What is e-waste?
Why is e-waste a problem?
What are my options?
What hazardous materials are in electronics products?
What recyclable materials are in electronics products?
Are consumer electronics manufacturers doing anything to make the situation better?
Where does e-waste currently go?
How much e-waste is produced each year?
What electronic equipment is recyclable?
Do I have to take my electronics equipment somewhere or call someone to pick it up?
Is it expensive to have my electronic equipment recycled?
What happens to electronics equipment after I send it to a recycler?
How do I know that my electronics equipment is being recycled responsibly?
Why don’t manufacturers take back their products when they are no longer useful to the user?
The company from whom I recently bought new electronics equipment states it recycles in accordance with EPA guidelines. What does that mean?
What is happening with consumer electronics recycling in other countries?
What computer companies take their products back from the user at the end of product life?
Will consumer electronics resale and recycling hurt the American economy?
What regulations are in place to enforce consumer electronics recycling?
What laws exist in other countries regarding e-waste?
How can I determine if my consumer electronics should be resold or recycled?
Does eBay encourage employees to recycle?
How can I recycle my cell phone/PDA/Blackberry/etc?
Will I get a confirmation that my equipment has been responsibly recycled?
Which is better for the environment, resale or recycling?
How can I determine the current market value of my equipment?
What if I have confidential/personal data/information on the computer, phone, or PDA that I'm hoping to resell/recycle?
How can I buy a used product to replace the product I am selling/recycling?
What do the consumer electronics manufacturers think of resale? Doesn’t it erode their business?
How is the Rethink Initiative different from other electronics recycling initiatives?
Does Rethink compete with the recycling efforts of manufacturers like Apple, HP, IBM, etc?
What do environmental groups like SVTC think of Rethink?
What does the EPA think of the Rethink Initiative?

What is e-waste?
E-waste is electronic waste - the result of discarded electronic equipment. It includes a broad and growing range of electronic devices from computers to hand-held cellular phones, stereos, consumer electronics, and monitors. Unfortunately, electronic waste is among the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream.

Why is e-waste a problem?
As technology rapidly evolves, people are constantly upgrading to new equipment, and retiring their old equipment. The typical electronic product may contain more than 1,000 different substances, some of which are potentially hazardous to human and environmental health. If old equipment is not properly recycled, these substances could seep into air, soil, and water. The characteristics, scale and complexity of the e-waste situation create a significant challenge.

What are my options?
The best option for all idle electronic equipment is reuse, either by selling or donating it. Reuse extracts the maximum value from a product by extending its useful life and makes it available to others who can still use it. Rethink seeks to promote reuse by providing tools and services that make donating, selling or trading-in a simple, convenient process. However, sometimes reuse is not an option. If your equipment is beyond its useful life, please do your part and recycle it responsibly. Rethink Initiative provides resources to help you find an electronics recycler in your area. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against e-waste!

What hazardous materials are in electronic products?
Electronic components such as printed circuits, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and LCD screen assemblies often contain a variety of heavy metals and other substances known to pose hazards to human and environmental health when disposed of improperly. Cadmium, lead, mercury, antimony and arsenic are some of these substances.

What recyclable materials are in electronics products?
Consumer electronics contain a variety of recyclable materials like metals, glass, and plastics. All of these materials can be recaptured and used to create new products, lessening the need to mine the earth for raw resources.

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Are consumer electronics manufacturers doing anything to make the situation better?
Manufacturers are taking action to counter e-waste in a number of ways, from changing product design to offering reuse and recycling programs. Many manufacturers are working to "design out" hazardous materials and "design in" environmentally-sound materials, including recycled content. They are also continuously innovating product designs in order to make consumer electronics product components more easily recyclable. Finally, many manufacturers offer recycling services free of charge or for a nominal fee. See recycling solutions from manufacturers who belong to Rethink

Where does e-waste currently go?
Up to 75 percent of unused computers are stored in the closets, basements and offices of their original owners. 50 percent of computers being recycled are still in good working order and potentially could be reused. It has been reported that 85 percent of computers that are “thrown in the garbage” end up in landfill. According to a US EPA report from 2002, up to 70 percent of heavy metal (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.) contamination in US landfills comes from improperly disposed of electronic products.

How much e-waste is produced each year?
The National Safety Council predicted in 2003 that in the U.S. between 315 million and 680 million computers will become obsolete within the next few years. In California alone, 6,000 computers become obsolete each day. Less than ten percent of discarded computers are currently recycled, with the remainder stockpiled or improperly disposed of in landfills, incinerators or as exported hazardous waste.

What electronic equipment is recyclable?
Chances are that most electronic products that still work could find a home elsewhere – whether resold or donated. If the product no longer works, most of its materials can be recovered and recycled. The challenge is getting those products into the recycling system efficiently and cost effectively. For years the design of electronic products did not incorporate strategies for efficient disassembly and component/materials recycling. These inefficiencies create high costs for the recycling of older electronic equipment. New design strategies are incorporating techniques like “design for disassembly” (DfD), design for environment (DfE) and design for recycling (DfR) to create greater efficiencies in recovering the materials in electronic products. As products more fully embody design attributes that facilitate high performance during use and efficient material recovery at end of use, a greater percentage of the materials in electronics products will be recyclable.

