Over the years, it is inevitable that we will go through many appliance and electronics upgrades. While we put a lot of thought into carefully researching and purchasing a new device, we often overlook the importance of proper disposal for the old items. Many appliances and electronics unnecessarily hit the landfills each year but with a little bit of research, you can do your part to keep hazardous and non-biodegradable material out of the ground.

Small Appliances:

Whether it's an aesthetic reason or a practical one, we replace a lot of our kitchen appliances each year. But just because you upgraded to a newer model doesn't mean the older appliances are useless. Toasters, coffeemakers, microwaves, electric kettles, and other small appliances can be donated to thrift shops and charity organizations like Goodwill if they're still working. Some repair shops also take non-working appliances and either fix them up or use them for spare parts, keeping them out of the ground.

Cell Phones:

With our consumer culture today, most people will change their phones at least every couple of years due to the phone companies offering upgrade promotions. The result is that millions of phones are cycled through each year. Cell phone batteries contain a ton of toxic chemicals that, if thrown away, could leak into the environment. Most phone companies have programs in place to recycle old cell phones, often shipping them overseas to give to people that may not otherwise have access to phone coverage or salvaging and recycling reusable parts. A lot of places also give you store credit when you trade in your old cell phone to recycle. Check out www.recellular.com and www.collectivegood.com for some cell phone recycling resources.

Computers:

Computer components (monitors, towers, printers, etc) contain lead, mercury, and a host of other carcinogens. As many people upgrade their computer systems every few years, the potential for toxic waste entering our landfills is enormous. Fortunately, there are many ways to safely dispose of them:

- Give it away or sell it: If your computer is only a few years old, why not sell it or give it away? Although it may be old and outdated to you, many people could still make use of it. Using eBay or Craigslist, you can turn some computer components from trash to money. If you don't want to spend the time listing it online, non-profit organizations and training centers are usually more than happy to take working machines that can run a recent version of Windows. Instead of contributing to the landfill problem, you can help out your community.

- Return it to the manufacturer: A lot of manufacturers also offer recycling/trade in programs for their computer systems. Contact that place you purchased your computer from and ask if they take back old systems. Some components may require a fee while other components may offer a trade-in rebate. Printers are easily recyclable at many places. Office Depot and Staples even give you $50 credit towards the purchase of select new models if you trade in your old printer, regardless of if it's working or not.

- Recycle it: If your system is too old to give away or return to the manufacturer, there are many recycling companies that will take old computers and recycle them. Most usually charge a small fee but there are a lot around that will take them for free if you drop it off.

Large Appliances:

The disposal of fridges, air conditioners and humidifiers is regulated in many areas as these items contain the refrigerant chemical Freon, which is very harmful to people and the environment. If you are getting rid of one of these items, check with your local municipal public works to find the proper procedure to dispose of the appliance. Some utility companies also offer bounty programs that collect the old refrigerator free of charge or even give you credit for picking up your fridge. However, most of these programs have specific requirements that may include size limits and working status.

When purchasing a large appliance, most retailers offer to dispose of the old unit when they deliver the new one. While most of these companies do recycle the old machines, some merely dispose of them and it's important to check to see what your particular delivery company does with the old appliances. There are many companies out there that do large appliance recycling at nominal fees (some as low as $10 for curbside pickup). Instead of simply dumping your old stove or washer, why not let a company recycle what they can?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Selling unwanted appliances and electronics will not only save you a lot of money, but will also keep a lot of non-biodegradable material out of landfills. Stuff that may be old to you will be new to someone else, and vice versa. Here are some of the easiest ways to buy and sell:

- Garage sales - If you have a lot of items to get rid of, why not hold a garage sale? They're easy to organize and will give your items a second life. They're easy to set up and can net you a nice chunk of money while ensuring your old items get a second life.

- Craigslist.org - It's simple to put up an ad and hard to dispose of items like fridges and stoves will be picked up right from your home by people who would reuse or recycle it

- eBay.com - A bit more work to set up an account but it will pay off for selling smaller electronic like cell phones and computer equipment. eBay is full of people that may find an alternative use for older items that have outlived their practical value.

Additional Resources:

EPA.gov - Info on the disposal of ozone depletion appliances.

Earth 911 - Contains a directory of appliance recycling companies with resources for the disposal of hazardous items.

Steel Recycling Institute  - Contains a searchable database of places to recycle metal of all types from aluminum cans to large appliances.

CURE Recycling - This website offers to recycle old printer cartridges, cell phones, PDAs, and digital cameras with all proceeds going to the CURE Childhood Cancer organization.