Living : Tech : Electronics Trade-In Programs
Electronics Trade-In Programs

Insider Trading

09.25.2009

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:00pm.
electronics
The Bite:
Trashing old electronics seem criminal? Avoid such shady dealings - take advantage of electronics trade-in programs, where you get store credit or cash for your aging computer or TV (which companies will then recycle or refurbish). Helps to be in the know…
The Benefits: 
  • No sketchy eco-exchanges. About 70% of the toxic garbage in landfills is electronic waste (aka ewaste); buyback and trade-in programs ensure that lead, mercury, and other hazardous materials don't wind up in groundwater.
  • Practice responsible accounting: Some programs provide store credit, cash, or tax incentives for old machines. Others refurbish computers and donate them to schools and nonprofits.
  • Reusable stock. Recyclers recoup more than 100 million pounds of materials from ewaste every year, and some of those metals and plastics can be made into new machines.
Personally Speaking: 
Some places even recycle your old CDs - and Hanah's totally ready to ditch those already-downloaded Feist albums.
Wanna Try: 
  • Gazelle - pays cold, hard cash for 20,000 products in 20 categories - offers drop spots at Costco.
  • Earth911 - enter your zip code to find nearby donation drop spots (note: remember to ask for a receipt so you can write it off come tax season).
  • EPA - list of companies (including big brands like HP and Toshiba) with their own trade-in programs so you can get a credit toward your next purchase.
  • Note: Some recyclers melt components over hot plates (sending toxins into the air) or send them to developing countries where environmental laws are lax. So ask your recycler: Where does the equipment go? Does it export the labor? What does it do with reusable components? A responsible company will know.

Cocktail Fact

Martha Stewart admitted to Vanity Fair that during her house arrest she spent time doing Internet research on how to take off her ankle bracelet.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters donate or trade in their old PC instead of dumping it in the trash, we'll keep the weight of 118 elephants in waste out of landfills.

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Cheryl P  on September 25, 2009 at 10:35 AM 1
CDs and DVDs are actually more valuable to recyclers than other household plastics because there is a market for the high-quality plastic used in them. My company does not have a recycling program for plastics, so I take the many disks I receive at work to my local depot. Keep them separated from your other plastics and help keep your recyclers in business!
Laura  on September 26, 2009 at 09:29 PM 2
In the SF Bay area, there's a company called Green Citizen that takes a lot of things, many of which plenty of other places do not accept. Certain items they take for free (CD/DVDs, cell phones, etc), while other things they charge based on weight. I go here a few times a year once I have enough of a collection going, because although it's not free for everything, it keeps my conscience at ease since they do not ship the stuff overseas.
J L R  on September 30, 2009 at 07:02 PM 3
You should let readers know that companies may charge for you to recycle. Office Max wanted $30 ($10 each!) for brand new and perfectly good mouse & keyboard and (used) speakers. I decided instead to donate to Goodwill.
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Wendy G  on November 08, 2009 at 05:24 PM 7
This has been the best thing I have found since my new recycling book! I have 2 boys, and they love their CDs, DVDs, books and video games! Luckily, there is a website called swaptree.com where you can list these items that you have but no longer want, and pick books, CDs, DVDs or video games that you want...and you can trade them for FREE!!! (except for the small shipping fee (about $2-$3) to send it to your trade partner). It saves money AND recycles by not having to buy NEW items that you want! I have done 2 trades, and they are fantastic! Give it a try!
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