Did you know that several nationwide retailers will take your old electronics and dispose of them properly for you? Just tossing your old electronics is environmentally unsafe and unsound. Electronics that end up in landfills or incinerators, cancer-causing chemicals can be released into the earth, water and air. So please don’t do it!

Next time you need to get rid of your old computers, cell phones, keyboards, printer cartridges, CDs, DVDs, printers, scanners, fax machines, cameras, televisions, etc., and want to do it without harming the environment, keep the stores below in mind. Some things they’ll take for free, for others they charge. ***For the most up-to-date and valid information on what they will and will not take and how much it will or will not cost you, please see their individual websites, or give your local store a call.

Best Buy: Will take CDs, DVDs, cell phones and inkjet cartridges for no charge. For a fee of $10, they’ll take some of the larger stuff like TVs, computer monitors, and laptops. Upside is that they’ll give you a $10 Best Buy gift card in exchange, so its really not costing you anything.

Office Depot: Takes ink and toner cartridges, and cell phones for no charge. For larger items you’ll need to purchase a box (small $5, medium $10, large $15), which you put your recyclables in and leave at the store.

Radio Shack: Takes MP3 players, cameras, phones, camcorders, video game consoles, cell phones, and other small electronics. They determine the value of your recyclables and give you a gift card in exchange.

Staples: Takes your ink and toner cartridges and gives you a $3 coupon for each one. They’ll also take your cell phone and any Dell product for free. Non-Dell stuff including computers, fax machines, printers and other large items will cost you $10 per piece.

*source: Reader’s Digest, April 2010.

Other places to recycle electronics

You can google “electronics recycle” along with your zip code or the name of your city to find other companies and places that will take your stuff. Many municipalities offer special electronics recycling days, so you can contact your city ombudsman, council representative or waste management office to find out about that option.

Local exchange clubs and civic associations also at times offer electronic recycling days. Best bet is to call your local chamber of commerce to find information about those.

Hey, thanks for not just dumping your electronics. We can make this world a healthier place will a little effort.