Walking out of my apartment I ensure that I grab my purse and fill it with my wallet, my keys, my phone and my iPod. On the bus ride to work I put in my iPod and listen to the music I put on my iPod through my laptop. While sitting on the bus I see at the very least one person also listening to their iPod or one person talking on their mobile phone.We are perpetually attached to technology. This is not at all meant as a cut to the use of technology, because after all here I am working from a laptop for an online magazine, but more so to point out that we are constantly with our technology and when it dies or gets replaced what do we do with the old one?

The best option for handling your old or broken technology waste is to recycle. Most of our electronic waste includes several harmful and toxic attributes in them that are released when crushed, like Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) in PC computers that are filled 20% with lead. Chemicals that are released in landfills, seep into the soil and eventually effect water sources that we drink.

Recycling centres are located all around us and with the influx of electronic rubbish, more centres are popping up specifically to address the issue of electronic waste. Electronic waste recycling centres also benefit the communities in which they are planted. These centres provide jobs and research opportunities in the surrounding areas, bringing in more income to local businesses who benefit format the growth of the town.

Is electronic waste really that big of a problem?

To answer that question in short, yes, electronic waste is widely a large amount of the incoming rubbish produced in developed countries. I have grown up with the constant influence of technology throughout my lifetime, and in that time my family and I have gone through seven mobile phones. While this number may seem a little excessive, I am here along with many from my generation to point out that modern mobile phones are not meant to withstand many years. In America, the average mobile phone plan is 2 years and while others do replace their phone in between that time that number is set because that is often the max life of the phone purchased with the plan. By the end of the two years, all of my phones have experience trouble with charging, with accepting calls or with sound.

While I specify mobile phones because I have the most experience with replacing them due to malfunctions, there are several other technical gadgets that are replaced simply because there are new and more advanced models. Mp3, laptop and e-reader products are notorious for being quickly replaced, because often the newer versions provide more capabilities and storage than their predecessors that are attractive to the public.

Where can I dispose of my e-waste?

Australia:

RecyclingNearYou

Recycling near you is an easy to use website in which you simply put in your address and what you wish to recycle and it will tell you where to find your nearest recycling center.

Canteen

Canteen in an organisation created to help and empower young Australians (12-24) diagnosed with cancer. A fundraising effort that canteen participates is in the recycling of mobile phones that will in return provide more funding for the organisation.

New Zealand:

Find A

Find A is a website that is meant to be able to find anything in New Zealand, but this site may also be utilised to find electronic recycling centers in your area of New Zealand.

UK:

Mirror Go Green

Mirror Go Green is a recycling source in which you earn money for your recycled gadgets.

USA:

EPA Recycling Source

Located on the Environmental Protection Agency's site, this section allows you to find electronic waste recycling centers in your state.

Canada:

Electronic Recycling Association

The ERA is a nonprofit organisation created to remove electronic waste and recycle or donate to charities what equipment can still be utilised.