Recycling.

The Green Movement is upon us, and thankfully, it’s gaining momentum every day. If we want to preserve our planet, we all have to do our part. One simple and highly effective way to make a difference is by recycling.

In essence, recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste in landfills into valuable resources.

Benefits of recycling include:

• Reducing the need for landfilling and incineration.
• Saving energy and preventing pollution caused by extraction and processing of virgin materials and the manufacturing of products using virgin materials.
• Decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
• Conserving natural resources such as timber, water and minerals.
• Helping sustain the environment for future generations.

So how does it work? Recyclable materials are transported to a processing facility where they are separated to create the highest-value raw materials. These raw materials are then sold to manufacturers for making new materials. The cycle repeats itself when consumers purchase products with recycled content.

Recycling is vital to protecting our resources. However, its success depends on a community’s desire and commitment to protect the environment. In many cases, it is the local government’s decision to offer residential curbside recycling collection with its solid waste collection program.

For information on residential recycling services in your area, click here.

If your community does not currently offer recycling service, we encourage you to contact your local city council member or county commissioner and request it.

E-Waste.

The rise in technology in recent decades has resulted in some amazing products — ultra-thin computers, tiny cell phones, flatter televisions. However, these advancements don’t come without a price.

It’s called e-waste. And it refers to the millions of electronic products that are discarded into landfills each year.

Consider this:

• In 2006, an estimated 1.5 billion pounds of e-waste was generated, 44 million pounds of which were TVs and computers.
• About 75 percent of retired computers in the United States are in storage, 15 percent are in landfills, and only about 10 percent are recycled.
• Less than 5 percent of all personal computers are donated to schools, charities or non-profits.
• E-waste is growing at three times the rate of municipal waste.

The good news is that the majority of these products can be recycled or reused, preserving much-needed room in landfills and minimizing the amount of new materials being manufactured.

E-Cycling and E-Donation.

While steps can be taken to safely dispose of e-waste, it is much better for our communities to donate or recycle old electronics.

In fact, 99 percent of materials from electronics can be recycled or reused, including glass, copper, plastic, aluminum, gold, silica, silver and steel.

Plus, donating old computers, TVs, cell phones and other electronics not only benefits the environment, it betters your community by enhancing the lives of many people in your area.

For e-waste disposal options in your area, visit www.earth911.com.

For links to electronic, cell phone and computer donation centers, click here. (link to Donation page)

E-Donation Links.

E-Waste Recycling and Donation Links:

• EPA — lists options for donating or recycling e-waste.
• Techsoup — lists non-profit organizations and recyclers of e-waste.

Cell Phone Recycling Links:

• AT&T Wireless
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Sprint Wireless
• T-Mobile Wireless
• Verizon Wireless
• Call to Recycle

Cell Phone Donation Links:

• Call to Protect. The National Donate a Phone CALL to PROTECT campaign collects wireless phones to benefit victims of domestic violence when faced with an emergency situation
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• The Wireless Foundation

Computer Donation Links:

• Computers For Schools
  The Computers for Schools Program welcomes contribution of quality computer equipment and support dollars to accomplish their refurbishing work from donors across the nation.
• EAL Works!
  Educational Assistance Ltd. turns excess inventory, gently used equipment, services and other donations into college scholarships for needy students.
• Electronics Industry Alliance
  The EIA maintains a listing of organizations nationwide that accept donations of electronic products.
• Goodwill
  Includes tips on where and how to donate computers.
• National Cristina Foundation
  The NCF provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.
• Share the Technology
  This website provides a way for donors and potential recipients to connect no matter where they are in the country.