apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think it will be a while before the composition of the actual electronic will affect my purchase; however, if I know a company is greening their practices, that will sway my decision come time to purchase a new whatever.

Recycling my electronics is a big deal to me, I make a point to do it in some fashion, whether by passing it on to someone who can reuse it or finding a place to recycle it. It's at least one step I can do to make sure the whole process of making, using and being done with is better for the world I'm living in.

Have to admit though, my mobile phone company's policy of "New Every Two" is juicy, I'm already drooling over the thought of a new phone even though I'm still a number of months away. Completely not cool, I know, but there's also the factor of how much it improves the quality of life with each upgrade I do (last one had music, next one I'll be able to email easily from it), but it does factor into my personal choices, green or not.

I do, however, think that how you house/protect your electronics can also factor into the whole process. Reuse cases you already have, buy greener, don't use a cell phone cover unless you really do need to protect it from dust, etc.

I've had my current cell phone for 3.5 to 4 years now. It's a good one which I researched and I've seen no reason to get another one, esp. because it would mean being tied to that phone company for another two years (although I don't intend to switch - it's Verizon, best coverage - but you never know; I may break down and get an iphone at some point). But, I've just noticed that the buttons aren't as responsive as they used to be. I'll punch something in and it just doesn't get it. I wonder if I could do something to fix that.

And I've always been able to either sell old electronics or donate them to a non-profit which reuses them. I advertise them on craigslist and sometimes a non-profit will come forward. I would definitely recycle, but haven't had to yet.