What to do with old electronics...

[suzthefrog]

My workplace (a non profit artist-run center in the field of media arts/ video production and distribution) has been hiding a few "abandonned monsters" in its closet : an old high-maintenance laser printer (worst purchase ever), a nearly stone-age digital camcorder that doesn't even have a fire wire(!), 2 SCSI (!) external hard drives, an old (

Comments

[spirited_grace]

We have small, privately owned electronic shops that recycle electronics for a very small fee. They are run by socially responsible geeks and charge as little as possible. Any chance of something like that being in your area?

[agraciado]

iawtc. A lot of times they'll even take them for free because they can use spare parts or they will get paid to have them recycled.

[yukonsally]

Or they'll take trades. I had a bunch of stuff that they would buy for parts and a bunch of stuff they would charge to take off my hands and we just gave them everything and called it even.

[suzthefrog]

Trade-in is offered only by a few rare places here. Anyway, our monsters at work are in bad to average shape or just so old that they are hard to give away for free. BTW, thanks for the additional tag, I did not notice there was a "green disposal" one :-).

[suzthefrog]

We have a similar option for fridges. Other old electronics are another story. Our city has a place where they are accepted, but I've heard it through the grapevine that a lot of them actually end up in the trash, after sitting there forever... Apparently it's an issue even with the paper/plastic/glass content of our regular recycling bins... So I'm exploring other options.

[ivy_fern]

i was in future shop the other day.. .and i noticed they take smaller devices like mps platers, cell phones and cds (i didnt know cds could be recycled!) you could ask if they take larger things like printers. its nice because at least in canada future shop if pretty accesable and theres obv. no fee if you can drop it off yourself

[suzthefrog]

That's great! I have not been in a FutureShop in a while, so did not know that. I'll try and ask if they'd take our "Big Bertha" (actual nickname that was given to said machine lol...)

[meeeggss]

In BC check out www.electronicsrecyclingbc.ca or www.encorp.ca for collection locations and hours

[suzthefrog]

That's a great program!
BC is always one (or multiple!) steps ahead in those kind of initiatives.
Unfortunately, I am in QC and already have the information on our options here.
QC pretty much offers a list of private places that may (or may not) accept your old "machines", and may or may not charge variable fees. Our particular city has a place for most types of "undesirable leftovers", from paints, solvants, batteries to some electronics and appliance which are supposed to be disposed of safely, but some if not many reusables/recyclables get thrown away... Metals and such are pretty much the only things that seem to actually be reused.

[meeeggss]

Ya its shocking what actually ends up in the landfill. I'm working for my local regional district for the summer in the solid waste department so I see it all on a daily basis. In most cases it is best to go with a government run or funded program because atleast then you can be sure that the item is being safely recycled and not just buried in some guys back yard or shipped overseas.

[erinkathleen]

Any time somebody brings this up, I feel like I have to mention that you've got to be very careful about where you take electronics to be recycled. Most electronics "recycled" in North America are actually shipped to India or China, where the precious metals are extracted in ways that pose huge health & environmental risks - and the task is often undertaken by children. Here is one reference to the problem.

Ethical electronics recycling does exist, but you'll need to do some research into any company you find. Good luck!