Reduce
Reuse
- Pass it along to a friend or family member;
- Sell it or trade it in – most major cell phone carriers offer trade in for credit towards a new device; or
- Donate it to a local charity or nonprofit
Recycle
Electronics also contain valuable materials that can be recovered. According to the EPA, “One metric ton of circuit boards can contain 40 to 800 times the amount of gold and 30 to 40 times the amount of copper mined from one metric ton of ore in the United States.”
In Florida, most counties offer electronics recycling through their household hazardous waste programs. Find out where to take electronics for recycling on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s End-of-Life Electronics website.
Don’t forget to erase each device of any personal information before it leaves your possession.