How to Get Rid of Your Old Electronics Without Ruining the Planet

Your childhood NES that has n’t booted up in a tenner . Your cache of old flip telephone that you ’ve keep in a shoebox in the closet for “ sentimental ” economic value . That congius bag of used batteries that you know you ’re not suppose to flip in the dumpster , but after five long time of drag them around from flat to apartment , that for certain does sound enticing .

Electronic waste , or e - wasteland , is a massive problem both in the United States and around the world , and chance are , you ’re a part of it . Americans throw out at least 3.5 million short ton of consumer electronics in 2014.According to the EPA , only 40 percent were decently recycled . But even if you , my hoarder friend , have intercourse well than to drop your old CRT telecasting on the sidewalk for the garbage truck to plunk up ( seriously , do n’t do this , those thing are toxicandyou can get fined ) , permit it chill your cellar forever is n’t a root , either .

Thankfully , it ’s easier than ever to throw away of your old electronics in an creditworthy mode . There are certified e - waste material recycling center that ’ll plough your old detritus into raw material without letting toxic wastefulness wind up in landfills , and there are buyback programs that ’ll actually pay you for your old gadgets . We break it all down on the late variation of Earther ’s new How to Be a Decent Human Being serial , so check out the video above to learn more and start reuse .