The New York Times has a back-to-basics article on making sure that the machine you're using to read this keeps a modest carbon footprint during its useful life.  And when a little puff of smoke out the vents signals its end, there are also ways to make sure that it keeps giving instead of spending an eternity in a landfill (and leeching toxins into the ground in the meantime).

When it comes to recycling your computer, picking the right recycling company is critical. If done right, recyclers should reuse the parts they can and manage waste responsibly, which means making sure parts don’t go to countries with poor ecological track records, like China, and that items that do get exported (like circuit boards and leaded glass) go to green-friendly sites in developed nations. In 2005, used or unwanted electronics amounted to approximately 1.9 million to 2.2 million tons of waste in the United States. Of that number, about 1.7 million tons were dumped in landfills, and only 345,000 to 379,000 tons were recycled, according to the E.P.A.

But it is hard to be sure if the recycler is not dumping your PC behind your back. “There’s no such certification program,” adds Ms. Kyle of the TakeBack coalition, which helps promote responsible recycling and green design in the electronics industry. “At least our partner, Basel Action Network, puts the recyclers through initial screenings. Will people know 100 percent? No, but it’s the best thing right now.” Electronic TakeBack’s list of recyclers can be found at tinyurl.com/5yrb9k.

Read the rest here.