By Frances Gallup of Geek Squad

As technology improves, so does our appetite to have the “latest.” Upgrading iPods, cell phones and blackberrys is pretty common. The amounts of gadgets we acquire seems to increase faster and faster as the years go on, which leads me to an important question: Have we turned into a disposable society? I say “YES!” And, let’s remember that along with the gift of innovation comes great responsibility (sounds like Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but you get the idea).

Acceptance is the first step. Let’s face it – most of us will continue to adopt and reject our gadgets at a rapid rate. You can get headstrong and never purchase another electronic device again, but you would be hard pressed to get through the everyday grind with a blackberry that’s the size of your purse or a laptop that breaks your back. Upgrades are beautiful and useful luxuries; so let’s accept that fact.

In my opinion, we should embrace the thrill of the latest technology, but also think about our planet. Here are some important things to know as you keep your tech edge and honor Mother Earth.

Sort it Out

Yes, it’s hard to part with a gadget for which you paid quadruple its current worth, but, if you haven’t used it in a year then get rid of it. The longer you hold on to it the less you will get for it and the less likely anyone else will want it. Once you have dug out your old dot matrix printer and that 20lb computer it time to figure out how you are going to dispose of them.

Consider Best Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Having a yard sale is a good way to make some extra cash on those old electronics. Don’t get discouraged if the youngsters laugh when they see some of the things you brought out - there are many electronics collectors out there, and you may be holding on to some gems.

Toss the Tech, Keep Your Privacy

Before you sell that old computer, make sure you remove your data. You can do this by restoring the system with the recovery CDs that came with your unit. However if you do not have these CDs, you may need to remove the hard drive.

Help at Retail

Many retailers have joined the battle to keep the landfills clean of toxic electronics and have implemented programs to help you properly dispose of your electronics. The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of retailers and the programs they participate in. Check it out here: www.epa.gov.

Old electronics can also make some great art and crafts. Making earrings, refrigerator magnets or pins out of old keyboard keys or computer chips can create fantastic conversation pieces, impress your friends and help cut back on the amount of e-waste deposited into the landfills. I have a pair of earrings, and they are trendy and distinctive. Green is the new black, so be proud to rock your new accessories! Don’t believe me? Google “tech jewelry” and you’ll see what I’m talking about! You can help yourself and Mother Earth at the same time!

Francis Gallup is the Deputy of Counter Intelligence for Geek Squad and MomCentral's "Techy." She is known as "mama" both at home and at work. She's a Deputy of Counter Intelligence for Geek Squad, which is a fancy title for someone that knows a whole lot about technology and fixing computers. At work, a staff of 12 people relies on Francis every day to solve tech challenges, but at home, two important people keep Francis busy -- Kyle, 15 and Randi, 19. Her sons have inspired Francis to be a tech warrior on behalf of all moms. Francis has a unique ability to understand the world of computers through the eyes of children and teens. She can tell you about the hottest Web sites your children might be frequenting such as "World of Warcraft" and "MySpace." She can share tricks of the trade such as:

· How to set your router to shut down at night so that your children can't get online past a certain hour.
· Best software available for keeping kids safe online
· How to translate teen texting lingo like "BRB" and "OMG." (If you are puzzled right now, see Francis' article on "Texting 101 for Moms.")
· What to do when the sippy cup runneth over onto your keyboard

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