A look inside electronics recycling

What happens to the old computer when you upgrade to a new one? Where does the junky TV go when you've replaced it with a slick HD model? What about the cell phones we replace every year or two?

Electronic gadgets can't go in the trash because they're filled with hazardous materials. So we have to dispose of them carefully.

Some manufacturers like Apple will take an old computer to recycle properly when you buy a new computer. Retailers such as Best Buy, Office Depot, and Staples now accept disused electronics for recycling, sometimes charging a small fee. And you can find other e-waste recycling facilities in Earth 911's database.

Unfortunately, finding a clean, responsible recycler may be more difficult. According to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, up to 80% of American e-waste is actually exported overseas. The toxic materials from our electronics then contaminate the environment and harm people. Greenpeace has video of the dangerous "recycling" practices that occur in impoverished countries.

The Electronics Take Back Campaign has a list of e-waste recyclers in the U.S. that have pledged not to export waste, not to use prison labor, not to dump e-waste in landfills, and not to incinerate waste.

We visited such a recycler in San Jose, California, to see what really goes on after you drop off a box of obsolete tech junk. United Datatech and its sister company ECS Refining work with large companies (like Yahoo!) to process electronics, and it also accepts materials from individuals.

Items are analyzed first for possible reuse and resale. If a piece absolutely can't be used, then it's stripped down into materials that can. Precious metals like gold, silver, and titanium are removed and sold, as are base metals like steel and aluminum. Glass and plastics are separated out for recycling. A computer, TV, microwave oven, medical equipment, or most anything with an electric plug is ripped apart - by both hand and machine - so materials can be reused or disposed of properly.

Take a tour inside these all-American e-cyclers, United Datatech and ECS Refining:

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that we're only recycling 18% of our e-waste, and the rest is dumped in the trash. We can all increase that e-cycling rate (because we probably have tech stuff to get rid of!) by finding a responsible recycler like United Datatech in our area. Use the links above or the EPA's list of resources.