastes | US EPA.

Find out about electronics recycling programs in your regional and State with eCycling tool.

¹Adapted from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/plugin/reuse.htm |http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/basic.htm