Electronics Recycling Tips and Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Technology

These electronics recycling tips have been sponsored by Trademore. I was paid for this post. 

We live in a digital world. Kids are getting cell phones at a younger and  younger age and homes usually have multiple computers.  In addition, televisions usually need to be replaced and updated frequently. This technology has a significant impact on our environment. I thought I would share a few ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your tech habit by trading them in with Trademore. If you have a model they will accept, trade it in!  If  not, learn how to recycle electronics safely to protect our environment. 

Why Worry About Electronics Recycling At All?

All of our electronic devices become out of date very quickly. Unfortunately, they contain a large number of toxic materials that we definitely don’t want in our environment.  However, what do you do with them when they are no longer useful to us or we just want something newer?

Extending the life of an old cell phone by finding it a new home is the first step.  This helps someone else reduce their own carbon footprint by buying PRE OWNED devices, which have a smaller carbon footprint. 

Only if a device is no longer functional should you consider electronics recycling.  First, check out Trademore for information on certified pre-owned devices.  Then, keep reading for electronics recycling tips to safely dispose of those that can’t be used anymore. 

How To Trade in Electronics With Trademore

If you have a relatively current model of cell phones, tablets, or smartphones, trade it in rather than letting it sit in a drawer or end up in the trash.  SO, how does Trademore work?  Basically, they buy certain models of cell phones, tablets or smartphones and you get paid via PayPal or a Mastercard® gift card.   Want to BUY a pre owned device and save money on electronics?  You can do that with Trademore, too!  Here is a basic rundown of how Trademore works:

How to Trade in Used Cell Phones on Trademore

1. Head over to Trademore.com.  Select the kind of device you want to trade in. They take old phones, tablets and smartwatches. 
2. Give them the details of your device like the provider, color and capacity. Their site has filters to make it easy.
3. Tell them if your device is in great condition or if needs a little TLC.  
4.  They give you an initial offer for your device based on the details you provided. The offer you receive from Trademore is locked-in for 30 days
5. Next, Trademore will send you the prepaid shipping materials.
6. When the materials arrive, send them back your device. 
7.  After they receive your device, they check it out to confirm the details and condition. If everything looks good, they send you a Virtual Mastercard^® Gift Card or PayPal payment (if you choose a gift card, check out my post on how to recycle gift cards once you have used it).

Buying Pre-Owned Cell Phones with Trademore

When each cell phone, tablet or other personal device is manufactured, it has a higher carbon footprint than if you purchased a used one instead.  Buying used cell phones is a great way to reduce your own personal carbon footprint.  Here is how the process works:

How to Buy Certified Devices with Trademore

1. Buying certified devices with Trademore is easy to do online.  All their devices go through a 30-point functional and cosmetic inspection for quality, reliability and functionality.
2. Just head over to Trademore.com and check out their selection of cell phones and smart watches.  Choose your favorite.  Each one is certified so you can trust it’s reliability. 
3. You’ll receive your order quickly via free 2-day shipping. They keep you informed along the way so you know when your device will arrive.
4. You get a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee and free returns!

Visit Trademore.com to buy used devices and/or trade-in your device

Other Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Technology

Trading in used electronics is one way of reducing the carbon footprint of your technology habit.  But, what else can you do?  Technology is here to stay.  Unless you are going to move to a deserted island, you are probably going to use technology.  Your goal should not be to avoid it, but to use it responsibly.  

Once you have purchased your cell phone, computer, or tablet, buy a solar charger for it.  Alternatively, choose a power strip which turns off the flow of power completely when the device is not in use.  This helps reduce ‘ghost usage’ of electricity and helps reduce your electricity usage so you save money. 

How do you dispose of old electronics?

Unless every single one of us gets serious about electronics recycling we will soon have landfills overflowing with e-waste. And once that e-waste starts to break down in the landfill, toxic chemicals will begin leaching into our soil and ground water.  Can you throw away old electronics? Well, you COULD but it is a really bad idea.  In fact, some cities ban electronics from area landfills due to the hazardous materials they contain. Electronic waste is becoming a huge concern. 

As the pace of technology continues to increase, so does the volume of items like computers, tablets and phones that need to be recycled. Knowing how to recycle electronics safely will protect your personal data as well as the environment.    If you have a few unwanted electronic devices in your home that need to be disposed of, here are a few electronics recycling tips that may come in handy.

Electronics Recycling Tips

1. Always erase your data before you sell or recycle your old devices. The easiest way is to run an online search for the “factory reset” option for your device, then follow the instructions. This is usually enough to protect your privacy but serious hackers and techies can still recover it. If you are recycling a computer your best bet is to remove the hard drive and keep it in storage while you recycle the rest of the computer.
2. Make sure your electronics recycler is certified by an independent third party. In addition, make sure that they meet current standards on responsible recycling practices. It would be sad if you went through all the work of recycling your electronics only to have them end up in the landfill anyhow.
3. For your computer or laptop, consider upgrading the hardware or software instead of buying a brand new product. Just spending a little bit of money on memory and a thorough cleanup may be more than enough to get your computer running quickly and efficiently.
4. Remove any batteries from your electronics, they may need to be recycled separately.  Check out my post about battery recycling for tips. 
5. If it is too old to trade in, donate it.   Many charitable organizations would love the donation and you get a tax write off at the same time!

Remember, reusing something should be your first choice when trying to go green.  So, trade in your used electronics and buy pre owned when  possible.  Only if those are not options should you buy a new high tech toy.  Recycling household items is a great first step on the road to green living. 

I encourage you to check out my article on the 6 rs of sustainability and learn why we need to reimagine a world where more than just recycling is the norm.