Is There an Afterlife for Your Computer?

Grappling with America's techno-trash dilemma

Posted: 01-Mar-2001; Updated: 31-Jan-2005

From the editors of E: The Environmental Magazine

You're thinking of tossing that old computer in the garbage. It's just plastic, metal and glass, right? Wrong! Computers, it turns out, carry more than just bugs. Inside every computer is a cocktail of toxic substances, starting with five to eight pounds of poisonous lead in the monitor's cathode ray tube (CRT) and the printed circuit boards.

In many city landfills, CRTs from computers and TVs are the largest source of lead. Massachusetts has banned CRTs from its landfills and Washington State will do so soon.

Computers also contain arsenic, cadmium and mercury, and EPA classifies them as "having hazardous waste characteristics." Nevertheless, 20 million computers are trashed every year in the United States, while only 3% are recycled.

In Europe and parts of Asia, required recycling of electronic goods is well underway. But U.S. industry groups such as the American Electronics Association are firmly opposed to mandatory recycling legislation and have lobbied heavily against it. That means we Americans can either give our old computers away or pay a modest fee for their disposal. In either case, it's a do-it-yourself deal.

A new lease on life

Many nonprofit groups are delighted to receive old working computers and will give you a tax deduction. Start by calling local schools, churches and community groups. Most require relatively recent models (for PCs, 386 or newer; for Macs, Classic or newer). Thrift stores like Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army are another good bet.

For computers too old to be useful, a number of take-back plans and startup recycling businesses are available. These may offer special conveniences and in some cases tax breaks.

IBM will accept any PC for recycling or reuse, regardless of maker. Cost to the consumer is $29.99, which buys a postpaid shipping label. Depending on the computer's age and capability, IBM tells us it will either recycle the components or will refurbish the system and donate it to Gifts in Kind International, which contributes products to a network of more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide.

Denver-based Technology Recycling is in business to reclaim old computers in the lower 48 states. The company will pick up and dismantle computer systems for $35 per component. The company mostly handles computers owned by businesses and has a $500 minimum for pickup.

GreenDisk, a Redmond, Washington-based nonprofit, recycles up to 60 million computer discs a year. This year the company plans to partner with computer manufacturers and the U.S. Postal Service to pick up any old machine nationwide for $20 a unit.

Don't forget you can often upgrade a desktop computer with more memory, a larger hard disk or a faster processor rather than buying a whole new machine. When you do need a new computer, some companies, including Gateway, may accept your old Pentium computer for its trade-in value. And some manufacturers, including Dell and Gateway, offer refurbished computers for sale on their web sites at a savings.

How to recycle it

For a full spectrum of computer recycling information from many of the organizations listed below, contact these groups directly:

• National Cristina Foundation makes computers available to the disadvantaged. 500 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT; (800) CRISTINA (274-7846).
• National Recycling Coalition's electronics recycling initiative offers a thorough overview of public and private programs. 1727 King St., Ste. 105, Alexandria, VA 22314; (802) 254-3338
• PEP (Resources for Parents, Educators and Publishers) lists groups that donate computers to schools. (415) 382- 1818.
• Share the Technology maintains a searchable donation database. PO Box 548, Rancocas, NJ 08073; (856) 234-6156.