Don't Chuck It: Recycling Computers, Other Electronic Equipment Is Now Free and Easy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Electronic equipment can become obsolete almost overnight. Your desk top computer is replaced by a laptop. Your laptop is replaced by a better laptop. Who needs that Gameboy when you have a Wii? And a year-old cellphone? Does anyone have a year-old cell phone?

The problem is that simply throwing away an electronic device — any electronic device — is bad for the environment, but there’s been no easy way to recycle things. Until now.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and UNICOR, the Recycling Business Group are working together on a free recycling program for a wide array of consumer electronic equipment. The program is called Green-Fed II.

The program is available to anyone in Arkansas, but at the University of Arkansas, environmental officials say Green-Fed II will be especially valuable.

“I think the Green-Fed II Program is perfect for students,” said Gary Enzor, recycling coordinator for the university campus. “This program allows them to recycle their electronic waste at no cost. This is timely in light of the fact that electronic waste is now banned from Arkansas landfills.”

Green-Fed II is only for personal equipment. It doesn’t apply to university-owned property. University faculty and staff are required to dispose of their old equipment through the university surplus equipment office. The office is also committed to recycling, but is required to follow Arkansas regulations for surplus state property before disposing of anything purchased by the university.

To use the “e-scrap” recycling program all you have to do is go to the Green-Fed II Web site at http://www.unicor.gov/recycling/greenfed/. There you can get a pre-paid UPS shipping label. The Web site also has all the information you need about which items can be recycled and how they should be packaged for shipping.

Then all you have to do is box up your old computer, broken television set, dysfunctional Play Station or embarrassing cell phone and take it to the nearest UPS store. That’s a little more work than chucking it all in a dumpster — but it’s much better for the environment and it’s legal!