LibGuides: Green Living: Electronics purchasing & disposal

Buying greener electronics and disposing of them safely

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

The links below will help you make better computer purchasing decisions and dispose of them responsibly.

Amazon.com Trade In Program
Search for items to trade in. Print a shipping label and packing slip, package your items, and ship them. An Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account upon receipt of items. Accepts electronics, DVDs, books, and video games.
Best Buy Online Trade-in
Best Buy's trade-in programs give you a variety of ways to receive a Best Buy gift card (or a check for a lesser value) for your used video games, musical instruments and select used electronics.
EPEAT Product Registry
EPEAT is the definitive global registry for greener electronics.
Gazelle
Gazelle is a reCommerce service that helps you sell and recycle your used electronics. Once received, your used cell phones and other used electronics are inspected to make sure their condition matches your evaluation.
How To Remove Your Personal Information Before You Get Rid of Your Computer
Your personal computer may have a lot of sensitive information on it. That could be financial information like your account numbers or tax returns. Or it could be personal information like email messages or photos. Before you get rid of your old computer, follow these steps to delete your personal information from the hard drive so it doesn’t end up in the hands of an identity thief.
Proper Disposal of Electronic Devices
In addition to effectively securing sensitive information on electronic devices, it is important to follow best practices for electronic device disposal. Computers, smartphones, and cameras allow you to keep a great deal of information at your fingertips, but when you dispose of, donate, or recycle a device you may inadvertently disclose sensitive information, which could be exploited by cyber criminals. From the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
U.S. EPA Electronics Donation and Recycling
Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.