By Shelby Wood, The Oregonian

Not long after we learned what e-waste is, comes the news that not all e-waste recyclers play fair.

Some businesses that collect cast-off computers and other electronics-- for free or a fee -- simply ship the junk overseas. There, the innards of your old desktop turn toxic and threaten the health of workers in Africa and China (click for interactive National Geographic image of the innards). You think you're doing right by the Earth by steering clear of landfills, only for businesses to dump your trash on people without means or the choice to avoid the deluge.

BAN, a Seattle nonprofit that fights what it calls a "global toxic trade," is fired up this week over a national e-waste recycling campaign by 1-800-GOT-JUNK. That company is hosting 70 (mostly) free e-waste recycling events around the country to coincide with Earth Day -- including events in Vancouver and Portland on Saturday, April 19.

BAN, in an email blast to newspapers Tuesday, warned consumers that some local 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchises may be recycling the e-waste they collect through firms that export hazardous waste to other countries. BAN estimates that 50 to 80 percent of all electronic waste delivered to recyclers in North America does not get recycled in Canada or the United States.

Now for the pleasant Portland/Vancouver twist. Here, the Portland-east franchise of 1-800-GOT-JUNK is working with Free Geek. The nonprofit computer rehab center in SE Portland will reuse and recycle the old computers collected this weekend in Portland and Vancouver. Similar to BAN's standards, Free Geek's policy is to send what it can't reuse only to recycling firms "that we are confident are handling the materials in an environmentally responsible manner." The Free Geek Web site states that computer monitors and terminals are sent for recycling through Total Reclaim in Portland, one of three Oregon firms on BAN's list of "responsible e-cyclers."

The pledge to recycle e-waste responsibly is "the reason we're using Free Geek. They go above and beyond," said Robert Christensen, operations manager for the Portland-east franchise of 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

Bottom line: If you're headed to another e-waste recycling dropoff, including those sponsored by other franchises of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, consider asking where the junk ends up once you leave it behind. Peruse your options beyond Earth Day with this PDXgreen list of e-waste recyclers.

Or hit Christensen's events this weekend, guilt-free (dropping off a computer monitor will cost you $5). Both dropoff sites are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

•Portland: U.S. Bank, 1225 SE 39th Avenue (get map)

•Vancouver: Fred Meyer, 11325 SE Mill Plain Blvd. (get map)

Details from 1-800-GOT-JUNK: All computers, laptops and DVD players will be accepted free of charge. There is a $5.00 surcharge for computer monitors. Limit ten items per person; no TVs, microwaves or copy machines.

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