Did you get a new Apple iPad for Christmas? A new mobile phone? Perhaps a new Windows 8.1 laptop? Congratulations.
You may now be thinking of getting rid of the older model that the new Christmas gift replaces. But have you ever wondered where your discarded electronics end up? Filmmaker David Fedele decided to answer the question in the documentary E-wasteland – Where do our electronics go at the end of their life? The answer may surprise you.
Check in your area to see if there’s a responsible way to discard electronic equipment such as old computers and monitors. The e-Stewards initiative is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. It defines and promotes ethical and responsible electronics reuse and recycling best practices worldwide. Their website features an international recycling directory.
This month, I’ll be donating some old computer equipment to the Cincinnati Computer Cooperative. It is a non-profit organization that provides secure, environmentally responsible computer recycling services to business and individuals, and refurbished computers to low-income families, schools, and other non-profit organizations.
UPDATE: The Cincinnati Computer Cooperative rebranded as Cincinnati Computer Reuse in January 2024.
- e-Wasteland film official website
- e-Wasteland trailer on YouTube
- e-Wasteland trailer on Vimeo
- e-Stewards official website
How do you dispose of your unused electronics? Share in the comments below.
