Get rid of those old gadgets - properly

By Andrew Ehinger

    I'm an admitted gadget-a-holic. I love getting the newest and hottest technology. I guess that's why my boss here at News 12 thought I'd be perfect to host The Download. Anyway, every time I get a new gadget it usually replaces another one that wasn't as small, fast or cool. Those old gadgets are then banished to the dark recesses of my closet or the junk drawer to collect dust. Well, wasn't I surprised when I found out that I could get a few bucks for my old tech.

    There are dozens of websites on the net that now offer cash for your old gadgets. Everything from iPods, to computers, to cell phones and digital cameras. If it's cool (or once was cool) it's got some sort of value. I couldn't tell you exactly where my old gadgets will end up being sold, but I'm glad someone is willing to take them off my hands. I put in some of my old gadgets, like an old 4Gb iPod Nano 3rd gen and found out it was worth up to $30. Wow! Now, that's not a lot of cash, (I paid about $200 for it when it was new 5 years ago), but $30 bucks is $30 bucks.

 Here are some of the sites I found that will buy your gadgets.

FlipSwap

Buy My Tronics

Gazelle

Sears

Radio Shack

    Most of these companies even offer free shipping of the gadget to their warehouse, so you really have little to lose. I'm even told some companies like Apple will give you a discount on a new iPod if you bring in your old iPod for recycling.

    Now, sometimes your gadget, computer or even a computer monitor won't have any value. In this case environmentalists say DON'T just throw them in the trash. So called E-Waste is a growing problem in our landfills since electronics contain lots of lead, mercury, and cadmium. If put in a landfill, the heavy metals in E-Waste can leach into groundwater and create a toxic situation. The good news is e-waste can be recycled and it's not hard to find a place to get it done. This is a good site that explains how dangerous e-waste can be.

    Most towns on Long Island offer e-waste recycling, but it's usually not every day. Your best bet is to contact your local municipality to find out when and where e-waste will be collected for recycling. Some businesses will even collect old electronics for recycling if you buy the replacement from them. Just ask when you are shopping for your new gadget to see if they offer the service.

    Electronics are fun and exciting things that can make our lives easier. The thing to remember is, as we out-grow and get more advanced technology, the old gadgets must be taken care of properly so they don't come to haunt us in the future.