Robert Cates DownardTechnology moves pretty fast. We probably all have a box collecting dust somewhere full of old cell phones, cameras, batteries, cables and other electronic waste. Maybe it’s something bigger like an old computer, printer or TV. At some point, we will finally realize that it is time to throw it away to make better use of our space.
But where should it go? First of all, we cannot throw it in with our curbside trash and recycling. Everything that uses electricity is made of a mixture of plastics, metals, glass and harmful chemicals that need to be disposed of properly. In Marion County (and most of the country), e-waste is unable to be properly processed at our local facilities when we throw it away with the rest of our garbage.
What if my toys and tools still work? If the tech we want to get rid of or replace has some life left in it or is only slightly damaged, we should consider selling it to someone on our local marketplace of choice. This is the most eco-friendly route and will net us the most income from its sale. No middlemen to deal with and the carbon footprint is much smaller when we physically hand off our old phone to someone else while they hand us some cash. If we do not have time for that or cannot find a buyer, the store with the new shiny hotness might be able to give us store credit so they can flip it for us.
How about the gadgets and gizmos that no one wants to buy? Odds are no one wants our old mp3 player that stopped working in 2008. However, the aluminum, nickel, copper, tin, gold, glass, and plastic it was made with still has a long life left to live. So what we need to do is recycle it. While we cannot throw it in our trash or recycling bin at home or work, there are places like Garten Services that will gladly help us out. They are a local, sustainable, e-waste recycler who provides jobs for disabled adults and will responsibly strip down that old technology and make sure it never ends up in a landfill.
Quick tips before we toss:
- Remove and separate batteries. They pose a fire hazard and should be placed in a separate container or plastic bag for processing. Do not puncture or apply too much pressure to an old battery as it might create an unscheduled pyrotechnic show in our home.
- Erase personal and private data. If we are dealing with confidential information or are contractually obligated to remove data, we may consider something more secure than just simply erasing what’s in the trash. Garten Services can provide industry-leading data destruction at a per pound rate if need be.
- Avoid breaking things more. Even if our devices are already broken, the rest of it could still be reused for parts in a future repair for someone else. Garten Services may also be able to recuperate some of their costs by refurbishing and reselling things that still work. Plus there are many other hazards inside our devices we do not want to hurt ourselves with. We can let the trained professionals take care of things for us.
- Wrap biohazards in a trash bag. Sometimes we leave our junk outside or in our garage allowing nature to take over. Dead bugs, excess debris and excrement are no stranger to an e-waste recycler. Make their lives a little easier by making sure it does not contaminate everything else in their pile. Use a large garbage bag and seal it off from the rest of the junk.
People in the USA throw away about 45 pounds of e-waste a year. Doing so safely and responsibly is the best thing we can do with our old tech. For more information about how to properly recycle your e-waste in Marion County, grab one of your working electronics and visit the Marion County website about recycling and be sure to check out Garten Services, too.
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 13 (Spring 2022)
