The wonders of our technological innovations are amazing. We can put a computer in our pockets and we can transmit images to Zimbabwe without leaving the comforts of our home. But the affordability of these products that ease our lives and distract and entertain us come with a price that the environment has to pay. Our laptop computers, our cell phones, our tablets, and our microwaves, cause serious damage to Mother Earth if you carelessly dump a broken device in the trash.
Among the environmental ramifications are that these devices’ batteries and circuits pollute groundwater and kill animals who drink that water. Those batteries are also flammable which make them an unsafe item for landfills as they can catch fire any time. And in a best case scenario all the plastics in these devices will sit stagnant taking millennia to decompose.
Fortunately the City of Miami’s Department of Solid Waste is dedicating Saturday, January 18 as Electronics Recycling Day. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Regatta Park next to City Hall in Coconut Grove at 2699 SW 27th Avenue, they will be collecting all kinds of household electronics. Items accepted include desktop computers, laptops, televisions, radios, microwaves, coffee makers, printers, telephones, tablets, CD players and household batteries to recycle.
So if you have a shattered phone, outdated computer, or broken microwave clear out some space in your house and take advantage of Electronics Recycling Day. Every little bit of recycling helps prevent any of our Mount Trashmores from climbing any higher. It also allows precious metals in our electronics like gold, copper, silver, aluminium, and cadmium from being wasted.
Contact recycle@miamigov.com for more information. Otherwise show up on Saturday at Regatta Park with your Commodore 64 and iPhone 2.
