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There’s a new feature on the site that we’re pretty excited about - the Recycler Network.   While we are always champions of reuse as the first option, there are items that simply do have any life left in them and must be recycled in an environmentally sound manner.  We often get requests to take printers, older monitors, and other items.  One challenge here is not to compound the  environmental problem. Shipping e-waste across the country to a responsible recycler keeps e-waste out of the landfill, but how much fuel do we use and how much CO2 are we expelling in the process?  Not to mention the hassle of shipping bulky items.

To help address this, we wanted to create a more localized option to help people recycle without the hassles of shipping.  If you have an item that isn’t in a category we support, such as a big old CRT monitor, or a fax machine, you can search our network and find a local recycling location that will accept it.  Everyone in this network has met our standard as a responsible recycler.

So what defines a responsible recycler? We break it down into 4 basic sets of criteria:

1. A no export policy with regard to the whole unit (unprocessed) recyclable e-waste material to any developing or non-OECD countries.
2. A no landfill policy to prevent any and all e-waste from entering solid waste landfills.
3. No use of prison labor as defined in the Basel Action Network’s Pledge of True Stewardship.
4. Data security policy. Any and all products that contain media containing devices (such as hard drives or flash memory) must be wiped free and clean of any and all personal data prior to destruction.

So if you have electronics to recycle that we aren’t taking online, find a location near you that will.   We’re also working to grow the network, so if you know a recycler, please suggest they join our network.

It’s all a part of the reCommerce revolution.