Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

"Many towns, cities, counties, and states have their own e-cycling programs that offer convenient drop-off locations for old computers, big monitors, and other electronics. The EPA suggests a cluster of search sites for helping you find a local ecycling program, including EcoSquid and the Consumer Electronics Association's MyGreenElectronics. And beyond the picks you see below, the EPA has a grid list of consumer-friendly e-cycling programs from stores and manufacturers."

While computers, gadgets and electronics in general provide a lot of fun, utility and entertainment, there comes a time when you no longer have use for that widget. While the trash bag may be an idea, chances are that gadget has lots of nasty things like mercury and lead, which if left in a landfill, can result in things like mutant babies and sharks armed with lasers. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for recycling your well-loved device, many of them being free. Aside from the drop off points, depending on your hardware, consider giving it away but whatever your device is, make sure you scrub it of all personal data before handing it off! Whether it is a phone, computer or tablet, make sure you wipe it thoroughly (a simple delete is not always enough) or else you might find yourself subject to things like identity theft.

"Now that you've been spending some quality time with your latest tech gifts from this holiday season, it's time to decide what to do with you old electronics. Throwing out old electronics and computers is not only environmentally irresponsible, but also a waste of a perfectly good and usable piece of electronics. We will show you ways to properly dispose and re-purpose some of your old tech products after you can take time away from playing with your new toys."

Throughout the year I constantly upgrade, change and replace my various gadgets and technology. Small things like mobile phones and MP3 players generally get thrown in a drawer and forgotten about, while others, such as PC parts, laptops etc, will be passed to family members who can use them. This year I plan to try and recycle more of the smaller items that get forgotten about in that drawer. If you have old items that you don't know what to do with then this article from TechReview Source may help you to dispose of it in a useful way, as well as an environmentally friendly one.