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Eco-Smart E-Waste

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Decluttering tech can be liberating, and doing it right benefits the environment. Electronic waste (e-waste), including obsolete or broken computers, televisions, home appliances and phones, contains hazardous materials such as mercury, beryllium and lead that can contaminate waterways and soil if not discarded properly.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research reports that e-waste generation is outpacing recycling by five times, with less than 25 percent recycled globally. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recycling 1 million laptops saves enough energy to power more than 3,500 homes each year. Recycling or reselling our old devices not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also can earn us some extra money.

 

Responsible Disposal Tips

  •  Before buying a replacement, consider repairing a device to extend its lifespan.
  • Sell devices on platforms like Poshmark.com or eBay.com.

  • Recycle electronics responsibly. Check the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (eCycleClearinghouse.org) for state-specific e-waste laws.

  • Use Earth911.com or e-Stewards.org to find nearby recycling centers that accept electronics.

  • Avoid buying devices designed to become obsolete, such as those with non-replaceable batteries, proprietary chargers and sealed hardware.

  • Use the e-waste recycling programs at retailers like Best Buy, Staples and Goodwill.

  • Use Call2Recycle.org to locate battery recycling options.

  • Visit TerraCycle.com for hard-to-recycle items like cords and headphones.

  • Attend local e-waste collection events organized by cities, schools and libraries.

  • Before recycling, selling or donating a device, remember to back up data, delete personal information, remove batteries and SIM cards, and gather chargers and accessories for recycling.



In-Print, Green Living sustainability National Content Eco-Tip Sustainable Living December 2025

 

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Tick Tackler

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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