GeekSugar

What Electronics Can Be Recycled?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:01:16 -0700

You can't escape the grocery, electronics or movie rental store without seeing a small cell recycling drop box, but how can you dispose of larger, more ecologically dangerous gadgets? Electronics companies have - or been forced to! - put considerable resources into making their products recyclable. A handful of states have even passed laws that require companies to take back their goods (Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony all do so at no charge), but you can always be green by selling or gifting the item, or giving it to a reuse effort.

To get the scoop on electronics that can be recycled, read more.

Accepted AT All Locations	Accepted AT Most Locations	Rarely Accepted
Computer Monitors CPU's (Central Processing Units) Televisions with Cathode Ray Tubes and Flat Panel Displays Printers Laptops Cables Keyboards Mouses	Answering Machines Camcorders Compact Disc Players Copiers Duplicators Electric Typewriters Fax Machines Hard Drives Mobile Phones Modems Pagers Printed Circuit Boards Radios Remote Controls Stereos Tape Players Telephones Telephone Equipment VCRs Word Processors Batteries PDAs Games (Video)	Microwaves Smoke Detectors Large Household Appliances (Refrigerators, Washing Machines, and Air Conditioners) Toasters Fans Vacuum Cleaners Lamps Specialty Cookers

This list is based on data from the EPA. Check out the EPA's guide to where you can donate or recycle your electronics.

Ask a Geek Girl: What Do I Do With My Old iPod?

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:45:01 -0700

For this installment of Ask a Geek Girl, TeamSugar user amers230 asks what she should do with her old iPod, now that she's received the new iPod of her dreams:

As a special surprise for my birthday my parents bought me the new iPod I've wanted for forever. Now that I have my 80GB Classic, I have no use for my 3-year-old 20GB. Thing is, I'm not sure what to do with it now. I'm asking around to see if any friends or family want it, but no one really is interested. I could just sell it on eBay for five or ten bucks, but I was really wondering if anyone knows of some sort of donation center.

To see my answer, just read more.

I'm glad you're asking about recycling your iPod, since you'd be surprised how many people just toss them in the trash and end up polluting the earth. Thankfully, I have a couple donation options for you. First off, Apple offers a free recycling program throughout all of their retail stores in the US. Just drop off your old iPod to your nearest Apple Store, and in addition to saving Mother Earth, you'll get a cool 10 percent off of your next iPod purchase.

If you want to donate your old player to charity, I'd check out RecyclingForCharities. Not only can you donate your iPod, but you can also send in your old computers, cell phones, printers, digital cameras, and PDA's to a charity of your choice. Just print out your shipping label and fill out your tax forms (since donating your electronics is tax deductible), and off they go!

Has anyone else donated your old electronics? Tell us what service you used in the comments below!

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How to Properly Recycle Your Gadgets

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:00:15 -0800

The holidays are arguably the most common electronics upgrade season of the year, which means plenty of people will be getting new shiny gadgets and recycling their old ones. Activists estimate that 50–80 percent of the 300 to 400 thousand tons of electronics collected for recycling in the US each year ends up overseas, meaning they probably aren't being recycled the way we imagine.

"Workers in countries such as China, India, and Nigeria then use hammers, gas burners, and their bare hands to extract metals, glass, and other recyclables, exposing themselves and the environment to a cocktail of toxic chemicals," according to AP. Almost as troubling is the volume of used electronics that don't make it to any recycling plant. Here's more:

Most of the 2 million tons of old electronics discarded annually by Americans goes to US landfills, according to US Environmental Protection Agency data. But a growing number of states are banning such waste from landfills, which could drive more waste into the recycling stream and fuel exports, activists say.

Wondering how you can responsibly recycle your electronic goods? read more

Give them back to the maker!: According to AP, eight states, including five this year, have passed laws that require companies to take back their goods. Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony all take back their products at no charge. Some require consumers to mail in their old gear, while others have drop-off centers.
Sell it!: Just because you are finished with a computer, MP3 player, or camera doesn't mean someone else won't love it. After erasing your device's memory you can sell it on Craigslist or Amazon. If you don't feel comfortable selling it online, give it to a family member who doesn't have a computer.
Give it to a reuse effort: Recycles.org is an nonprofit service project that serves as a regional and nationwide exchange board directly connecting those wishing to dispose of computers and nonprofit organizations in need. The service is free and simple to use, making it easy to keep good technology out of the waste stream by putting it back into productivity.

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Take Care Of Your E-Waste This Earth Day

GeekSugar — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:00:37 -0700

Today is Earth Day, which means you should take the time to do a thorough E-waste spring cleaning! Did you know that every year more than 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is disposed in landfills? When computers, TVs and cell phones go to landfills, they can leak lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, selenium, chromium, and many other toxic materials into drinking water and have serious effects on our health. Thankfully companies like Sharp Electronics are celebrating Earth Day for the entire month of April. For all customers who buy a new Sharp LCD TV (measuring at least 37 inches), Sharp will recycle their old TV for free. When your new TV is delivered, the company will even pick up your old one. Do your part this Earth Day (and everyday) to preserve and conserve our planet. Below are some tips and suggestions to help you go gadget green this Earth Day!

