LibGuides: Green Business: Electronics use and disposal

Watch The Story of Electronics

Purchase green electronics and safely dispose of them

Earth friendly electronics doesn't have to be an oxymoron. Use these tips to select greener electronics.

Buy with energy in mind. Look for the Energy Star label.
Buy used. According to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, 50% of computers being recycled are in good working order. They are discarded to make way for the latest technology.
- Look on Freecyle, Ebay, Craigslist, or at your local computer dealer for used machines.
- Some manufacturers offer refurbushed machines.
Look for EPEAT
Buy less toxic

Earth911 Recycling Guides
Excellent resource for recycling all types of materials.
EPEAT Product Registry
EPEAT is the definitive global registry for greener electronics.
Federal Electronics Challenge
The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) was a partnership program that ran from 2005-2013 that encouraged federal facilities and agencies to purchase greener electronics, reduce impacts of electronics during use, and manage used electronics in an environmentally safe way. Although the program ended, resources are still available on the website.
Illinois EPA Electronic Waste Recycling
The Consumer Electronics Recycling Act establishes a statewide system for recycling and/or reusing a set of electronic devices that are unwanted by Illinois residents. The electronics manufacturers are required to participate in the management of these devices.
How to Remove Data from Electronics Before Recycling
Privacy and data theft concerns are often-cited reasons for why people hang on to old electronics. The average person may not know how to ensure a laptop’s hard drive is unreadable or that personal data has been removed from a cellphone. Removing this data can be done in just a few steps, and Earth911 has compiled information and resources to help walk you through the process.
Reduce Your Information System's Environmental Impact While Adding to the Bottom Line
Explains what measures can be taken to lessen any IT department's environmental impact. It provides both the business case for change, along with a detailed implementation plan to ensure IT departments make as little impact on the environment - and the budget - as possible