If your device has a power switch and is powered by a battery, it’s considered a small electronic. Small electronics include cell phones, tablet computers, MP3 players and digital cameras. Small electronics are not only easy to recycle, but they are sometimes the most valuable products you can recycle.
Small Electronics Recycling Preparation:
If it’s possible to factory reset your electronics, this should be your first step in recycling.
Delete any pictures or songs from your devices.
For electronics using a lithium-ion battery, remove the battery if possible. These batteries require a special transportation procedure, and can be recycled with other rechargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries come in all shapes and sizes. You’ll find them in your car as well as most electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers. There are also rechargeable replacements for common household alkaline batteries. No matter the variety, when rechargeable batteries no longer hold a charge, it’s important to recycle them to reclaim useful materials like mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, silver, cobalt, lithium, or graphite and to ensure proper handling of potentially dangerous chemicals.
To find your nearest battery recycling location, jump to the recycling locator.
Find Recycling Guides for Other Materials
Cell Phones recycling:
The Consumer Electronics Association expects a cell phone to last less than five years and that’s assuming you don’t decide to upgrade to new technology every two years.
The good news is that cell phones have the highest recycling market of any electronic material. The bad news is that in the U.S., we only recycle 10 percent of our phones, according to the EPA. The rest may end up in a landfill, but more likely end up in our desk drawers or garages.
Cell Phone Recycling Preparation:
- If you bought a new phone, make sure to transfer the data from your old phone. The store can often help with this.
- Locate the settings screen on your phone and factory reset it so all your data is removed. As an added precaution, you can also remove the SIM card.
- If the cell phone battery is removable, you’ll want to take it out. Most cell phone batteries are lithium-ion batteries, which require special transportation for recycling, so this is especially important if using a manufacturer’s mail-back program.
Use the Recycling Locator to find a drop-off location near you https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-cell-phones/#recycling-locator
Bring your used batteries, printer and toner cartridges and compact fluorescent lights to one of the following locations across campus:
- Liberty Hall (LBH): 1st floor next to the North entrance doors, across from the Fitness Center.
- Gray Wolf Hall (GWH): 1st and 2nd floors next to the bathrooms.
- Glacier Hall (GLA): 1st floor Reception 101 next to the door.
- Shuksan Hall (SHK): Main Entrance on top of the EvCC clipper box on the right.
- Parks Student Union (PSU): 2nd floor next to the ATM near the bookstore.
- Whitehorse Hall (WHI): Next to the staircase by the Main Entrance.
- Olympus Hall (OLY): 2nd floor hallway next to copier.
Please remember to limit your deposit of CFL bulbs to 10 per day and make sure it’s free from plastic bags, ziplock or cardboard boxes.
Learn more about EvCC Sustainability www.everettcc.edu/green or email to sustainability@everettcc.edu