Digital Home Thoughts: What to do With Your Leftover Gadgets

"Many towns, cities, counties, and states have their own e-cycling programs that offer convenient drop-off locations for old computers, big monitors, and other electronics. The EPA suggests a cluster of search sites for helping you find a local ecycling program, including EcoSquid and the Consumer Electronics Association's MyGreenElectronics. And beyond the picks you see below, the EPA has a grid list of consumer-friendly e-cycling programs from stores and manufacturers."

While computers, gadgets and electronics in general provide a lot of fun, utility and entertainment, there comes a time when you no longer have use for that widget. While the trash bag may be an idea, chances are that gadget has lots of nasty things like mercury and lead, which if left in a landfill, can result in things like mutant babies and sharks armed with lasers. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for recycling your well-loved device, many of them being free. Aside from the drop off points, depending on your hardware, consider giving it away but whatever your device is, make sure you scrub it of all personal data before handing it off! Whether it is a phone, computer or tablet, make sure you wipe it thoroughly (a simple delete is not always enough) or else you might find yourself subject to things like identity theft.