As more new smartphones, laptops, computers, tablets, TVs make their way to consumers’s hands, there’s one question that is most often overlooked.  What happens to the old devices?  Well, that depends on the user.  One can toss it, frame it for display in their tech collection, sell it cheap, or just put it in a drawer to be forgotten for years.

You may not think about it, but these tech gadgets often become trash and just like anything on earth, there’s a proper way to dispose of them.  It shouldn’t just be carelessly thrown in the garbage because it could be toxic, especially if it’s battery operated.

So what can people do to reduce technological waste and help keep the environment clean?  Recycle!

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, for every one million laptops recycled, it saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year. And for every million cell phones recycled, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered and can be used to make new technology, instead of manufacturing virgin materials which consumes more energy and emits more greenhouse gas.  Also, the glass, metal and plastic components can be recycled and used in other products suchs as chairs and tables.

3 ways to safely rid yourself of techie trash

Earth911

This site helps you locate the nearest place where you can recycle almost anything from mobile phones, computers, car parts, paper, plastic, glass, oil and many other items that are usually found in homes.

Earth911 has mobile apps for iOS and Android, so you can easily find the nearest recycling center even when on the go.  The company does not do the actual recycling, it just helps you find the nearest place where you can drop off your trash. So if you have questions as to what items are acceptable or not, you can contact the recycling centers suggested by Earth911.

You can also try Call2Recycle, Electronic Industries Alliance, and GreenerGadgets to help you find the nearest recycling center.

Best Buy Recycle

Best Buy is one of the largest retailers in the US, with countless gadgets for sale, but it also helps people get rid of their old stuff safely.  You can either go to Best Buy retail stores or Mobile stores, depending on what item you wish to be recycled.  Best Buy also has a trade-in program so working device with value can be traded off for new ones so shoppers won’t have to pay as much.  It has recycling partners that take apart the old techs, sort out the materials and recycle them accordingly.

Manufacturers or service providers

Many service providers have established trade-in programs to offset the cost of new devices.  This is beneficial for both parties, as it helps service providers sell more new devices, and consumers get the latest smartphones and tablets without having to hand over more cash.  If the old device has no monetary value, at least the consumers can sleep better at night, having disposed their used gadgets responsibly.  AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile all have trade-in and recycling programs.

As for the manufacturers, Apple already has a recycling program in place and is rumored to have a trade-in program already in play in some of its retail stores.  The Samsung Recycling Direct program partners with take-back and recycling companies, which allows them to accept old TVs, digital cameras, cell phones, camcorders, home theater systems, Blu-ray and DVD players, printers, notebooks and PC from their brand to help reduce electronic waste. Even Motorola has recycling partners to help reduce its carbon footprint.

Check out their pages to learn more how you can help save the environment.

Smart tips

Before you go head to the nearest recycling centers near you, make sure you:

• Remove all the data from your electronic device such as contacts, messages, photos, videos and any other information that could be used against you
• Restore the device’s factory settings to make sure that everything will be wiped clean
• Turn off the device
• Remove the SIM card on mobile phones and tablets, and
• Remove the battery if it’s removable as they go in a separate recycling bin.