What do you do with broken electronics?

[wildflower]

Do you have radios, clocks, TVs, appliances, tape players, fans, phones, or any other electronics that don't work? What do you do with them?

This is becoming a major headache for me.

Some of them can't be fixed (i.e. took it to a shop and they said "It can't be fixed")...
Some of them I just don't know how to fix and don't have time/energy to try and get them fixed...
Some are cheap freebie things I received as promotions, that never worked in the first place...
Some are just really really old...

I don't want to donate them anywhere if they don't work. That wouldn't be fair. And obviously I wouldn't try to sell them, either, for the same reason.

Are there any companies or organizations that do trades or just take donations of broken electronics to use as parts?

Please help! I really do want to de-clutter, honest! :) But this is a major impediment.

-wildflower

[amazona]

1. freecycle them to other pack rats

Some of the hobbyists collect old parts for various projects whether it's battle bots or lawn sculpture. Otherwise, try to sneak them in the trash a little at a time so they won't cause your garbage to be overweight and get you charged extra.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[wildflower]

2. Thanks

I just learned about this Freecycle thing, thanks for mentioning it. I'll have to look into it some more.

I imagine a lot of people are experiencing this problem, as much of the electronics made these days don't last.

:hi:

-wildflower

[politicat]

3. Check your local recycling program.

Ecocycle takes some of those things because the heavy metals in the motors are bad juju.

so you might try here: www.ecocycle.org (they have links to other municipalities, or at least, used to.)

[wildflower]

4. Thanks! I found this page there:

Guide to Hard-to-Recycle Materials

http://www.ecocycle.org/htrg/index.cfm

I'd been wondering about things like batteries too. I'm always hesitant to throw them away.

Thanks again!

-wildflower

[cally]

8. Don't throw away batteries!

They are considered a hazardous waste. My refuse center has a drop off for them. I gather a year's worth and then take them to the drop off.

[wildflower]

10. Thanks for this...I had a feeling throwing them out wasn't a good idea.

I'll have to look into this.

-wildflower

[chaska]

5. I had the idea recently to convert all these cassette players that...

are filling thrift stores, and can be had dirt cheap, into stereo guitar amps. Patch in a distortion box and a chorus and/or reverb/echo unit and you got yourself one bitchin' little practice amp.

One of these days....

[bluedonkey]

7. Things you can learn

on these here boards...shaking my head in disbelive...
Thanks so much,will pass this on to my son,the tinkerer.This time it will be his own electricity he will take out.HeHe.

[LeftyMom]

6. Does your county take e-waste?

Here we have a few collection points around the county for old computers, monitors, tvs etc where they county takes them for recycling or proper disposal. Try checking thier website, or calling whatever department handles garbage and recycling.

[wildflower]

9. I don't think so, but I'll try to find out. Thanks! n/t