Recycle old and broken electronics in time for Earth Day 

Earth Day is Saturday, April 22, 2023. Did you know we’ve been celebrating Earth Day in the U.S. since 1970? By 1990, more than 140 countries around the world had joined in to honor the planet, and renew their commitment to protecting it each year. From planting a tree to volunteering at a local nonprofit organization, and learning more about recycling – there are many different ways individuals can get involved in celebrating Earth Day. At PayMore Stores, we’re committed to doing our part to reduce our impact on the planet every day – not just on Earth Day!  Read more about our commitment to go green here.

One of our biggest commitments is to help businesses and customers in the communities we serve reduce the number of electronic devices that

cellphone with recycle logo

 are thrown away. This is important, and not just because many unused devices can be repurposed and reused by someone else. When we increase the number of devices that are recycled and reused, we reduce the amount of energy and waste required to make new ones. When e-waste does end up in a landfill, the results are very bad for the environment. If a plastic bottle can take more than 400 years to break down, think about how long a mobile phone and all of its components will stick around. Some states in the U.S. have specific requirements about where items that generate e-waste can be disposed of – making throwing away old electronics a no-no. 

The EPA estimates that in 2009, more than 2 million tons of electronics were discarded in the U.S., including televisions, computers, printers, scanners, and cell phones. Only 25% of this e-waste was collected for recycling. Much of the e-waste collected for landfills in the U.S. is shipped to other countries that do not have strict rules on how to handle it – resulting in a public health and environmental catastrophe. That’s because many of the electronics we use every day include toxic materials that can be harmful to people and to the environment if burned, broken down, or stored improperly. 

Here are some of the common items that you can recycle at a PayMore Store near you, helping ensure they are disposed of safely and securely. All of our team members are trained in and committed to protecting your data privacy, and all electronics are carefully wiped of data before being repurposed, resold, or recycled. 

Items to bring in to a PayMore Store near year this Earth Day: 

  • Televisions
  • Computer monitors and smart displays 
  • Laptops and tablets
  • Printers and accessories 
  • VCRs and DVD players 
  • Cell phones
  • Cameras 
  • Radios
  • and more…

Find a PayMore Store near you: https://www.paymore.com/locations