Reduce

OK, seriously, that toaster matches the shag carpet you had in 1974. And that television hasn't worked since before Timmy was born. Isn't Timmy in college now?

Ink cartridges and other smallish items are fairly easy to recycle. Most new toner cartridges come with envelopes to send the old ones away, and there are even some stores that will simply refill your old toner cartridge with new ink -- that'll even save you a couple of bucks.

It's not exactly reducing, but if you're planning to buy a new iPod anyway, take the old one to an Apple store and get 10 percent off the new one.

Larger gadgets are not so easy to get rid of. Most landfills take larger appliances (washer and dryer), but some smaller ones (laptops) have toxins in them.

Mark you calendars: Hollins University is hosting an e-waste recycling event Nov. 8. For more information and a complete list of recyclable electronics, visit www.hollins.edu or e-mail ewaste@hollins.edu.

Staples, Best Buy and other electronic stores also have various recycling options -- some will even pay you for it! For more information, visit staples.greensight.com or www.bestbuy.com/recycling.

For even more suggestions, check out www.mygreenelectronics.com.

We're back for Week Five in our 10-part series intended to help get rid of junk in new and creative ways. This week's focus is on old electronic devices. You know, that Zack Morris cellphone or the computer that you can't find 8-inch floppy disks for anymore. You don't really need them, but they're still cluttering up your house -- let's get rid of them.

Reuse

Goodwill and many other thrift stores and charities will no longer accept many electronics, especially computers. Not only are many unusable and costly to dispose of, but there is always a risk of personal information getting into the wrong hands. Make sure you check with an organization before hauling your old MacBook over.

Kids will find great uses for old gadgets. If the little ones see mom and dad with a fax machine, it makes it cool. So if you give the kids the old PC, they'll enjoy it even if it hasn't worked since before they were born.

Schools and churches sometimes take old electronics, too, but be sure to call first. Some schools need newer equipment in order to keep up with their tech-savvy students.

Cellphones in working condition are collected by many organizations for those in need. Check out www.recellular.com/recycling or search the Web for many other programs benefitting various charities.

Remix

Book ends: Some electronics may have sentimental value. If you can't bear to part with your Brownie, use it as a book end. Not only does it become decorative, but you're displaying your passion for photography.

Art: Use old, broken DVDs or CDs and create a mosaic or a mobile. Include other broken technology, as long as you make sure it's safe first.

Planting pots: Use a broken TV, computer monitor, blender, etc., as a neat and eco-friendly pot.

Build a DVR: For the very tech-savvy among us, it is apparently possible to turn an old PC into a DVR. I can't begin to explain how, but it might be worth knowing.