The best way to recycle your Laptop

Article Written By: Don Zone

Whether it is now become archaic or kaput, we all have the same problem when it comes to figuring out how to properly dispose of electronics that are no longer being used. One thing that you shouldn t do is throw your laptop in the trash.

It is illegal in the state of California to throw your laptop in the trash. Laptops contain toxic chemicals (brominated flame retardants, lead, polyvinylchloride plastic, etc.) that can seep into the land over time and can be released into the atmosphere. A laptop that is thrown in the trash

ends up in landfills. If the laptop cracks, the toxins will pollute the ground water. If the laptop is incinerated, the toxins will be released into the air having a negative impact on the surrounding environment and our health.

There are multiple steps that have to be taken in order to successfully recycle your laptop. The first step is to protect your information by erasing or removing the hard disk. This can be done by using a disk to erase the memory or by destroying the hard disk through a reputable

company. This ensures you are protected against identity theft.

The next step is to locate an environmentally friendly laptop recycling center. Finding a place that will repair the laptop and sell it will help reduce the amount of electronic waste being generated. If the laptop cannot be repaired, the recycling center will strip it down to the different components and recycle the items. Recycling will allow the materials in the laptop to be reused in a new product.

When researching a recycling center, look for places that don t ship anything overseas. Recycling centers that ship electronic waste overseas are opting to take the easy way out. They take out all the valuable materials and send the remaining parts to developing countries which often lack environmental and labor regulations. When electronics are shipped overseas, the workers (who often times are children) have to clean the electronic items in toxic chemicals without the use of proper handling equipment (gloves, masks, etc.).

Before recycling, ask the center if they are e-Stewards certified. Recycling with a company that is e-Stewards certified ensures that your electronic item isn t being shipped overseas.

The final step to getting your laptop recycled is simply taking it over to the recycling center! Getting your laptop recycled by an e-Stewards certified recycling center in the Bay Area or elsewhere is easy and rewarding!

About the Author

For more information about laptop recycling center please visit www.greencitizen.com

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