Do I have to take my electronics equipment somewhere or call someone to pick it up?
Rethink provides several options. If you think your equipment still has useful life in it, you can either drop it off at a store that will sell it for you, or you can do a “trade-in” where a courier such as UPS will come pick up your packaged equipment at your home or office. Another option is to find a local Trading Assistant that can help you sell it on eBay. If you prefer to donate your working PC, visit our donation section to find more details about available pick-up services. Finally, if your equipment is past its useful life, many consumer electronics manufacturers and other recycling services will pick up your equipment at your home or office.

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Is it expensive to have my electronic equipment recycled?
Bear in mind that if your equipment is still functioning, or even if it is not but it is less than 5 years old, you may be able to sell it for reuse, or donate it. If it needs to be recycled, many consumer electronics manufacturers and other recycling services will pick up your equipment at your home or office for a nominal fee.

What happens to electronics equipment after I send it to a recycler?
Generally, all recyclers will first evaluate computer equipment for possible reuse. Functioning products, or functioning components, meeting minimum criteria are usually either donated to charitable organizations that accept used equipment, or they are refurbished and resold. The remaining equipment and parts are recycled and materials such as metal, plastic, or glass are recovered for reuse in making new products.

How do I know that my electronics equipment is being recycled responsibly?
Just like any business, some electronics recyclers are better than others. Rethink provides a list of questions that we recommend using to evaluate if a prospective recycler you may use is recycling responsibly. In addition, Rethink provides links to environmental organizations that have collected lists of recycling resources in your area.

Why don’t manufacturers take back their products when they are no longer useful to the user?
Several manufacturers will take back their own – and other branded products – when they are no longer useful to the user. They then evaluate the equipment for reuse possibilities and either donate it or refurbish and resell it. Environmentally responsible companies then recycle remaining equipment, recovering metals, plastic, glass and other materials for making new products.

The company from whom I recently bought new electronics equipment states it recycles in accordance with EPA guidelines. What does that mean?
The US EPA has established a program called “Plug-In To eCycling”. This program has established guidelines for recyclers that are program partners. The guidelines incorporate resources for hazardous materials management, worker safety and other important aspects of the recycling process.

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What is happening with consumer electronics recycling in other countries?
The European Union is in the process of implementing guidance to member countries on ways to regulate e-waste. These rules will affect manufacturers, recyclers and users of electronic products. Manufacturers will be required to phase-out certain potentially hazardous substances from their products and also required to provide “take-back” options to users of their products. In Japan, similar rules are scheduled to gradually take effect over the next few years.

What computer companies take their products back from the user at the end of product life?
Several companies have recently launched 'product take-back' programs. Examples include HP's Planet Partners program, Apple's Product Take-Back and Recycling program and Gateway's Asset Recovery Services Program and IBM's Asset Recovery Solutions to name a few. Each of these programs, and most others, requires the owner of the product to pay a small fee to cover a portion of the cost of processing donations or recycling.

Will consumer electronics resale and recycling hurt the American economy?
Actually, continued growth of electronics recycling will be an economic boost. The continued development of a national, market-based electronics infrastructure has the potential to enhance US economic activity by further expanding the reach of recycling activity and eliminating a leading cause of expensive environmental contamination by responsible management of these products and their materials. According to a 2003 report by the International Association of Electronics Recyclers (IAER), the size and growth of the industry has been quantified. More than 400 companies with estimated total annual revenues of over $700 million and more than 7,000 employees collectively process over 1.5 billion pounds of electronic equipment annually.

What regulations are in place to enforce consumer electronics recycling?
In the US, a few states have established rules concerning e-waste, especially with respect to restrictions on cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the most hazardous component of a computer system. CRTs contain significant amounts of lead in the glass tube and as a result have been declared hazardous waste by the federal government and most states. California, Maine and Massachusetts have been leading the development of state-level legislation on e-waste. Learn more here.

What laws exist in other countries regarding e-waste?
The European Union is in the process of implementing rules to guide member countries on ways to regulate e-waste. These rules will affect manufacturers, recyclers and users of electronic products. Manufacturers will be required to phase-out certain hazardous substances from their products and also require “take-back” options on their products from users. In Japan, similar rules are scheduled to gradually take effect over the next few years regarding controls on e-waste and hazardous materials in electronic products.

There is also an international treaty called the Basel Convention which restricts the export of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries. The U.S. has not ratified this convention, and environmental advocates in the U.S. estimate that most obsolete computers (50-80% of the computers recovered for recycling) aren't recycled, but instead are exported to developing countries that do not have the environmental or health standards we benefit from in the United States. The Computer Take Back Campaign has developed a pledge for U.S. recyclers to ensure that they are responsibly recycling the products the process and not exporting. Learn more here.

