Green Tech: The E-waste Bunch

By Dan Estabrook - October 31, 2008 With broadcast television going all digital in February, and many of us already converting to flat-screen plasma and LCD HDTVs, we can expect a glut of older sets to end up in landfills or otherwise trashed and discarded. Some states, like California and Minnesota, have laws mandating e-waste recycling and many more are expected to enact similar laws. Roughly 65 million pounds of e-waste was recycled in 2005 in California alone after the state passed a recycling law and the figure shot up to 120 million pounds in 2006. More than 200 million pounds was hashed in 2007. That's a whole lot of picture tubes and remote controls! With so much potential waste out there and so little information as to how to recycle it all, finding a recycling depot near you becomes a bigger task then you need.  But wait, no need to pile up your e-waste in your garage or basement - it's Tonic News to the rescue! Here are some resources to help you to recycle your old electronics: ASL Recycling: Serving California, ASL has a convenient web site where you can enter your zip code and the site returns nearby e-waste recycling centers.  My closest spot is a place called Central Computer in downtown San Francisco. Panasonic: the electronics giant announced today that it will open 160 recycling centers in 10 states for their customers who wish to discard Panasonic-branded products. Customers can find out where to drop off that old turntable when its recycling site premieres tomorrow, November 1. E-cycling Central: a convenient recycling resource site, E-cycling Central helps all of us across all 50 states find local e-waste recycling locations.  This site offers helpful and detailed information on types of items accepted at each location, residency requirements, contact information, hours of operation and other information gems. Earth911.com: one of my fave sites, Earth911 is a full-service resource with not only information on recycling e-waste, but great info on getting rid of old prescriptions, cell phones, batteries, video games and any other device that you decided to buy on impulse in 1987 but has sat collecting dust in a little used bookshelf since the early 1990s.  The site is also chock full of information on the status of recycling laws and other tidbits to help stay on top of your green action list. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to watch Brady Bunch reruns on my black and white portable Sylvania with rabbit ears!  I want to see if Marcia ends up going to the dance with Doug Simpson or Charlie.  Shhh!  Don't spoil it for me...