Recycling electronics and other e-waste isn't as easy as it should be, but with the amount of heavy metals and other hazardous components in TV sets, computers, cell phones, monitors and other electronic devices, it's important to get the facts on how to recycle electronics.
Americans now own about 24 electronic devices per household, according to the EPA, and many of these get replaced regularly. The average cell phone user, for example, gets a new cell phone every 18 months. Fortunately, recycling electronics is becoming more popular, and about 100 million pounds of material is recovered from electronics recycling plants each year.
Reducing E-Waste
There's an immense mountain of electronic waste that threatens to bury us all -- by some estimates, Americans create about 1.5 billion pounds of e-waste each year. The best, smartest and cheapest way to address this problem is to reduce the amount of electronics that are made in the first place. Resist the temptation to buy every new gadget that comes out, extend the lifespan of your existing electronics as much as possible, and give your old devices a second life by donating your old electronics. Some businesses can even get a tax break by donating computer equipment. The EPA has a list of groups that accept donated and recycled electronics.
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