If you are a regular reader of A Child Grows, then you know that I have enlisted a few experts to help inform us about all things to do with parenting in their field.  Amanda Wiss, founder of Urban Clarity Professional Organizing, is  one of those experts. She is going to be sending us her organizing hints from the trenches- no, I mean the closets, basements and clutters that none of us want to admit to!  This month she is helping us find out how and when to clear out that electronic clutter!

Amanda Wiss

Ever wonder what to do with your old iPod or laptop when you upgrade to a new one? E-waste (computers, peripherals, personal electronics and batteries) is the fastest-growing class of residential waste in America.  Disposal laws are not always clear.  Despite good intentions, no one seems to know what to do with it.  Consequently, e-waste is one of the largest sources of lead and heavy metals in our landfills.

As a personal organizer I find unused electronics in the homes of my clients all the time.  I’ve compiled some suggestions on how to pass along still-functioning equipment, options for recycling broken or obsolete equipment, as well as information on an upcoming opportunity to make it easy to do the right thing.

Where to Recycle your E-waste this Weekend:
Free Electronics Recycling at Habana Outpost in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 10 am – 4 pm

If you have old computers, monitors, printers, TVs or other e-waste, there will be free electronics recycling this weekend in Fort Greene.   If you bring a computer, your hard drive will be wiped to Department of Defense standards and any usable materials will be harvested, so you can know that your items are in good hands.   For a complete FAQ including the range of items accepted, click here:

Want to recycle e-waste throughout the year?  Here are some other nifty options.

If an item still works, you may be able to get cash for it.  Check out www.gazelle.com – they’ll pay for shipping and even send you a box.
You can also give items away on your local parenting list serve :for a list see here, Craigslist or Freecycle .

Goodwill: Thanks to a partnership with Dell, you can drop off unwanted computers from any manufacturer at any Goodwill store in the city for free. Proceeds from the resale value of donations will benefit Goodwill’s job program, and those that can’t be sold will be recycled responsibly.   Very important:  your hard drive must be wiped as they won’t do it for you.  For more info visit the Reconnect website.

Staples: For a fee of $10 per piece of large equipment, (computers, monitors, laptops, printers, and faxes) Staples will recycle your e-waste.  Smaller items, like keyboards, are free.
Just bring your items to the counter of any Staples store.  For more details, check out this link.

Won’t it feel good to reclaim that space under your desk where that old printer was?  The time to recycle those electronics is now!

Amanda Wiss, Founder of Urban Clarity, is a professional organizer and mom of two toddlers who like to play with “decommissioned” cell phones.  She helps families who are feeling overwhelmed simplify their space and set up systems to support the chaos.  To check out Amanda’s resource listing on the blog and reviews of her services, click here.

Related Article:

• Recycling Batteries and Cell Phones



October 22, 2008

Donating

Thanks to local mom and professional organizer Amanda Wiss for assembling this much “asked for” list.

Listed below are 5 non-profit organizations that will pick up children’s items in Brooklyn:

Baby Buggy
520 Eighth Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212.736.1777
Website:www.babybuggy.org
*New and gently used infant and toddler clothing,bedding, some furniture, and gear.  See complete list
on their website. Brooklyn pick up process: Call the office to schedule. Pickups are done by courier.  It’s currently $42 for first 5 pieces – bags, boxes or furniture.  Anything additional is $2.35 an item.

Inwood House
320 E. 82nd St.
New York, NY 10028
Phone: 212.861.4325 x217 (Bianca Baqurizo)
Fax: 212.535.3775
Website: www.inwoodhouse.com
*Accepts toys, baby gear, maternity and baby clothing,men’s professional clothing, home and office
furniture, electronics, and baby furniture.  See complete list on their website. Brooklyn pick up process:  Call the office or log on to get their in-kind donation form.  There is no charge for the pickup.

Room to Grow
54 West 21st Street #401
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212.620.7800
Fax: 212.620.3021
Website: www.roomtogrow.org
*infant and toddler clothing (up to size 4T) books,toys, equipment, and other items in truly excellent condition. No stuffed animals, cribs, furniture, or car seats.Brooklyn pick up process: Call the office to schedule a pick-up, which can usually be done same day.  It’s through a messenger service, and there is a
tax-deductible fee of $35-$45 depending on the amount to pick up.  They also take drop-offs at Brooklyn Play Spot on Atlantic and Bond.

St. John’s Family Place Center
1630 St. John’s Place, Brooklyn
Accepts children’s donated items including new stuffed animals and clean clothes in good condition. Also
takes adult clothing, canned goods and books.  No furniture. Brooklyn pick up process: Call to speak to the driver to arrange for a pick up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. There is no charge for the pick up.

Young Israel Yeshiva of Brighton Beach
Neptune Ave., Brooklyn
718-385-5002
Accepts adult and children’s clothing in excellent
condition, shoes, handbags, blankets and linens. No
toys or gear. Brooklyn pick up process:  Call during office hours (Monday –Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to schedule.  Pickups are currently done on Mondays and Thursdays in Brooklyn.   There is no charge for the pickup, but there is a quantity limit of 2 or 3 bags due to space limitations in the van.