- Apple fights NYC over green apple logo
- IBM combines Systems i and p into greener Power System
- Harnessing datacenter heat for savings
- Event: Uptime, IT heavyweights to tackle data center power crisis
- The ROI of green IT
- Feds devise program to help datacenter operators cut energy waste, costs
- Xerox develops Sustainability Calculator for doc tech
- Carbon-measuring software evolves
- Greenpeace adding energy-consumption criteria to green rankings
- Make IT accountable for tech-related power bills
October 16, 2007 | Comments: (0)
Office Depot offers one-stop shop for electronics recycling
Although I moved nearly nine months ago, I still haven't finished unpacking all of my boxes. Sad, but true. But I have tackled some over the past couple of days. In the process, I found plenty of papers to recycle, which is pretty easy. But I've also discovered I've amassed a number of old keyboards, mice, cords, as well as an old cell phone. What's to be done with that stuff?
I was thus interested to learn that Office Depot is now offering its Tech Recycling Service at its 1,100-plus locations in North America. The service essentially provides a one-stop shop for unloading electronics, including monitors, small televisions, printers, keyboards, digital cameras, cords, and cables.
The idea is, you go to the store and buy one or more Tech Recycling Service boxes, which cost $5, $10, or $15, depending on the size. Load your electronics into the box, then return them to Office Depot. The company takes it from there. The price of the box covers the shipping and handling.
Office Depot also offers a range of other recycling services, through which customers can recycle cell phones, rechargeable batteries and ink and toner cartridges. Through the Ink and Toner Cartridge Recycling Program, you can get a $3 coupon in exchange for eligible empty cartridges returned (up to 25).
The Tech Recycling Service strikes me as a rather valuable service. Frankly, I don't know what else to do with my array of old and unwanted electronics. I don't want to toss them in the trash, but I doubt any school or second-hand store would want them.
What do you think? What do you do with your old, unwanted electronics?
Posted by Ted Samson on October 16, 2007 12:12 PM
RATE THIS ARTICLE:
-
- COMMENTS
Try giving the items away? Goodwill and the other thrift stores (around here, at least)take pretty much anything, if it is complete and in working condition. Craig's List or similar is another option, as is putting it on the curb the day AFTER trash pickup, and letting the trash fairies spirit it away. (Not recommended for glass items if there are teens in your neighborhood.) Most cities have cell phone donation programs, where they set then up as 'lifeline' phones for seniors, abused spouses, and other at-risk people.
The most environmentally friendly thing to do with technology is to wring the last possible bit of usable life out of it, thereby delaying the manufacture of a replacement. Most PCs, cell phones, and other consumer electronics get replaced WAY too often, IMHO, not because they can't do the job any more, but because the owner wants new and shiny. Okay, go for new and shiny, but pass the old one on to someone who isn't as rich or fussy. Items should never go to a landfill, and should only go to a chipper mill when they won't reliably light up any more, and are not cost-effective to repair.
Posted by: andy meijers at October 17, 2007 12:25 PMThanks for the good feedback, Andy. Those are good suggestions. The problem I'm facing personally is having stuff that I really don't think would be of much use to people on Craigslist or through Goodwill, like some old mice and ordinary keyboards. The idea of putting that kind of stuff together in one box and having someone recycle it all for me it pretty enticing.
Posted by: Ted Samson at October 17, 2007 03:54 PMTOP STORIES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Do you have the power to resolve technical issues with one call?
- Take control of your content- leverage Microsoft SharePoint
- Keeping the E-Mail Flowing
- SGI Adaptive Data Warehouse: Building a High-End Oracle Data Warehouse
- Five Steps to Secure Outsourced Application Development
- Global Shared Memory: Performance and Productivity Breakthroughs
