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eWaste Recycling: How You Can Do Your Part


Small Dog Electronics has long been concerned about its footprint on the Earth. We started recycling electronics on a small scale many years ago, but ewaste (electronic waste) has grown to be a major problem on a global scale. According to the EPA, 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years, due to the speed of technological advances. As such, the disposal rate of electronic material increases at an alarming pace every year.

Small Dog Electronics’ eWaste Initiative

Doing our part for a greener future!

We strive to maintain environmentally healthy business practices, including reducing our waste, reducing energy consumption, carpooling to work, among other things! By 2004, we wanted to expand our commitment to the environment, and so we began a local ewaste recycling program through our Vermont retail stores.

In 2007, we initiated a free recycling day in honor of Earth Day on April 22. We recycled over 55 tons of ewaste, and plan to recycle much more in the years to come. We want to help encourage those of you out there to bring your old electronics to us so that they can be disposed of in a safe manner.

In whole, the Small Dog Electronics eWaste Initiative is an effort to:

Read on below for information on how you can do your part to recycle your electronic waste:

Retail Store Recycling

Bring it to us—we will dispose of your ewaste for you!

Your computer and other electronics can have a life after you’re ready to move on. If you live in Vermont or are in the area, we offer a recycling program through our retail stores! We’re proud to offer this service, though there is a cost to cover the transfer of goods to our recycler. The current price is 25¢ per pound.

Visit the State of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources’ site to find a list of other recycling and reuse locations throughout the state.

State of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources
Not in Vermont? Recycle your ewaste nationwide.

If you don’t live in Vermont, there are alternatives for recycling your ewaste. Visit the National Recycling Coalition’s Electronics Recycling Initiative for a list of state ewaste electronics recycling programs and policies.

National Recycling Coalition’s “No Computer Should Go To Waste” Program

Visit the Electronics Industries Alliance to view both state and national recycling programs.

Electronics Industries Alliance

The National Cristina Foundation takes electronics donations to help benefit those with special needs. For more information about their cause, including electronics requirements, visit their website.

National Cristina Foundation

Annual eWaste Recycling Event

Celebrating Earth Day with FREE Recycling!

The Annual Small Dog Electronics eWaste Recycling Event happens every April, in honor of Earth Day, at our S. Burlington Retail Store. In 2007, its inaugural year, Small Dog collected over 55 tons of ewaste, keeping the hazardous materials found in older electronics out of our landfills. In 2008, the number far surpassed that, with an estimated 120 tons collected in one day!

So what happens to the collected ewaste?

All of the ewaste collected is processed in the USA. While a small percentage of the ewaste can be salvaged, in most cases, ewaste is broken down so that elements such as tin, copper, silicon, beryllium, carbon, iron, aluminum can be reused in other electronics. Plastic, steel and glass can also be recycled. Certain waste goes to to manufacturer take-back programs. All in all, we’re proud to say that the material is recycled in a sustainable way.

Learn More

eWaste Statistics

Things to know about electronic waste

eWaste, which includes electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, printers and related peripherals, is both an environmental problem and a health hazard. Electronics contain substantial amounts of hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium, discussed in detail below. When electronics are not properly disposed of or recycled, the toxins can potentially seep into the ground and affect our groundwater and the air we breathe.

Some discarded electronics end up in landfills in the US, but many are shipped to third world countries where children and other workers sort through the discarded electronics searching for parts they are paid several cents for. They often do this work without gloves, masks or goggles, suffering exposure to the harmful chemicals, glass, and other sharp objects.

In addition, recycling also creates one hundred more jobs than regular garbage disposal. Valuable materials such as steel, glass, plastic and precious metals which can be reused for other purposes can be recovered from recycling.

Additional Statistics

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that ewaste accounts for about 1% of the nation’s 210 million tons of solid waste each year
  • Other reports have estimated that ewaste constitutes as much as 2-5% of the US municipal solid waste stream and continues to grow rapidly
  • eWaste is continually on the rise, with an average of 220 tons of computers and other ewaste dumped in landfills and incinerators every year in the US
  • Many people discard computers every three to five years, and an estimated 250 million computers will become obsolete within the next five years
  • Older TVs and computers can contain an average of four pounds of lead as well as other toxic substances like chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, and zinc
  • Mobile phones will be discarded at a rate of 130 million per year by 2005, resulting in 65,000 tons of waste.

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials found in every day electronics

Electronics contain substantial amounts of lead, cadmium, hexavelent chromium, mercury, and bromiated flame retardants. If improperly handled, these toxins can be released into the environment.

Electronic materials containing hazardous materials:

MONITORS

  • Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) in monitors and televisions utilize lead to shield the user from radiation

CIRCUIT BOARDS

  • Can contain chromium, lead, beryllium, mercury, cadmium, nickel and zinc
  • Lead solder is used to hold components to circuit boards

BATTERIES

  • Printed circuit boards often contain batteries that have numerous hazardous metals including mercury, nickel, cadmium and lead

LAPTOPS

  • In addition to the materials in monitors and CPUs, laptop computers have a small florescent lamp containing mercury in the screen

PERIPHERALS

  • Printers utilize circuit boards, batteries, and toner cartridges
  • Copiers have selenium or chromium drums

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