Earth Day is right around the corner (April 22, 2011) and since we're a technology company, we know how fast electronic products become obsolete within a year.  We know that everyone has some unwanted electronic products sitting around, collecting nothing but dust. Don't throw them away.  Electronic hazardous waste (also known as e-waste) contains contaminants like lead, mercury and flammable retardants that can harm workers in the landfills, as well as neighboring communities and environment.

Instead, recycle your e-waste in a safe, no-cost and convenient way by using a program like ReConnect.  The program, managed by Dell and Goodwill Industries, allows consumers to recycle used computers and almost anything that can be connected to a computer. Recycling raw materials from lifeless electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem.  Not only can a variety of materials be reused from e-waste, but air and water pollution is avoided as well. 

ReConnect has won multiple awards due to the fact that they have diverted more than 96 million pounds of e-waste from landfills and created about 250 "green jobs."  I myself located one of their 1,900 locations to drop off my unwanted electronic goods.  After it's all done I'll have done a little Spring cleaning, contributed to Earth Day and received a tax deductible receipt!

- Lizette Romero

San Franciscans are both technology-savvy and environmentally-conscious, so this public-private program makes great sense. This effort will help create shared solutions to the problems of e-waste and make our community a safer, healthier place to live. As a City, we are proud to support this partnership between Goodwill and Dell.