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How can I determine if my consumer electronics should be resold or recycled?
If your equipment is still functional, eBay provides a tool that can help you determine what it might be worth. If you decide to sell your equipment, you can do so on eBay yourself with the help of some tools that make it easier. If you prefer someone else to handle the sale, you can either drop it off at a store that will sell it for you, or you can do a “trade-in” where a courier such as UPS will come pick up your packaged equipment at your home or office. Another option is to find a local Trading Assistant (a third party who lists products for sale on eBay for others) that can help you sell it on eBay. If you prefer to donate your working PC, visit our donation section to find more details about available pick-up services. Finally, if your equipment is past its useful life, many consumer electronics manufacturers and other recycling services will pick up your equipment at your home or office. You can explore these offerings here or you can locate a recycler in your area from within Rethink.

Does eBay encourage employees to recycle?
eBay employees are also members of the eBay community. As we learn more about the e-waste challenge and solutions to it, we are educating our employees and encouraging them to participate.

How can I recycle my cell phone/PDA/Blackberry/etc?
Several local and national resources exist for the reuse and recycling of consumer electronic products like PDAs, cell phones, etc. We are working to grow Rethink to accommodate these products. In the meantime, if you would like to sell or donate these products, please visit the following pages:
Cell Phones
Home Audio Equipment
Digital Cameras

Will I get a confirmation that my equipment has been responsibly recycled?
It depends on the recycler you select for your product. Different recyclers provide different degrees of confirmation. Some simply describe what will happen to your product. Some – mostly large scale recyclers for large numbers of computers – go as far as providing online, real-time tracking of your product as it moves through the recycling process. If a recycler offers no information as to how the product will be processed, you may wish to ask more questions about their process to ensure responsible recycling occurs.

Which is better for the environment, resale or recycling?
Extending a product’s useful life, by either selling or donating for reuse, is the best scenario for the environment. Finding a new use for a product in its current, or refurbished condition gets continued utility from the product without expending energy turning recycled materials into components for new products. That activity is best saved as the “last resort” for a product with no more utility (i.e. broken beyond repair or too out-dated for continued use). However, recycling is the best option when reuse is no longer possible because materials are recovered and, when done responsibly, recycling keeps potentially harmful substances out of the environment.

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How can I determine the current market value of my equipment?
The value guide can give you an idea of what your equipment may be worth if resold on eBay, although final price depends on a number of factors, including your product’s condition, age & components. Click here to visit the PC value guide.

What if I have confidential/personal data/information on the computer, phone, or PDA that I’m hoping to resell/recycle?
Protecting the privacy of your data is very important, regardless of how you plan to dispose of your computer. Rethink provides access to a tool from Blancco that reliably erases your data beyond recoverability. Just be sure that you have completed all steps in preparation of your sale, donation or recycling before erasing your data because the tool will also erase your operating system, which may prevent you from being able to get all the details of the components on that system. More information is available here.

How can I buy a used product to replace the product I am selling/recycling?
eBay is a great resource for purchasing high-quality used and refurbished consumer electronics equipment. It is a great way to play a part in reducing e-waste.

What do the consumer electronics manufacturers think of resale? Doesn’t it erode their business?
Many makers of tech products are supportive of market-based efforts to resell used computer equipment. Providing an outlet for users to get residual value for their current computer can increase the potential for a user to upgrade to a new system sooner than they might have if there were no resale options.

How is the Rethink Initiative different from other electronics recycling initiatives?
Education
While most Americans know that electronics can be damaging to the environment if disposed of improperly, only a small minority (15%) are aware that electronics can be recycled where they live. eBay and other Rethink members offer a number of solutions that make it easier to responsibly deal with used computers and electronics. Rethink takes advantage of the power of the eBay platform to build awareness of these solutions among the millions of eBay users.

Reuse as well as Recycling
By bringing millions of buyers and sellers together, the eBay marketplace enables reuse on a large scale. Reusing computers and electronics extends their useful life. That maximizes their value before they’re finally recycled, and delays their entry into the waste stream while new technologies emerge to recycle more efficiently.

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Does Rethink compete with the recycling efforts of manufacturers like Apple, HP, IBM, etc?
Rethink does not compete with these programs. In fact, Rethink's central goal is to increase the visibility of the reuse and recycling programs offered by these manufacturers, as well as those offered by environmental, charitable groups and government agencies, so that more individuals and businesses will take action to help fight the e-waste issue.

What do environmental groups like SVTC think of the Rethink Initiative?
eBay brings together a diverse set of stakeholders including the electronics industry, government, and the nonprofit community in order to make the Rethink Initiative as effective as possible. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) is a founding member of Rethink and, along with similar organizations, plays an important role in helping educate us and our members on the issue of e-waste and the best options available for reuse and recycling.

What does the EPA think of the Rethink Initiative?
The EPA has joined the Rethink Initiative and invites the eBay community and other Rethink Initiative members to look into its "Plug-In To eCycling" program. eBay has also joined the EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program.

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