Recycling the right answer for old electronics Published Jan. 3, 2012 By Ted Theopolos 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- About 25 percent of the presents given each year are electronics, according to the Clean Air Counsel. With the holiday gift giving season now over, the question is how to dispose of old electronic equipment? Throwing it in the trash only adds to another problem. Americans produce about 250 million tons of trash which ends up in landfills. That's about 4.4 pounds per person per day according to the EPA. The numbers of landfills in America are dropping mainly because they are full. The EPA states there were approximately 8,000 landfills in 1988, but today it is estimated that only 1,654 are operating. One of the fastest growing waste streams is e-waste (electronics). E-waste represents 2 percent of the American's total, but its growing two to three times faster than any other waste stream. It's mainly due to electronics becoming obsolete. While government property must always be disposed in accordance with established unit procedures, here are some suggestions for recycling your personal electronics: · Drop off your old computer at Goodwill or stores that recycle computers · Trade in your old electronics; Trade-up Programs · Pass down the working electronic to your sibling or someone that can use it · Find a phone center that recycles old cell phones · Drop off your old TV at a recycling center · Participate in a company that has free recycling mail-in program. Many electronics companies have them. With proper care, approximately 110 millions of pounds of valuable material can be recovered from disposed electronics in one year, according to earth.911. Remember to use the three Rs; reduce, reuse and recycle, before discarding those electrics.