Electronic waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world, with millions of tons of televisions, radios, computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices disposed of each year.  Of those, less than 20% are recycled, and the rest end up in landfills.  Because these devices are so full of toxic materials, it’s important to reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of these items.  Fortunately, there are many options now available (and most free of charge):

• AT&T Reuse and Recycle Program will recycle your old cell phones, PDAs, batteries, and accessories (regardless of manufacturer or carrier).  You can drop off your items at any one of their 2000+ participating stores, or download a postage-paid mailing label and mail it in directly.
• Best Buy Recycling offers recycling programs in all their US stores for televisions, DVD players, computer monitors, and more (up to 2 items per day).  You can also trade in your unwanted devices for Best Buy gift cards.
• LG Electronics offers a free mail-in recycling program for old cell phones (any make or model)and free take back and recycling of any LG, Zenith, or Goldstar device (including televisions, monitors, audio equipment, and so on).  Just drop off items (up to 5) at any of these locations.
• Staples EcoEasy offers free in-store recycling of cell phones, small hand held electronics, and Dell products.  Other brands require a $10 fee per item.  Eligible toner cartridges are available for $3 rebates.
• US Postal Service offers free mail-in recycling of inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players.  Just pick up postage-paid Mail Back envelopes located in the Post Office lobbies (no limit).

For a more extensive list of companies offering recycling and take back programs, visit the EPA eCycling website.  If you’re looking for programs offered in your area, check out My Green Electronics, Call 2 Recycle, and Earth 911.

Here’s a another great alternative to buying bottled water.   This Restore Clean Water System consists of an 8-cup pitcher and an ultraviolet adapter.  Restore has a unique dual-filter process for eliminating solid particulate material as well as bacteria and viruses from your tap water.  The pitcher has both a carbon filter and an ultraviolet germ-killing system.  Unlike pitcher filters from Pur, Brita, and Zero Water, the Restore pitcher has a two-step water purification process.  In step one – a carbon filter reduces any heavy metals, chlorine and industrial pollutants in your water – in step two, the unit’s UV purification system removes 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and microbial cysts.

As our latest Tried and True Green Products Review, HoMedics was kind enough to provide us a free unit for testing.  We found that it took 4 pitchers of water to get the subtle carbon flavor of the particulate filter out of the water, but after that, the filtered water tasted fine.  The two-step process takes a couple of minutes, (the UV process takes 1 minute), and involves plugging the pitcher into the UV adapter, which has a retractable cord.  The unit has a smallish carbon filter (for filtering solid materials) that’s estimated to last 2 to 4 months, under typical home use. (more…)

What time is it?  Time to make a clock out of your tired old computer’s hard drive.  This clock should appeal to computer freaks, geekery fans or anyone related to Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.  Made from the actual recycled remains of a dead computer.  The clock’s quartz movement runs on a single AA battery and the techie time piece has reversible, black or white hands.

$35 @ the pixelthis etsy shop0

PLX Kiwi
Sure, hybrid vehicles can considerably cut gas consumption compared to conventional cars, but if you’re not ready to buy a new car, the patent-pending PLX Kiwi can help increase the fuel efficiency of your current ride by as much as 33 percent.  Compatible with any 1996 vehicle and up, the PLX Kiwi easily connects to the OBDII port (usually located under the steering column) where it gathers your car’s sensor data, including vehicle speed, RPM, engine load, oxygen sensor readings, and so on.  The Kiwi monitors and analyzes your driving behavior, then determines your car’s maximum fuel efficiency and identifies areas in need of improvement.  It even keeps track of how much gas and money you save when you modify your driving habits.  To learn more, watch the demo video.  It’s available @ plxkiwi.com for $299.99.

reNEW solar battery charger
This ‘Pez’ inspired solar battery charger is one clever concept.  Unlike conventional battery chargers, the top load, bottom dispenser design takes out the “guess” factor in fully charging your batteries.  Batteries retrieved from below always come out fully charged, so you’ll never have to pick and choose.  And, because the frame can either stand on a desk or be hung on a window, the charger is versatile and visible for the home or office.  Made from biodegradable plastic and sustainable wool felt, it’s a wiser and eco-friendlier alternative to conventional chargers.  Unfortunately, it’s still in its concept stage.  via: yankodesign.com

solar headphone radio
This Solar Headphone Radio is perfect for listening to the radio while outdoors, whether you’re gardening, taking a morning walk, or camping outside.  Its ultra-thin film solar technology provides 1-3 hours of listening power for every one hour of sunlight, with a fully charged headset able to run for as long as 20 hours.  Because it automatically recharges in light (even when in use), as long as you’ve got the sun shining above you, you’ll never have to worry about losing power.  It’s available for purchase @ ecotopia.co.uk for £24.95 (~$41.01) and comes with a 3 year warranty.

