Title: How to Get Rid of Your Old Electronics
Headings: How to Get Rid of Your Old Electronics
How to Get Rid of Your Old Electronics
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Wise Bread Picks
Safety First
Sell It
Trade It In
Donate It
Recycle It
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Content: As it turns out, that's increasingly rare. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, American consumers consistently spend more than $1,000 per year on household electronics like televisions, computers, and smartphones. That's a lot of money, but assuming we all have the money to pay for these gadgets, what's more distressing is what happens to the older, less-advanced devices they aim to replace. To be blunt, most of these discarded gadgets end up in landfills, says the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, it is estimated that Americans throw out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers every day, making electronic waste, or "e-waste," one of the fastest growing components of landfill waste. And while that huge, old computer monitor may seem innocent enough, it's packed with lead and other toxic chemicals, which isn't just bad for the environment, it's bad for us too. So what can you do with your electronics when they're no longer of use? Here are a few environmentally friendly options. ( See also: 25 Things to Throw Out Today)
Safety First
First things first — whether you're offloading an old cell phone to a recycling service or selling a laptop to a friend, you need to wipe any and all electronic devices that store data.