Tip of the Issue: Electronics: What Recycle Here! Can Accept, and Where…
Dusty electronics are lurking in dark corners of basements and garages everywhere – but think twice before you throw these materials away, as many electronics are recyclable. Luckily, Recycle Here! is a convenient drop off that is available for no cost to all Detroit residents. Because of the costs involved in disposing of these materials, we are only able to accept electronics from Detroit residents. You may be asked to show I.D. We apologize for the inconvenience to our suburban friends. For those outside of the city limits, try calling your local electronics store or your city hall to see what options are available to you.
WHY DISPOSE OF ELECTRONICS PROPERLY?
Electronics contain a variety of materials including metals and plastics. The EPA says “recycling electronics helps reduce pollution that would be generated while manufacturing a new product and the need to extract valuable and limited virgin resources.” See www.epa.gov for more information about material specifics. Recyclers save more than 100 million lbs of materials each year – make sure YOU are too are handling your materials responsibly!
SO, WHAT IS CATEGORIZED AS AN ELECTRONIC?
Simply having a cord does not qualify an item as an ‘electronic’ at Recycle Here!. We can accept parts associated with computers and most entertainment electronics. This includes printers, speakers, mice, keyboards, towers, stereo equipment, DVD players, VCRs, and stereos. Of course we accept monitors and televisions as well.
Please note that if you would consider the electronic an ‘appliance’, we cannot accept it. These include ‘white goods’: microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, dehumidifiers. These are called white electronics because they were historically white (although you can probably get a purple stove now). These items can be disposed of through a supplier or dropped at a city collection site. Contact DEQ Household Hazardous at (313) 932-2240 with specific questions.
Then, there are the miscellaneous items. These include coffee machines, food processors, and other random things you will inevitably come across. Unfortunately, most of these are garbage. This is because we recycle items by what they are made of. If it’s all mixed together, and not defined by commodity, we cannot accept it. If an item is mostly metal, we may be able to process it as a metal. However, a plastic appliance that is unmarked is most likely unrecyclable.
WHERE CAN I BRING THIS STUFF?
To be clear: We can ONLY take electronics at our Main collection site at 1331 Holden. This is due to the hazards of moving these heavy materials around. You are welcome to bring accepted electronics to the Main site during our open hours of Wednesdays from 10-6 and Saturdays from 9-3. And please remember that if the electronic is still working, it is best to donate it to a charitable organization and/or resale shop!
Finally, be sure to buy environmentally responsible electronics. These include electronics featuring Energy Star ratings, higher recycled content, less packaging, and lower levels of toxic substances. Also, it is better to invest in higher quality goods that a made to last for many years instead of only two or three.
For more information contact us at 313-871-4000
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Source: Recycle Here!