How many people do you know that use some form of electronics? Everyone should have their hand up, since most everyone in industrialized nations use electronics (and if they don't they can't read this anyway). Well what most people don't know is that those electronic gadgets and equipment have toxic chemicals in them. Wait!! Don't drop your mouse! It's is not in everyday use that these chemicals are dangerous, it's only when they get dumped into the environment or a landfill that they get nasty. Lead, mercury, cadmium, lithium, brominated flame retardants, phosphorous coatings, and PVC plastics are just some of the things you will find in these products. So what do you do?

Recycle it!

It doesn't always cost you money to recycle. I know that in most places that the waste (trash) companies like to charge you money to take recycle materials, there a few options to help you get rid of these items in a safe, responsible manner. Take the Geek Ultimate Recycling Program (GURP) for instance. They take most every type of electronic gizmo you can think of, and have it processed back into usable materials for new products, and it costs you nothing (or almost nothing). While most trash companies will not take your old monitor or TV due to the potential $25,000 fine for improper disposal of such items, GURP will have the glass (which contains lead and phosphorous) properly recycled into glass for a new CRT (monitor or TV). While this might not sound like much, consider that a single monitor contains 4 - 5 pounds of lead, and it adds up quickly when you understand that over 40% of the lead in landfills comes from electronics.

You can make a difference! Take a little time to contact GID about GURP, you will be glad you did.