How To Encourage Electronics Recycling In Your Community

If you are like most people, you want to do all you can to help protect the environment and keep our planet in the best possible condition. To do so, you probably recycle many items on a regular basis, such as metal cans, newspaper, plastic bottles, and other items. However, when it comes to recycling electronics such as old cellphones, computers, and other similar items, many individuals and communities can struggle. If you are wanting to encourage others who live near you to recycle their electronics, here are some easy ways you can accomplish this while helping your community.

Create Drop-Off Locations

Since there are always plenty of charitable organizations and other community agencies that want to help others, you can partner with them to establish drop-off locations at shopping centers, schools, and other places. By working with police departments, educators, and others, these locations can make electronics recycling much easier and convenient. By creating drop-off locations, you will make it easier for community members who may want to recycle but who don’t have time to seek out the right places and methods on their own.

Newspaper Column

If you really want to catch your community’s attention, then consider writing a newspaper column. Even in today’s world, many people continue to read their hometown newspaper each day to catch up on the latest news. To make sure your cause gets known by thousands of people quickly, write a newspaper column about the benefits of electronics recycling, locations where people can drop off their recyclables within the community, and other information you think would be helpful.

Encourage Donating

Once you have electronics you no longer need or want, you can recycle them by donating them to local organizations such as senior centers and recreation centers. By doing so, you’ll accomplish two things. First, you can get a receipt that will allow you to take a tax deduction. Second, you’ll be giving the organization you choose a computer or other item they can likely have refurbished and use themselves. If your electronics are in good condition, then let others use them!

Retailer Programs

When most people purchase computers, cellphones, or other electronics from stores, they rarely stop to think about what will come when it’s time to buy a new product. To help with this, you can make people aware of various programs and offers that many well-known electronics retailers have for consumers. For example, most Apple stores participate in a GiveBack program, which can net consumers either in-store credit or gift cards of as much as $1000 for certain products they return for recycling.

Since recycling electronics proves to be a challenge for most people, taking the steps mentioned here will undoubtedly open many people’s eyes to the array of options they have when it comes to ridding themselves of unwanted electronics.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan