Seattle Maison

January / February 2017

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What to do with old electronics Somehow you made it to the 'nice list' this year and Santa was good to you..... very good in fact. Gifting you with some sparkly new electronics. Well done! But now, you are staring at that island of misfit gadgets in your home. You know, like that cell phone that dates back to the flip era, a laptop that requires regular biceps curls to lug from room to room, or that once-cutting-edge 3-megapixel digital camera. The most likely reason you haven't banished these devices from your home yet is that recycling them is such a hassle. Admittedly, it's much easier to toss these relics in the trash than it is to dispose of them properly—but not only would this be wrong, it's also illegal in Washington. Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials. Disposing of digital detritus appropriately may take a little research, but often it's as easy as bringing the junk with you on your next shopping trip. Most electronics manufacturers have programs in place to take items back, either at drop-off locations or through the mail. And retailers often have bins for depositing items such as spent batteries. Electronics OVERLOAD Your old phone or camera may be junk to you, but someone else might think it's the bomb. Before you give it up for recycling, consider selling it, donating it, or trading it in. Tip

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