We’ve already implored you to recycle your outdated tech gear, but now we can offer an incentive for those of you who need more than a gentle nudge. There are new ways to earn cold hard cash for your cold dead e-carcasses. They can be refurbished and resold, and you can do your bit to help save the planet--and have extra beer money.

These sites offer money for old cell phones (and some accept iPods and PSPs too). For example, I have an old Samsung x495, and I can get between $5.00 and $8.00 on some sites, and others will recycle it for free, which is still better than leaving it in a drawer or putting toxins in the landfills.

Cell for Cash
Phone is Cash
Cash my Phone
SimplySelluar

These sites will offer you money for many of your electronic gadgets (including Cell Phones, MP3 Players, Digital Cameras, GPS Devices, Laptops, Camcorders, Gaming Consoles, Satellite Radios, Portable Hard Drives). There are new businesses popping up daily to take advantage of the gold in the form of reusable parts in your gear, so be sure to check online for local refurbishers near you.

Gazelle
BuyMyTronics

We know for the most part we are preaching to the choir here, but for those of you who aren’t motivated by that warm fuzzy feeling of doing the right thing or who think the dosh offered isn’t quite enough to make selling your cells worth your while, we will try our mom’s favorite enticement: good old-fashioned guilt. Were you aware that the coltan (otherwise know as colombo-tantalite ore, an essential element in the manufacture of miniature electrolytic capacitors) is mined in Africa? And that men, women, children, and gorillas (yes, the precious mineral happens to be located in a gorilla habitat) are dying so that we can have our tech toys? We think most would be mortified if they knew the extent of the problem, which we won’t elaborate on here--but we will remind you to be a mindful consumer and to do your part as a steward of the planet. Now, off you go to enjoy an ice-cold one.