That Monster in the Closet

We’ve all got one, but maybe mine is a little different than yours.

What started with a single old keyboard kept “just in case,” soon grew to include mice, monitors, cables, and cords. Joining the morass were MP3 players, cellphones, watches, and other electronic gadgets.

Photo by Francesco Paggiaro on Pexels.com

Now of course you’re probably going to say, why not throw it in the trash? why did I pack it away instead of throwing it out if I wasn’t going to use it?

These are valid points, I don’t dispute that. However, I was always concerned with two points.

First, what if as soon as I chucked something I suddenly found myself needing another one? Wouldn’t that be a shame, if I tossed out something I ultimately needed.

Secondly, I was of course concerned with the device polluting the environment. All those electronic items that make up the monster in my closet would also be a monster out in the wild, causing more harm and terrorizing small furry woodland critters.

I recall many years ago I took an old computer monitor to a recycling center. I had to pay $30 for them to take the thing off my hands. This was in the 90s, just think of what that price would be now, what with all the inflation we have experienced over the years.

You probably already know this but it’s good to keep reminding ourselves of the impact we have on the environment.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, significantly impacts the environment as discarded devices like smartphones and computers contain hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. When improperly disposed of, these substances contaminate soil and water, posing health risks to humans and wildlife.

US Environmental Protection Agency

You often see news reports about dangerous plastics and forever chemicals showing up in water supplies or in human organs. Nasty business for sure. E-waste often ends up in landfills or is improperly recycled in developing countries, leading to soil degradation, water contamination, and air pollution.

Thankfully, things are not all that bad just yet.

We do have more options for recycling older electronics now.

You might consider donating (Technology for the Future) older devices to schools, non-profits, or community organizations, providing valuable resources for those in need.

There are also local recycling (Google Maps) centers that often accept electronic waste. These centers have the facilities to safely recycle components, recover valuable materials, and prevent hazardous substances from polluting the environment.

Another option is to sell your older devices for cash through a service called Gizmogo. They’ll buy your older gadgets and help put down that monster in your closet.

The turnaround for the service is about 15 days and they don’t charge for shipping, you should get a quote and a payout right away. You can browse the catalog on their website to get an idea of how much they will offer for different device types.

Another option is to bring your electronics to an e-waste collection event in your area.

Selling or gifting the older item to a friend or family member.

You could even try using the older items for a DIY project (Instructables).

Or maybe even an art project. I’ve seen some interesting displays in art museums, some art has been made using cassette tapes, CDs (Inhabitat), and circuit boards.

Whichever choice you go with, I do hope you will consider fighting back against that monster in the closet. Try not to feed it. And, just maybe, it’s about time that fella goes on a diet.