Electric does NOT mean Electronic!
This may sound like another case of Tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto. However, electric and electronic devices are quite different and commonly confused.
All electronics are electrical, but not all electrical systems are electronic. The distinction between the two comes down to how devices manipulate electricity to do their work.
Typically, if something uses electricity as energy, it is electric. If it uses electricity for manipulating information, it is electronic.
Electrical devices take the energy of electric current and transform it into a form of energy such as light, heat, or motion. For example, the heating elements in a toaster turn electrical energy into heat so you can toast your bread. Likewise, the motor in your vacuum cleaner turns electrical energy into motion that drives a pump to suck up the toast crumbs that fall into your carpet.
In contrast, electronic devices do much more. Instead of just converting electrical energy into heat, light, or motion, electronic devices are designed to manipulate the electrical current itself and coax it into doing interesting and useful things. For example, electronic devices can add sound information to an electric current so that you can listen to music or talk on a cellphone and video devices add images to an electric current so you can watch movies.
As technology advances the distinction between electric and electronic becomes blurry. For example, a run of the mill toaster versus a toaster that lets you program an image to burn into the toast and then sends you an email when the toast is done. While this example is laughable it highlights that blurry line.
So why is it important to distinguish the difference? SWANCC receives a plethora of calls questioning if an item is accepted into our electronic recycling program. Most often the items in question (such as toasters, coffee makers, lamps, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, hairdryers, mixers, blenders, stereo equipment, etc.) are not electronic at all, but instead electric.
Electric items do have value to recycle (but can NOT go into your curbside recycle bin). They can often go to a special collection point where the valuable materials will be separated and recycled. When recycling or scrapping is not an option, they may be accepted by your hauler in weekly collections and can safely be sent to the landfill.
In 2012, Illinois adopted legislation that prohibits landfilling of "Covered and Eligible Electronic Devices". Thus, the electronics accepted into SWANCC's program are limited to the IEPA accepted items. Check the Electronics Recycling page on our website for details. Other electronic devices not on this list are also important to recycle but must be done through other special collection options.
Electric or electronic - if it not accepted into SWANCC's program here are some resources for recycling:
SWANCC's digital Reuse and Recycling Directory
Elgin Recycling, located in Arlington Heights. (847) 741-4100
Local Best Buy Stores