The Electronics Recycling Superguide

It is hard to keep up with which manufacturers and retailers offer which services for recycling your old electronics. PC Mag has developed a comprehensive list that can help you figure it all out! Their folks researched all of the major electronics manufacturers to find out what kinds of recycling programs they offer, where they are available, and whether there is a cost or opportunity for cash back associated with them. Also included in the Superguide are programs run by major retailers and opportunities for cash back or gift cards when you recycle your used electronics. It's all in the Electronics Recycling Guide...Landfill shmandfill!

Who'll Take My MTV?

We've been hearing a lot about electronics recycling in the computer industry, but what about old TVs? The Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a national coalition of non-profit organizations promoting green design and responsible electrionics recycling, has launched the Take Back My TV Campaign. On their site you'll find the TV Recycling Report Card. It grades 17 television manufacturers and retailers on their recyling efforts. Companies are evaluated on the scope of their program, the level of responsible recycling provided, program visibility and volume, and public policy. With the TV digital deadline quickly approaching, responsible disposal programs will be more critical. Find out how the brands measure up!

Now You Can Recycle Your Caps!

Every recycling program has slightly different rules regarding what they will and won't accept. Sometimes plastic bottle caps can pose a problem, but now there is a solution! Recycle Caps With Aveda is a new campaign aimed at providing people with a way to recycle their bottle caps, keeping them out of the landfill. Individuals can go to their local Aveda store or salon to recycle their caps, and schools can collect caps and get special shipping labels from Aveda to send them in for recycling. Any rigid, polypropylene caps (#5) are accepted, so start collecting!

Throwplace

Another great option for getting rid of items you no longer want without sending them to the landfill...Throwplace.com. Their tagline says it best - "Take what you need & throw what you don't." Users can list goods that they want to give away, and charities, businesses, or individuals registered with Throwplace can search the site and make requests for items. It is free to list items that you are giving away, and as a thrower you can designate whether you want the item in the charity, business, or free-for-all section. Charities can then request items listed in the charity section for free. Businesses must pay a small subscription fee in order to take things listed in the business section. The free-for-all section is pretty self-explanatory. So, shed your excess and get it to people who need it...at Throwplace!

Earth and Wallet Friendly Printing Tips From Lifehacker

If you have never checked out LifeHacker, you owe it to yourself. The Wall Street Journal, Oprah and Wired Magazine can't all be wrong! It's a daily blog packed with tips, tricks, downloads and shortcuts to make things in your life more efficient. Start by checking out "Smart and Easy Ways to Reduce Printing Costs" on LifeHacker. It takes you step by step not just on what print-settings can help you save some dough and be easier on the environment, but where you go to change those settings. It even includes tips on digital photos and avoiding wasting ink on unnecessary graphics. It's totally geek-chic, and now green to boot!

Re$ycle Some More

Yesterday I told you how you could get some money for recycling your cell phone. Turns out this works for more than just cell phones. Check out Gazelle, a site through which people have already kept 5 tons of electronics out of the landfill! Look up your used electronic device of choice (digital camera, laptop, camcorder...you get the idea) and the folks at Gazelle will make an offer on it. They send you the box to send it back to them in, and once they inspect your gadgets they will send you the money. They pay you for recycling! C'mon, it can't get much easier than that!

Re$ycle

Want to be green and maybe get some green? (That has been so overused...I don't know why I just wrote that). The Cell For Cash web site lists hundreds of cell phone. Simply indicate which one you have and Cell For Cash will send you a box to send it back to them for free. For some models, they will then send you a check! The company refurbishes the cell phones and then sells them is developing countries where cell service is often the most reliable type of communication.

Take Charge of Your Printing

Don't you hate it when you print something and you get that last page that has nothing on it? Well, now you can kiss that page goodbye! Check out GreenPrint, a free download that highlights and deletes unwanted pages, lets you choose what you really want to print, and even keeps track of all of the paper and money that you're saving while using it.

The Secret Life of Cell Phones