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Computer Equipment Disposal - Recycle, Donate Or Do Nothing?

by hotpotato

For the last couple of decades, the rapid advances in computing
technology have given rise to a corresponding problem of
computers becoming quickly obsolete. These days, any computer
that is more than 3 years old will be noticeably slower in its
performance than a computer that has been manufactured in the
last few months. It has therefore become a fact of life in the
information age that computers need to be updated on a regular
basis in order to utilize the latest software and communications
applications. This in turn has led to the problem of what one
should do with the rapidly growing stockpile of old computers and
other electronic equipment. A company or individual really has
one of 3 choices: 1. Do nothing; 2 Donate or; 3. Recycle.  This
article will discuss each of the options in turn.

Before looking closely at the issue of computer equipment
recycling, it is worthwhile noting why it so important to do
something rather than nothing. Latest studies on the subject have
concluded that only around 10-15% of old computer equipment is
being recycled. The equipment that isn't being recycled is either
being stored, gathering dust on the tops of cupboards or in
garages, or even more perniciously is being disposed of in
landfills.

Companies that are storing old computing equipment are
entertaining a false economy. It is actually more expensive to
continue to store old computers than it is to properly dispose of
them - when you take into account the cost of storage space, the
cost of securing old systems to comply with federal privacy laws
and other associated administration costs. There are the also
environmental concerns attached to the stockpiling of large
quantities of obsolete computers. The systems can break down and
leak hazardous materials into the air, soil and groundwater
should they catch on fire or be subject to other natural
disasters such as a floods.

The larger problem however, lies in disposing of this old
computer equipment in a heedless fashion. Computer equipment that
isn't taken care of by an authorized computer recycler is most
likely to end up in landfills and become toxic computer waste. A
computer is made up of plastic, ferrous metals, non-ferrous
metals (lead, cadmium, antimony, beryllium, chromium and
mercury), electronic boards (gold, palladium, silver and
platinum) and glass - in short, materials (many of which are
toxic) which don't break down naturally. A standard sized cathode
ray tube (CRT) monitor contains more than two kilos of lead - the
toxicity of which has been well known for centuries.

The best option when dealing with old computer equipment is to
either donate it (computer hardware less than 5 years old can
generally be donated) or to recycle it.

Individuals who are looking to recycle one or a few items of
computer hardware will find that nearly all of the major computer
manufacturers - Apple, Dell, Gateway, IBM, Lexmark, Hewlett
Packard, Epson, NEC - are running some type of computer recycling
program. These programs tend to involve the company taking back
your old computer and disposing of it responsibly, at no extra
cost to yourself, whenever you purchase a new computer from
them.

For companies who are looking to dispose of large volumes of
computer hardware (and other types of e-waste) they should really
get in contact with an authorized computer recycler. The hallmark
of the computer recycler's business model is that of responsible
destruction. They will salvage all useful computer parts before
breaking down what's left, safely removing all hazardous
materials in the process. There will usually be a fee charged by
these recyclers to accept old computer equipment (particularly
when it comes to computer monitors)  but the cost of disposal
will be significantly less than the cost of not disposing of the
computer hardware, both in terms of direct business costs and
potential costs to the environment.

For detailed information on
<a href="http://www.computer-equipment-recycling.com"
target="_top">computer equipment recycling</a> go to
http://www.computer-equipment-recycling.com

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