I’ve eliminated the paper trail. Now what?

I was like a lot of people this week that watched with geek lust the unveiling of the latest incarnation of the iPad.  But once the intoxication of the dual cameras and shiny body wore off I began to take stock of my office environment.

Computer, land-line, cell phone, iPod, iPad, DVD player, television…I am officially connected.  But as I contemplate the queue for my latest gadget I wander to the closet and see:  old tube TV, flip phone, VCR player, Commodore 64.

What is the impact of all of these obsoletes?  We mine materials, manufacture products, we ship wares, we shop for goods, we bring them home and plug them in and wait for the satisfying hum of new machinery.  Then we kill them or grow tired of them.

Discarded electronics (or E-Waste) makes up only 2% of landfill use.  But did you know that your old gadgets contribute 70% to overall landfill toxins?  Look at what’s inside:  copper, lead, nickel, aluminum, cadmium, mercury, not to mention the plastics and glass that don’t really degrade!

We need to start practicing the Four R’s in our connected world:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink.  I spend more time on my computer than in front of the TV.  Programs like Hulu and Netflix are bringing entertainment to my computer.  My iPhone holds more music than I could ever listen to in one sitting.  My old hard drive is humming like a champ after some petting from a tech squad.  I’ve rethought how I’m wired, what’s plugged in, what lights are blinking.  Now the Recycle part:

Technology is like a new car driven off of the lot, often obsolete seconds after purchase.  Your old gadget should not be considered a waste.  It’s a resource!  Best Buy and Staples have recently started lease and recycle programs for your used electronics.  Sites like econewonline.com and electronicrecyclingofvirginia.com will responsibly dispose of your gadget.  Companies like Inveneo and Close the Gap will refurbish your gadget and get it into the hands of folks across America and in Third World Countries who need technology to grow and develop.

So after starting with a responsible, green purchase, remember the Four R’s.  When you’re done, unplug.

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