The biannual Computer Drop-off Event involving the Hawaii Computers for Kids Program, CompUSA, Lenox Metals, and the City and County of Honolulu is on hold indefinitely, after the state Department of Health informed the sponsors that commercially generated cathode ray tubes no longer can be dumped into city landfills.

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(PRWEB) April 21, 2006 -- Americans will be retiring 130 million cell phones annually and this number will keep increasing. Although individual cell phones contain only a fraction of the lead and brominated flame retardant found in a computer, their growing number and shorter life span threaten to contribute an increasing proportion of arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc and other toxic substances to the environment. Right now there are countless millions of old cell phones just sitting around homes in the US and many might as well end up in landfills across America in this month. Through innovative services, old cell phones sold or donated to CashMyPhone.com are given new life and those that can't be reused are recycled according to EPA Standards. CashMyPhone.com also donates old used cell phones to non-profit organizations where they can make use of these old phones.

CashMyPhone.com is a website where people can turn their old used cell phone into cash. By recycling, we all can give new life to old technology and keep these toxic electronic materials out of the landfills. Best of all, you earn money while recycling.

Since 2003, CashMyPhone.com's Mission is to help consumers, charitable organizations, and businesses capture the value of their old used cellphones. Meanwhile keep these toxic electronic materials away from our environment. It's a Win-Win condition.

Electronic Recyclers is partnering with RES Recycling of San Luis Obispo and The Red Cross to offer an electronic waste recycling event at Cuesta College to commemorate this year's Earth Day. Individuals and businesses can drop off computer and television monitors free of charge. Other unwanted electronic items will be collected for a nominal fee. A portion of all proceeds will directly benefit the Red Cross Foundation. All electronic waste will be collected by RES Recycling and then brought to Electronic Recyclers' state-of-the-art facility for proper recycling.

WHAT:
The following electronic items will be accepted: computer monitors/televisions (free of charge), desktop PCs, notebook PCs, printers & copiers, laser and multi-function peripherals: scanners, fax machines (15 lbs.), small equipment: VCRs, PDAs, stereo equipment, speakers, keyboards, mice, digital cameras, cameras, zip drives, telephones, cell phones

WHEN:
Saturday, April 22, 2006, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:
Cuesta College Main Campus, Hwy 1, San Luis Obispo

Several years ago, I started researching the effects of electronic waste (e-waste) in our lives. It was part of a long-standing interest in ecology, combined with the fact that I've never been able to tolerate waste. There are few things in the world that aren't reusable, in some way or another.

In 2001, I happened on a report from Environment Canada called Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication (Telecom) Waste in Canada. Having established myself years earlier as a technology writer, I thought it would be an easy matter to pitch articles on the looming e-waste problem in this country, and do something to sound the alarm before it became a crisis.

Boy, was I wrong.

I spent months e-mailing and phoning magazines and newspapers across the country, trying to find an editor interested in writing about this issue. I approached it from every angle I could think of. No one ever said it out loud, but I was left with the distinct impression that editors weren't interested in potential crises; it was more of a story if there actually was a crisis.

By the time I finally found an interested editor, it was September 10, 2001. As you can guess, my story was shelved.

Eventually, I did manage to place a few articles: a very short tidbit in Sympatico NetLife and a four-part series in Hub: Digital Living. These were steps in the right direction, but still not anywhere near a solution.

It's been two years since my last Hub article on the subject, and while awareness is growing, it's doing so slowly. Enough is enough. EcoDigital aims to be a central repository of information on how you can help stem the e-waste tide in North America. The site is currently under construction, but in the coming days, months and years I'll be adding information on how you can keep the detritus of modern living from ending up in landfill and damaging our ecosystem. I'll also be providing information on how to give your old equipment into the hands of someone who can make good use of it.

It doesn't take much effort. It just requires a new way of looking at things, and realizing that everything has a purpose—and finding and fulfulling that purpose can be extremely rewarding, on a personal and societal level.

Just remember: EcoDigital won't work without you. I hope you can spread the word, add more information to our list of resources, and encourage others to do the same.

Happy Earth Day.