Getting a new piece of technology during the holidays is becoming more and more popular. Americans spent more than $55 billion on tech during last winter’s gift-giving season, per Adobe data, and that’s just counting online sales.
This brings up a question, one that the cruise-control mode of the holiday season often evolves into yearlong inaction: If you get something new, how do you dispose of your old tech in a responsible way?
All local governments in the DMV operate an electronics disposal service as an extension of their standard trash collection services. But they vary in their recycling processes.
Choosing to donate your tech with a service like eWaste Warriors means reusable electronics have a chance to make it back out into the market, or that the rare earth minerals they contain can be made available for reuse instead of buried in a landfill. It’ll also ensure your used device is properly and securely wiped of data.
With monthly Reboot Hour mixers, participation in other events and a new pickup feature on their website, donating your device with eWaste Warriors is easy.
New phone, who’s this?
The new year signals new beginnings, rebirths and shedding the old.
Many people have boxes somewhere in their homes piled with internet routers, PC components like monitors and keyboards and assorted smart gadgets. That stack of old smartphones sitting in the dresser drawer is just one bad decision from being e-waste versus being cycled back into use.
The annual reset of a new calendar is the perfect time to rid yourself of old tech that, deep down, you knew there was a more environmentally-friendly way to dispose of.
Donation to eWaste Warriors is as easy as filling out a form for pick up on the website. A friendly volunteer will be scheduled to pick up your donation.
“Just fill up a storage container of your used devices and let us know,” said founder Rob Link.
Note: At this time, eWaste Warriors does not take donations of large screens, like televisions.
Lending a hand for the environment
Want to go even further? Perhaps a resolution of yours is to get more involved with your community, or put yourself out there and meet new people.
Volunteering with eWaste Warriors is an opportunity to get hands-on with the local community while joining a team of environmental stewards on a mission.
John Manlutac is one of those volunteers who joined by simply signing up on the website.
“I would totally recommend others join because it’s easy to do, but the effect it has on the community for a few minutes of ‘work’ is powerful,” he said. “I was inspired by how much they care to drive the movement now rather than 10 years down the road.”
So far, Manlutac has picked up one large haul of old technology from a local small business.
“The services provided by eWaste Warriors are beneficial due to the high quantity of e-waste around the area, especially in a major city like DC,” Manlutac said. “It also helps give back to communities in need that usually wouldn’t be able to receive these resources on their own.”
