Where to recycle your unwanted cellphones, laptops and other electronics

Don’t throw away your old or broken cellphones, laptops, MP3 players, DVD players, etc.  Recycle them, so the valuable parts can be re-used, and the dangerous parts don’t wind up in a landfill and leach poisons into our water supply.  Why recycle?  According to the E.P.A., electronic waste contributes 70% of the toxins found in landfills.  Electronic waste contains such toxins as lead, mercury, cadmium, phosphors and flame-retardants. Recycling your electronics waste decreases energy and water use, reduces pollution, and keeps hazardous chemicals out of our air and water.  Okay, now that I have your attention —

The Lower East Side Ecology Center is holding several electronics recycling fests this month —  unless otherwise specified, discards are accepted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. —

• Saturday, September 17, 2011,  at Tekserve, 119 West 23rd Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
• Sunday, September 18, 2011,  at Delancey Street between Chrystie and Forsyth Street

Next week —

• Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 11:00am – 7:00pm at Church of the Heavenly Rest, Fifth Avenue and East 90th Street
• Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Habana Outpost, Fulton Street between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street,
• Saturday, September 24, 2011,  at the St. John’s University parking lot, enter at Gate 4, Union Turnpike at 175th Street, Queens
• Sunday, September 25, 2011,   at the NY Hall of Science visitor parking lot, enter at 111th Street & 49th Avenue, Corona, Queens
• Sunday, September 25, 2011,  at Van Cortlandt Park, Broadway between Manhattan College Parkway and Post Road, Bronx

Click here for a complete list of what is and is not accepted for recycling.  Basically, anything computer-related, including cellphones and peripherals is acceptable.  Not accepted are household appliances such as microvaves and air conditioners.