The pace of technology these days is daunting. Sometimes it feels like the second you take your new gadget of the box, you see an ad for a better one on TV. And the second that new product comes out, you can forget about any chance selling off the old one for anything even close to what you paid for it. But with a bevy of toxic chemicals in batteries, displays, and circuit boards, trashing your gadget simply isn't an option. What's an eco-conscious geek to do?

Why, take advantage of Radio Shack's new buyback policy, that's what. Hot on the heels of similar efforts from Best Buy and Apple, Radio Shack has announced a system where customers can appraise their old electronics online and exchange them for entirely reasonable prices ($42 for a 5-year-old iPod!). Of course, it's still only for store credit, but Radio Shack sells a whole lot of different things. Hopefully Radio Shack is reselling or recycling as much of the product as possible.

Now, as a lifelong New Englander, I'll exploit every half-baked hack and trick I can find to keep my electronic gizmos running just a day longer. From a environmental standpoint, that's generally the best way to deal with electronics, but for the less obsessive, this buyback program provides a fantastic second option. It's great to see Best Buy's recycling initiative spread to other retailers.