Articles

Going Green Made Easy - Green Tips Roundup

First Posted: March 25, 2008

By Andrew Lau

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next

E-mail this article to a Friend!

2) Getting Rid of Unwanted Electronics & Safe Disposal

If you've found your way to RedFlagDeals.com, there's a good chance you're a savvy shopper for consumer electronics and computers or you're on your way to being one. That being said, what do you do with all of those electronics that have outlived their usefulness or are simply broken and beyond repair? Piling them up in the basement or garage isn't an appealing option (though I suspect it may be a popular one), and neither is tossing them to the curb to be carted off to garbage dumps.

If the equipment in question is still functional, one of the simplest and most elegant solutions is to find it a new home. You don't have to go far to check with friends and family, or offer it up on the Freebies Forum. Items that you don't want to expend effort selling or shipping can disappear quickly if you offer them to whoever can pick them up first. Even damaged or broken items that you deem to be a lost cause can often be salvaged or used by others.

Another good option is one of the numerous not-for-profit organizations that will refurbish, reuse, recycle, or as a last resort, safely dispose of your no longer needed computers and electronics. Some of these organizations target businesses and others offer services for individuals as well. The list of options is, happily, quite extensive. Here are a few established organizations that offer this type of service:

Electronic Recycling Association

reBOOT Canada

Electronics Product Stewardship Canada

Industry Canada's Computers for Schools Program

Free Geek (Vancouver based)

If you are looking for more immediate and convenient disposal options, some large retailers also offer select services:

FutureShop locations have a green box where you can drop off used batteries, cell phones, CD players, MP3 players, CDs, portable DVD players, and ink cartridges for disposal. A company known as Greentec handles the disposal and reclamation.

Staples locations offer an ink cartridge (HP, Dell and Lexmark brand) recycling program in store. Extra incentives like a $10 off coupon toward future toner or ink purchases are also offered from time to time.

Office Depot has an ongoing program for ink cartridge (HP, Dell, Lexmark, Xerox brand etc.) recycling as well. For each cartridge you bring in, you will receive a $3 off your next purchase coupon.

If you're still having problems finding an environmentally conscious way to dispose of electronics, try contacting your municipal waste disposal service. You can also consult this page at this page at FutureShop.ca, which lists some disposal services for each province, as well as some specific hardware manufacturers who offer recycling programs.

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next

E-mail this article to a Friend!

Coupons Deals Expired Deals Features Freebies Forums Links Retailer Ratings Marketplace Canadian Price Comparison