| | | Computer and Printer Disposal and Recycling

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Alternatives to Electronic Disposal

Electronic waste amounts to thousands of tons of material clogging landfills nowadays. The problem is constantly increasing as computers and printers become obsolete so quickly. In the past, junk of all types was sent to the local landfill or city dump, but more of today's trash contains heavy metals and lead that are harmful to your health and dangerous to the environment. Such elements and chemicals leaching into the soil and into ground water in areas where there is a landfill can poison a whole locale with heavy metals. There are several alternatives to hauling your obsolete computer, printer or other electronic equipment to the landfill.

Pass It On

Rather than dumping the old computer when you upgrade your current equipment, why not allow someone else to get the benefits from a computer. Place a notice in the newspaper or on the community board that you will provide a computer for nothing. Even if the computer has only one or two small programs, the buyer can almost always find a use for the computer such as a word processor. Simple software will still run on an old computer in most instances. For example, you may be able to use the computer as a word processor for someone who otherwise has no computer. You may be able to donate the computer to a school for use as a training machine to teach repair or for keyboarding practice.

Donate

Many organizations use donated electronic equipment either directly or indirectly. If the organization can make use of the computer or printer directly, it is put into their own inventory. Sometimes it requires some repair or renovation work on the equipment to make it operational, at other times, the computer may need nothing but some software. At other times, the computer equipment is not used directly, but is stripped down into its basic components and sold for recycling costs. There are some valuable materials in a computer.

Reuse

Some parts of computers can be reused in other computers without going through a remanufacturing process. Sometimes the computer and printer products such as laptops and portable devices are usable as is. The market for second hand computer equipment is growing as more used equipment is placed in the secondary market inventory. These items are usually cleared of sensitive information and are then ready to be resold to someone else to use as a beginner computer or as an extra unit of computer hardware.

Recycling Electronics

Whether you donate the computer to others so that the components can be salvaged to gain income or whether you use the components yourself, recycling the valuable components prevents them from ending up in a landfill taking up space. Reusing the components in making new equipment or new products is making better use of the natural resources available on the earth. Some of the components are rare enough that the cost to acquire them drives up the total price of the product. Usually it is less expensive to recycle the material than to produce it from scratch.

Manufacturers' Recycling Programs

Many of the major manufacturers have developed recycling programs so that customers can donate their old computer equipment. It will be collected from the customer at no cost. Some companies will provide coupons or discounts toward the purchase of new computer equipment in the future. The companies that collect the used computers can use them for the parts, to renovate used computers, as part of the resale market, or even as donations to charitable organizations as working computers.

Cell Phones

Another major disposal problem developing is with the millions of cell phones that are being discarded each year. Some estimates place the number at thousands of tons of cell phones. These phones and batteries contain Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion and small sealed lead batteries. As with computers, many cell phones can be recycled either by providing inexpensive used cell phones to those in need or by recycling the various components of the phones for manufacturing into other products.

Other Electronic Products

Almost all electronic products nowadays are available for special recycling projects so that the environmental issues are addressed properly. Not only are such items reused and recycled, but the usage of natural resources is reduced in order to leave more for the next generation. Hazardous materials are not placed in the ground or where they can be leached into the water supply, but are handled in such a way as to maximize benefits for business and the ecosystem.

Governmental Actions

Many governmental units are taking an active role in the subject of recycling. Ordinary household goods have been recycled for several years. Citizens who care about the environment sort glass, plastic and paper items in the trash in order to provide for easy recycling. However, items such as electronic equipment require special handling. The presence of hazardous materials is an issue with these consumer goods, but the sheer size and volume of the units that are being disposed of is taxing the disposal capabilities of most governmental units. Any actions taken by governmental units and by citizens who are conscious of the impact of such items in the eco system can only be beneficial.

Dangers

Electronic products such as computers, printers, monitors, televisions, cell phones and other products may contain hazardous materials that are a danger when placed in landfills. These items pose a threat to drinking water and may cause other environmental issues in the future. Currently, such materials as mercury, cadmium, lithium, lead and leaded glass are a part of many monitors, circuit boards and batteries. Even plastics often contain fire retardants that are toxic if mishandled. In many countries, such items can no longer be dumped through the landfill. They must be handled through companies that are certified to handle the products correctly. They can't be picked up and hauled away by just any junkyard dealer. It is estimated that over 130,000 computers daily are being discarded in one way or another by the original owners.