The Kiran solar lamp
The Kiran lamp combines solar technology with highly efficient LEDs to provide up to 8 hours of 360-degree lighting that is four times brighter than a kerosene lantern (see photo above).  The lamp can be hung, carried, or placed on any surface, and features 2 brightness settings to provide versatility for both indoor and outdoor use.  It is expected to be available on the market soon, and is set at a price of only $10, making it the world’s most affordable solar lamp.  Learn more @ Dlightdesign.com

Freedom Dynamo electric shaver
No batteries and no electric bill…here’s an electric shaver that offers more than just a close shave.  It brings you freedom from dead batteries and saves you the hassle of outlets.  With its Wind ‘N Go lever, men will never have an excuse to go unshaven again.  One minute of winding provides enough power for a full shave.  And, with three individual heads that flex and rotate, it won’t slack on performance.  You can purchase yours from Think Geek for $49.99 (price includes a travel case, mirror, cleaning brush, and adapters).

Germany-based Neuber and Konarka Technologies have teamed up to market a new solar charging line of bags.  Neuber’s Energy Sun-Bags feature Konarka’s Power Plastic lightweight material which converts solar energy into electricity.  The new business and leisure bags charge mobile phones, digital cameras, iPods, Mp3 Players and other small devices with solar power.

Pricing of the bags begins at under $150 U.S..  They can be purchased at neuber’s website (be prepared to translate from German)

source: press release

Techie fun, marketing innovation and wind speed site analysis all on your iPhone?  Mariah Power and Create with Context will soon release an iPhone app that will let you know how much wind is whipping through your property and if it’s enough to spin a Windspire small wind turbine.  Just hold your iPhone into the wind and it will measure the wind speed and do the math.  The app will also estimate how much CO2 your potential Windspire installation will save the environment.

You can sign up at Mariah Power’s website to be notified when the app is available.

Related: previous Altcon posts on Mariah Power and its vertical axis wind turbine

It appears that both the audience and judges at this year’s Consumer Electronics Association’s i-stage competition agreed that Regen Inc.’s eco friendly ReNu personal power generation and storage system is the big winner.  The centerpiece of the ReNu product line is the stylish, portable solar panel and battery.  The modular design allows the panel to work with a wide range of devices including the Regen iPod Sound Dock (pictured at right – $149), which pumps out 8 hours of tunes when powered by a fully charged ReNu panel. The solar panel also charges Apple’s iPod and iPhone via ReNu’s iPod Dock.

The ReNu panel will go on sale in Feb. 2010 for $199.  The iPod/iPhone Dock (pictured at top) stores enough power to recharge an iPhone twice and will run you $249 -  pre-order and get more info @ regenliving.com

The Lenovo ThinkVision L2251x Wide desktop computer display is the first to be awarded the new TCO Certified Edge designation for excellence in combining green and high performance in IT design.  The award recognizes several “green” features including: Lenovo’s use of 65 % post consumer recycled plastic in the display’s construction, recycled packaging materials and a proximity sensor that saves energy when the user is away from the computer by dimming the display.

via: prnewswire

As part of LG’s “Life’s Good when it’s Green” initiative, which first launched back in January this year, the company recently unveiled a solar-powered touchscreen phone called LG GD510, or better known as LG Pop.

The new smartphone can be powered for 2 minutes and 15 seconds of talk time (or 180 minutes of standby time) for every 10 minutes under the sun.  A lifesaver if you’re running low on power and don’t have a charger on hand.  Built-in software even let’s users monitor the amount of CO2 emissions they’ve cut with the use of the solar battery. (more…)

You can turn off the TV and stop watching the Weather Channel right now.  The +Eco Clima Control desktop weather station from Oregon Scientific will give you all the weather info you need right from your desk.  It will also save on your electric bill because it’s solar powered. (more…)