E-waste Disposal -- Just the Facts ... or the Fax

Do you wonder where old computers, cell phones, fax machines and copiers wind up? Often, they're dumped in foreign countries, where they pile up and pollute the groundwater and earth.

This is patently irresponsible, not to mention wasteful. Check out this article for more infomation: http://www.electronicstakeback.com/global-e-waste-dumping/

Goodwill Industries will accept most e-waste for jobs training and recycling. I recently brought over a box of old phone cords, hand held electronic devices, keyboards, modems, etc., to the Naperville Goodwill facility, where there is a drive up lane for convenience.

E-waste is mined and used for jobs training: http://www.goodwill.org/press-releases/goodwill-and-dell-expand-free-computer-recycling-programs/

There are also large local companies which specialize in the safe and secure disposal of e-waste. Sims Recycling Solutions in West Chicago will make certain your business and personal information is destroyed from any computer hard drive prior to recycling.

This is extremely important as many businesses and individuals have information on their hard drives which can pose a security risk should it get into the wrong hands. Identity theft and theft of intellectual property are enormous problems; lets not make it too easy for the criminals to profit.

 I highly recommend Sims Recycling Solutions for all your safe and secure e-waste disposal needs: http://us.simsrecycling.com/

Cartridge World, a newer franchise, reuses ink printer cartridges, and their prices are highly competetive. I recently visited their Bolingbrook store, where the owner Meg Francisco was both friendly and helpful. No longer will I dump empty ink cartridges into a landfull. By reusing the existing cartridge, I am being responsible and saving a boatload of money and that is a beautiful thing.

There's a in Plainfield, too.

For more info on the company, go to: http://www.cartridgeworldusa.com

Let us all work together to reuse, reduce and recycle and teach our kids to do the same. Below is an excellent link for enviornmental education:

http://www.scarceecoed.org/recycling/electronics.html

The Forest Preserve District of Will County also has a site where you can drop off all types of electronic items: computers, phones, printers, microwave ovens, television sets, gaming equipment, digital clocks, radios, paper shredders and on and on. You'll find a large truck where you can leave your items at the district's Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 Laraway Road, Joliet.

For more info, go to: http://www.reconnectwithnature.org/about-us/news/Electronics-Recycling