Reuse and Recycle Your Gadgets Try re-using old computers and cell phones by giving them to a younger sibling or friend. You can even donate them to a local organization or a church or school. Do a bit of research and see if there is a recycling service in your community. If you exercise all of the options above and decide that you must dispose your electronics, make sure that you do not give anything to a recycler who ships waste overseas; as this just transfers the problem elsewhere.
Check out E-Waste Recycling Sites For more info, visit great NGO computer donation and recycling sites like: Used Computer, Share Technology and Earth 911

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Website of the Day: My Boneyard

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:15:25 -0700

I think everyone wants to recycle their gadgets, sometimes they just can't figure out the hows. That's why the website My Boneyard makes it painfully easy to do it online. Not only do they provide you with a prepaid envelope you print yourself to send in with your old or dead gadget, but in many cases, they send you a cash reward in exchange for it. You can even assign your reward to go to the charity of your choice!

Just register the gadget you want to send in with its specs and condition, and you'll get an estimated reward, which will be assessed when My Boneyard receives your old goods. And they attest that your old info will be erased, so security isn't an issue.

At this time, My Boneyard only accepts MP3 players, cell phones, computer monitors, and CPUs, but they plan on accepting cameras, GPS units, and more soon (if your gadget isn't accepted at My Boneyard, check my guide for where to recycle other gadgets).

Got a useful website you want people to know about? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Daily Tech: See a US Gadget Recycling Plant In Action

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:40:06 -0700

Sims Recycling Solutions has 15 locations across the United States and recycles everything from cameras, printers, to computers. - Wired
Stroke patients are using video games to help their debilitated vision and the results have been phenomenal with some patients' receiving 90 percent of their vision back. - Switched
Check out some amazing gadget deals of the day including a refurbished HP Mini for $275. - Gizmodo
This video demonstration show you some great ways to help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. - Boing Boing
According to environmental activists, Earth Hour proved to be a big success, with more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries participating. - Forecast Earth

[re] drive: The Eco-Geek-Chic Portable Hard Drive

GeekSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:02:26 -0700

Going geeky-green doesn't only mean conserving energy or using solar-powered gadgets, it can also include purchasing devices that are made from renewable and recyclable materials, like this [re] drive, which was designed for Fabrik by Stuart Karten Design, a Los Angeles based industrial design firm. I got the chance to check out this plug n' play 500 GB external hard drive, and it's completely eco-friendly; from the 100 percent recyclable bamboo panels, aluminum case and box it comes in, right down to the low-power design that performs quietly and reliably.

This drive is not only eco on the outside, but it includes auto sensing power (that will turn on or off with your computer) and an energy star power adapter that keeps grid demands to a minimum, and its unique exterior ridges act to keep the drive cool without the use of a fan. The [re] drive is both Mac and PC compatible and costs $130.

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Circuit Board Recycling Reaches Its Greenest Heights

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:14 -0700

I'm always in for a unique way to recycle and reuse circuit boards, but usually the novelty look of the boards makes for something that's fun-looking, like this necklace, but not objectively cool-looking.

This Circuit Board Pencil Cup, however? Definitely an exception. Check out that color! The neon apple-y green is a refreshing hue that would brighten your whole desk area. And it's green in the other, more important way!

It's so hot it's sold out for now, but similar recycled computer goodies are available from the seller in the meantime.

Daily Tech: Show Off Your iPhone With a DIY Polariod Frame

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:13 -0800

Another beautiful and slightly vintage geek way to display your iPhone - the DIY recycled iPhone Stand. - Unplggd
Google rolled out a feature that allows you to send SMS messages via Gchat, which means you can text without picking up your phone or using an extra, complicated website. - Gizmodo
So you don't like the idea of scratching your iPhone, but you may love the scratchin' app. - Crave
A restaurateur in Beijing has opened a World of Warcraft-themed eatery. Talk about a geek Mecca. - Switched
Have you ever thought about the real value of a virtual gift? - Wired
There's nothing better than getting a brand new functional and chic computer for the holidays, which is why we have teamed up with our friends at HP to give one lucky geeksugar reader a HP Mini! - geeksugar

How to Organize Your Computer

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:01:15 -0800

We all know things at our desks can get pretty messy, but if you have as many pictures, documents and music files on your computer as I do, you've probably noticed things on your hard drive getting pretty messy too.

For my guide to creating a well-organized computer, just read more

Open the most unorganized folders and begin to choose the ones that you do not need anymore.
Select and delete the files you do not need by dragging them to the trash or clicking on them and clicking delete.
Create at least three new categories and then create folders to go along with them. If you have many sub-categories, you can create folders inside the folders you just created, but be careful not to create so many folders that you can’t remember where you’ve saved your items.
Move all your categories into your documents. This is usually named 'My Documents.'
Empty your recycle bin. All the files you have just deleted go to a folder called the recycle bin. The recycle bin is located on the desktop. Confirm all the deleted files. Then right click the recycle bin and select empty.
Run the desktop clean up wizard. This wizard will clean up any shortcuts you have never used before, or haven't used in a long time. To get onto this wizard you must right click on the desktop and put your mouse over 'arrange icons by', then click 'run desktop clean up wizard'.
Restart your computer. After your computer has done all the hard work, moving files on your hard drive, it needs a mini break.

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