How to Go Green: Recycle Old Computers

We all have a lot of electronic devices in our home, and many of us have two to three computers or if we have a big family maybe four or more. We usually buy new ones every three to five years. So how do we go green and recycle our old computers? Do we just throw old computers in the trash and expect the sanitation department to recycle them?

Well, I wouldn't count on the waste companies to recycle our old computers. The first place to start is by making a phone call to the city in which you reside. I know that in my home of Roswell, Ga. all we have to do is go to the recycling center and find the right location to discard the old computer to be recycled. I know in Atlanta you can drop off computers for recycling at Grady High School every third Saturday. In both cases you must have a valid ID for those cities such as a driver license.

I also went to the EPA government website and found that one place on the web you can go is www.earth911.com. You just put in the word computer along with your zip code and up pop a list of recycling centers near you. I found that Staples is in the shopping center close by as opposed to the city recycling center being across town and will for $10 accept my computers, monitors and printers.

Why do we recycle old computers? Well most computers have materials that are classified as hazardous waste, if we just chunk them in the landfills they have a potential to harm the environment in which we live. Also by reclaiming materials in the computers they can have other useful purposes, which would help to alleviate the strain on resources.

Once when I was a kid I saw a stream full of old cars and thought how ugly why do people do that? The natural beauty of nature is enhanced if we recycle. So go green with your old computers and keep America beautiful.