And it’s also time for spring cleaning!  Happily, the Lower East Side Ecology Center is making the disposal of your broken and outdated electronics really easy for you–they’re hosting a baker’s dozen of e-waste recycling events through May 22 at various locations in all five boroughs.  And since New York state just passed a law making it illegal to throw away these old electronics starting in 2015, recycling your e-waste is a good habit to get into.

Here are a few tips to consider when preparing your electronics for recycling:

• Make sure you wipe any hard drives. And that means zeroing them out. Instructions for Mac are here.  For Windows machines, Gizmodo has written a very thorough set of instructions.  We personally really like Darik’s Boot and Nuke, which will work on any brand of hard drive. You can also contact your favorite IT professional so they can do it for you (wink wink, nudge nudge).
• Bring hardware only. Old household batteries, CDs, DVDs, zip drives, VHS and cassette tapes have to go somewhere else.  Check out the NYC Department of Sanitation or GreenDisk for details.
• Electronics yes, appliances no. Keep those old refrigerators, air conditioners, and microwaves at home.

Also give some thought to how you’re going to get it there:  ZipCar members who show their card to the info table at the event get a $15 driving credit. If you’re not a member yet but thought about getting a new account to use a ZipCar to transport your stuff, you can use the promo code “EWASTE” for a $25 discount on the application and $60 of free driving.

If you’ve got some old e-junk lying around, you really should take advantage of this event. You get a clutter-free home or office, some extra mileage you can use on a fun springtime outing, and that beautiful and elusive feeling of self-satisfaction that can only come from doing something good for the environment.  What’s not to love?

LES Ecology Center via Makezine