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December 4, 2000 Computer Recycling |
Tidbit ArchiveLast Week's Tidbit -- The Technology of Voting and Counting Votes
| According to a survey by the National Recycling Coalition, 500 million
personal computers will become obsolete between now and 2007. A typical
computer is 30 to 40 percent plastic. In addition, computers casings
contain a considerable amount of steel; monitors include large amounts
of glass as well as lead (for shielding); and circuit boards, disk drives,
and other components contain gold, silver, platinum, mercury, chromium,
cobalt, palladium, copper, and nickel. Despite the potential value
of these materials, most discarded PCs still wind up in landfills where
they pose an increasing environmental problem, both because of the toxicity
of some components and the sheer volume of material they represent.
A growing number of organizations are mining this resource. Some (mainly nonprofit groups) accept donated computers and peripherals, refurbish them, and make them available to needy individuals and organizations in the United States and in developing countries. Others fix up and sell salvageable equipment. Still others disassemble equipment that is no longer usable, separate component materials, process and recycle them. Some computer firms have begun to offer programs that allow consumers to return obsolete equipment either for a modest fee, or in some cases, for a rebate on new equipment. The European Union has put in place a regulation requiring computer manufacturers to build systems in ways that facilitate recycling. In the U.S., some jurisdictions are experimenting with ways to encourage computer recycling. In April 2000, Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to ban cathode ray tubes from its landfills. With technology continuing to advance at a remarkable pace, the environmental impacts of obsolete equipment--not just computers, but printers, telecommunications equipment, televisions, and other consumer electronics products--are certain to grow. Equally certain is the growing attention this issue will receive from environmentalists, governments, industry, and entrepreneurs. |
Links:"PC Recycling Efforts Take Off at Last," Heidi Schuessler, The New York Times (November 23, 2000). (Requires free registration)
"Junk Your Old PC Safely," Michael Gowan, PCWorld.com (September 25, 2000).
"Please Dispose of Properly: Entrepreneurs look for ways to put old computers to good use," David Pescovitz, Scientific American (February 2000).
"IBM Offers Computer Recycling," Slashdot (November 14, 2000).
National Cristina Foundation, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based, organization that provides donated computer technology to persons with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged persons. The foundation "encourages corporations and individuals to donate surplus and used computers, software, peripherals and related business technology . . . . [and] directs those donations to training and educational organizations."
National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs, from P.E.P. (Parents, Educators & Publishers). Actually this extensive set of links is not national, but international in scope. It includes organizations in Africa, Australia, and several other parts of the world, as well as a large number in the United States.
Recycling Old Computers -- suggestions and links from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Back Through the Future Micro Computers, Inc. A recycling firm.
IBM's Product Recycling Programs for Consumers, Small Businesses & Enterprises.
Gateway Computer's product recycling program.
"The Conundrum of Computer Recycling," Leah B. Jung, Vista Environmental Inc. -- The conundrum is that "increasing volumes of discarded computers haven’t yet resulted in lower recovery costs."
Cycles of E-Life -- an interesting flow chart showing the components of a computer, what they are made of, and the purposes to which they can be put.
European Union legislation on recycling of electrical and electronic equipment.
Share the Technology -- an organization that matches donors with needy individuals and organizations who can use their discarded technology.
Computer Recycling for Education -- an organization that provides consulting and training to non-profits and schools involved in computer recycling.
Computers and Telecommunications Recycling Section of "Recycler's World."
E-mail your tidbit suggestions to ateich@aaas.org.Search for more information about computer recycling on:
