EPA: Got Old Electronics? Don’t Trash them. Recycle Them!

PHILADELPHIA (December 18, 2014) -- In 2013 each American household owned on average 28 electronic devices, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. But with advancing technology, sleeker, shinier and faster cell phones, computers, tablets, mp3 players and televisions are finding their way onto many holiday gift lists. And into the hands of American consumers.

But what about the old ones that are still perfectly functional? Think e-Cycle.

Rather than making products from scratch, recycling electronics keeps harmful toxins out of landfills, recovers valuable materials that can be reused, conserves virgin resources and results in lower emissions, including greenhouse gases which contributes to climate change.

Many people actively look for new ways to protect the environment and recycling electronics can make a significant impact. For example, smartphones make up a large portion of the waste stream. For every one million smart phones recycled, 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered and reused.

The good news for consumers is that electronics recycling is growing in popularity and ease. Through EPA’s National Electronics Challenge, many retailers and manufacturers now take back old electronics for recycling by certified electronics recyclers. By using certified recyclers, you can rest assured that your old electronics will be recycled responsibly. To find such locations near you, go to search.earth911.com and enter your zip code.

In addition, many states, cities and counties sponsor collection events for electronics during the year, or they may offer a permanent drop-off location with certain hours of operation.