January 2020

Gather your Household's e-Waste and Recycle it. 

 
Tips to meet the challenge:
 
1) Go through each room and your car:
  • Open drawers, go through coat pockets, don't forget your car!  Our electronics are so small and pervasive that sometimes we can stash and forget 
2) Expand your mind of what you consider e-waste:
  • Computer parts, old cell phones, TVs, and worn out batteries for sure come to mind, but there are many more items that can be recycled if you know where to go. 
  • Christmas Tree lights and old solar lights
  • CDs, VHS tapes
  • Ink and toner cartridges
  • Almost anything with a cord or with a battery
  • Toys and books that contain electronics
3) Create a receptacle for pooling your e-waste until you are ready to recycle:
  • A bin in the garage, a box in a closet - having a place to collect these things already identified will help you keep them out of the garbage can
4) Know where you want to take your e-waste:
5) Commit to using your electronics as long as possible:
  • Avoid novelty items that use batteries or cords that you probably won't use for long
  • Critically examine new features of an electronic product and whether they are necessary for your enjoyment or if you can keep the older model
  • Consider repairing items rather than replacing.  Many counties including Hennepin and Ramsey Counties sponsor free Fix-It-Clinics where you can get expert help in repairing small appliances, electronics and even mobile devices.   
 
This challenge originated after hearing from Amanda LaGrange, CEO of Tech Dump, during our June 4th, 2019 meeting. Here is a bit of what we learned: 
 
There are a lot of toxic materials within our electronic waste.  Materials like lead, nickel, barium, and chromium can cause harm to the environment and plant and animal (including humans) health by seeping into groundwater and surrounding soils.  The U.N. reports that 20-50 Million tons of e-waste is produced each year with amounts increasing each year.  
 
It is actually difficult to recycle all of the components of electronics.  Repairing or refurbishing old electronics for continued use rather than disposal can keep harmful materials out of our environment better than recycling.  Tech Dump not only recycles, but they also refurbish and offer these electronics for sale at incredibly low prices. 
 
Tech Dump is working with legislators and Minnesota will potentially be the first state to pass a right to repair bill.  (States with bills introduced are New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nebraska). Today's electronics are more complicated to repair than those from decades ago.  It can be easier and sometimes cheaper to toss an old model and buy a new one.  In many cases this is by design.  Many manufacturers have restricted the information about their products to "authorized" repair centers.  Some use digital "locks" or copyrighted software or actually put in their user agreements that owners will not try to fix their own products.  You can't even change your battery in an iPhone that is out of warranty without significant cost.  The biggest hurdle to fixing electronics (for the individual and for a company like Tech Dump) is the unavailability of repair manuals.  
 
By participating in the Rotary EcoClub EcoChallenge for January 2020, you will start off the year with a clean slate.  First you will ensure that your e-waste stays out of landfills by consolidating it and bringing it to responsible recycler like Tech Dump. Second you'll identify a receptacle in your home so that future e-waste won't end up in your garbage.  Third you'll be continually mindful of new electronic acquisitions.  
 
Share your progress - the hurdles and the success - with Rotary EcoClub and your family and friends!