How can I reuse or recycle broken digital cameras & MP3 players? on 27 Jun 2008 We’ve had a message from Leanne, saying: I have an MP3 Player that no longer works and 2 digital cameras with cracked screens. Both still work but you cannot view the object as you are taking the photo. Do you know anywhere I can recycle these? I’d be tempted to put the digital cameras on my local Freecycle group because someone may be able to use them for something that doesn’t need a screen. If my (admittedly incredibly geeky) friendship group is anything to go by, there are always people that want to fix a camera to a kite/dog/radio-controlled helicopter and might be able to use a screenless one instead of risking their brand new 8megapixel camera or whatever. Aside from that, in the UK (and the rest of the EU), I believe these types of things are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive so the shop where you bought them may have a “bring back scheme” to take care of the recycling – or your local household tip might have a special bin for that sort of thing.

Any further advice or reuse suggestions? Search for other related items How can I recycle… Popular Posts This WeekBetween the flurry of new camera announcements at CES and PMA and year-end holiday purchases, chances are pretty good that you or someone you know has a new digital camera. The question is what to do with the old camera. If it's in working order, you could pass it along to someone less fortunate than yourself (in my case, my 9-year-old niece who love, love, loves the old 4 megapixel snapshooter that was festering in my defunct electronics drawer). But if your old camera is beyond repair and not worth foisting on some poor unsuspecting Luddite, then seeking out an option to recycle the product will win you some karmic points with the environment. One option is to check with the manufacturer of your camera. More and more vendors are providing easy ways to recycle their old products. Canon, for example, lets you print out a pre-paid UPS shipping label for Canon binoculars, camcorders, cameras, compact photo printers, film scanners and video equipment for $6 (plus applicable sales tax).

(Shipping labels for Other products like inkjets and copiers cost more.) After following the provided packing instructions, you can drop your package off at a UPS drop site and your product will be "recycled through a licensed recycling facility in an environmentally sound manner." Sony also offers a recycling program in partnership with the Waste Management company.The program allows you to recycle Sony electronics for free, but you have to drop the product off at a Waste Management eCycling drop-off center. There are locations in all 50 states, but many states only have one or two locations, so unless you happen to live near one you could be in for a haul. According to the Sony website, Waste Management will "collect, store, track inventory and dismantle the products into the form of common raw materials where they can be bought and sold on the global market. In some cases, it is likely that recycled plastics will be purchased for reforming into a new current model electronic product."

Even if your manufacturer doesn't offer a camera recycling option, check to see if they'll recycle rechargeable batteries at least. Buy Bathroom Sink Online India Other companies like Panasonic, don't offer ongoing recycling programs, but instead sponsor recycling events across the country. Smooth Move Tea To Loss WeightRead more about Panasonic's efforts here. Convert Blinds To Top DownIn addition, Panasonic and other camera vendors, including Kodak, are members of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) whose purpose is to inform consumers about recycling opportunities for use electronics. The EIA's Ecycling Central website provides state-by-state listings of colleciton sites and offers guidance on other recycling options.

You might even be able to make some money off of your "gently used" electronics through BestBuy's trade-in service. Use the online trade-in estimator to determine your trade-in value, print a prepaid shipping label and ship your items to their trade-in center, and then receive a BestBuy gift card for the value of your trade in. Finally, you can check with your town hall for local recycling events (the county I live in offers two electronics recycling days per year) or even local retail shops that specialize in environmentally responsible products (which seem to be cropping up everywhere these days). In my hometown, a retail store called 3R Living offers an in-store recycling center that accepts hand-held electronics (as well as ink cartridges, CDs and their cases, and crayons, of all things). Other sites with useful information include:Digital cameras first appeared in U.S. stores in the early 1990s, and it didn’t take long for them to pass film cameras as the preferred way to capture images.

The ability to view and edit images right away as well as avoid purchasing film has made digital cameras the preferred product among amateur and professional photographers alike. As digital cameras have taken over the market, recycling options have become more widespread. And unlike film cameras, digital cameras remain popular enough that you may be able to sell or give them away. However, when neither of those are a possibility, how can you get rid of your unwanted digital camera in an environmentally friendly manner? Like all electronics, digital cameras are manufactured with valuable materials that can be put back to use. Their microchips have gold and platinum, the wiring contains copper, and aluminum is used elsewhere in the device. Digital cameras also often come with rechargeable nickel-cadmium or lithium-ion batteries, both of which contain elements that can be detrimental to humans if consumed in high enough quantities. Lead, a heavy metal, may be found in solder inside the camera.

None of these elements belong in a landfill or incinerator, where they can escape and damage water, soil and air. Instead, they should be reused in other products. By recycling metals, manufacturers do not have to buy as many raw materials that are dug out of environmentally-damaging mines. When it comes time to dispose of your digital camera, make sure it gets recycled. There are more options than ever for responsibly disposing of old, unwanted digital cameras. Major retailers with electronics recycling programs, including Best Buy and Staples, will take them off your hands at no charge. Check their websites for their specific policies. You can recycle your digital camera and support a worthy cause by donating it to a charitable organization like Recycle for Breast Cancer or Recycling for Charity. These groups sell old digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players and other electronics to raise money for their important work. Several digital camera manufacturers offer take-back programs for their products.

They include Canon and Samsung. Sony will take back digital cameras and other items at no charge. Communities with electronic take-back programs should also be able to accept digital cameras. Check with your local solid waste management district to determine if they have a permanent e-waste collection facility at their recycling center or if you need to wait for a special e-waste collection event. When you recycle your digital camera, make sure you include items like battery chargers and the cords to connect the camera to the computer. They also contain metals and plastic that can be recycled. If your digital camera is still working, consider selling it on Craigslist or a similar site. There are also companies like KEH Camera and B&H Camera Video that buy digital cameras, lenses and other parts online. A local nonprofit, school or day care center may appreciate a working digital camera to capture images of special events. Check with them to see if they are interested in a donation.

They may be able to write you a receipt so you can take the donation as a tax deduction. It is also worth asking family members and friends if they are interested in your old digital camera. A younger brother or sister could want one to help them get started with photography. A grandparent who travels a lot and needs a compact camera that fits in a purse or fanny pack might be grateful for your gift. Most entities that take your digital camera will take the entire thing, including the rechargeable battery. But if you purchased an extra battery, or have one that wears out and must be disposed of, that company may not want it. An organization called Call2Recycle partners with a number of businesses and government agencies to accept rechargeable batteries for recycling. Visit their website to find a collection location near you. Drop-offs are often co-located with cell phone stores, tool stores, big box retailers or your local recycling center. Sites that partner with Call2Recycle should take your batteries for free.