If Nothing Else...
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? It's actually the sound of your cubicle mate tossing her old computer in the Dumpster (or worse). Fortunately, there are lots of simple (and quieter) options for recycling that computer, along with the other stuff that's sitting around your office like paper and envelopes, printer cartridges, and even your desk chair. Give it a try - you just (vege)mite like it.
If Nothing Else, Try This...
Make sure your ewaste doesn't get, er, wasted by choosing a reputable recycler for your old computer equipment. If you trash them, the chemical cocktails (like lead and mercury) inside can leach through landfill liners into groundwater. And some recyclers melt components down over a hot plate (spitting other unhealthy chems into the air) or ship them off to a third world country where environmental laws aren't so stringent. So ask questions of your recycler: What does it do with the equipment? Does it export the labor? Where does it send reusable components? A responsible biz will know - if yours can't tell you the answers, then don't let 'em be your last call - take your stuff elsewhere.
Stat: The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimated that 50%-80% of U.S. ewaste collected for recycling gets shipped abroad.
In This Guide...
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Part 1Paper ProductsFrom double-sided printing to reusing packing materials - how to waste less paper and use less in the first place.
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Part 2ElectronicsUpgrading your tech? Whether it's a fax machine or a printer cartridge, we've got the best ways to ditch the old stuff.
