Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo - (Page 11)

The recycling drive kept 21,000 pounds of e-waste from ending up in landfills. “properly recycle” because some irresponsible recycling companies don’t break down the e-waste into raw materials. Instead, they send the parts to countries such as China and Nigeria where the local environmental laws are not enforced and the waste is usually dumped. At www.computertakeback.org, we found a list of responsible recyclers. We contacted Metech International to help us stage a recycling drive. We advertised in our local newspaper and distributed notices to students, asking residents to bring their unwanted electronics to our school’s parking lot. The drive lasted two days, and we collected over 21,000 pounds of e-waste—including the school system’s obsolete computers that filled an entire old school bus. To make our project sustainable, we needed to create a place where local residents could dispose of their e-waste whenever they wanted to. We contacted a company called CRT Recycling, which helped us set up a receptacle at no cost to us or the town. Town residents have a convenient place to properly dispose of their e-waste, and the recycler makes a profit by selling the raw materials (such as gold and silver from the circuit boards) extracted from the e-waste. WIN Win Raising awareness about e-waste was one of the most rewarding parts of the program for me. Once people know about e-waste, the idea sticks with them, and they can talk to their friends and family and prevent it from ➜ 36 Waste Green Tips for Electronics • Buy green the first time. If you’re in the market for a new computer, HD TV, cell phone, or digital camera, check out options that contain fewer chemicals and use less energy. Do a search at www.mygreenelectronics.org. • Repair it; don’t replace it. Maybe your cell phone just needs a new battery, or maybe some more RAM will make your computer run faster. Check out Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices to see if you should “fix it or nix it”: www.greenerchoices.org/electronicsrecycling/el_whatyoucando.cfm. • Donate or sell your used stuff. As Alex points out, “Reusing is the best way to deal with end-of-life e-waste.” Visit eBay’s Rethink Initiative if your gear has some life left: http://rethink.ebay.com. • Recycle. Look for reputable local recyclers at www.eiae.org and earth911.org. Check with the manufacturer of your equipment at the company’s website. Also see if local retailers have drop-off events or kiosks. Best Buy has kiosks inside every store to accept cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and print cartridges. At Circuit City, you may be able to trade in your gear for gift cards. Staples will recycle your stuff responsibly and securely for $10. • Spread the word. Tell your neighbors, friends, and teachers. Help them all be part of the e-waste solution. March/April 2008 imagine 11 http://www.mygreenelectronics.org http://www.greenerchoices.org/electronicsrecycling/el_whatyoucando.cfm http://rethink.ebay.com http://www.eiae.org http://earth911.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

Imagine Magazine - March/April 2008 Contents Letters Big Problems Big Picture In My Own Words Putting E-Waste in Its Place Big Juice Making Waves What Does "Green" Mean? Into the Woods Swimming with Whale Sharks Crash Course in Costa Rica Selected Opportunities & Resources Hooked on Logistics Off the Shelf Word Wise Middle Ground One Step Ahead Exploring Career Options Planning Ahead for College Students Review Creative Minds Imagine Sudoku Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.