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Old Computers: A huge pile of toxic metals and gas
By: Jon Dougal - Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Source: Various
AGED COMPUTERS: A GROWING PILE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
That 2 year old computer you're still using, but intended to replace soon, could contain amounts of mercury, cadmium, fire retardant - PFOA, and up to 5# of lead, making it one of the biggest sources of hazardous waste in the USA.
It is only a couple of years old but already an ancient piece of equipment and accelerating in inefficiency - most organizations now consider a personal computer outdated in three years - dealing with old equipment is no small matter. Last year, more than 63 million computers in the United States were replaced by faster, better and most likely cheaper systems. And what happens to all those resources that went into making that computer work?
Kaiser Permanente, a progressive environmental steward in the healthcare industry, has been leading the Wellness field with their purchasing power. Dropping PVC in many of their building materials in the late 90's, Kaiser has implemented many green purchasing requirements from venders wishing to sell the giant HMO. When manufacturers have a major customer like Kaiser, it makes it more economically feasible to make green products and then provide them throughout their customer base.
Lynn Garske, Kaiser's environmental stewardship manager say that K-P has designed a well-thought-out electronic waste plan that has given the company great leverage in negotiating with equipment vendors. Today, it buys only from manufacturers that meet its guidelines for reducing the use of certain toxic substances like mercury, a requirement that extends beyond computers to medical supplies and even carpeting. (Mercury and cadmium are still used, in some cases, in the printed circuit boards that are found in PC's.)
Kaiser P, an early promoter of "preventative healthcare" for all its members, seeks to provide a healthy hospital environment for healing sick people. "We wanted to send venders a signal that we were taking seriously the elimination of toxic chemicals," Ms. Garske said. kaiser even employs a recognized "Indoor Environmental Quality" expert.
Computer manufacturers have been working for years on reducing the amount of waste their systems create. Apple Computer uses no mercury or cadmium, and has reduced the amount of lead by converting from screens with cathode-ray tubes, which have lead, to liquid-crystal displays. Yeah for Apple!
To make the point about the power of the marketplace, Michael Green, executive director of the Center for Environmental Health, said that more and more companies were discovering the influence they have on the materials that manufacturers use in making computers or any other products. Green says."If a company that buys 25,000 computers says they'll only buy from them if they'll agree to take it back when they're done with it, it can make a profound difference." Europe has many of these "take-back' programs in place.
California, on January 1, 2006, mandated the proper disposal of most electronic devices, making it illegal to just throw them into the thrash bin - mostly the recycling trash bin!
K-P based in Oakland, Calif., has replaced 64,000 computers. Of those, 10,000 were moved to other areas within Kaiser, and 14,000 were recycled. The remaining 40,000 were sold to individuals and organizations, many overseas, where demand is high for used equipment.
For businesses, the challenge is finding a recycling broker who can ensure that the computers are actually being recycled. While reports from regulatory agencies vary, some estimate that as much as 80 percent of old computer equipment and other electronics collected for recycling end up in landfills in developing countries in Asia, South America or Africa. While dumping electronic waste is illegal in the United States, the international market is largely unregulated, making abuse rampant.
There are many electronics recycling firms across the US. Most can be found through your local waste management agency.
Kaiser signed with its recycling broker after weeding out organizations that did not meet those criteria. Most important, Kaiser demanded a guarantee that the data on its discarded systems remain confidential, Ms. Garske said.
Several states have recently passed laws mandating who pays for the recycling of electronics. California requires customers to pay an electronic waste recycling fee at the time of sale. Maine, Maryland and most recently Washington, on the other hand, place the burden on the manufacturer to recycle used electronics, including collecting and transporting it.
As the recycling of electronics becomes more widespread and the market for heavy metals from the waste stream grows, prices of used computers and the resultant materials will also rise. Electronics and other manufacturers will use more of this waste stream as supply becomes more plentiful and dependable.
The remainder of the electronic appliances is recycled, with the plastic, metal, glass and other material separated and sold to various industries.
Meanwhile, many of us take the easy way and just let that old printer, or monitor gain more dust in our storage units or garages. Owners of old equipment should know that the value of the machines goes down with age, not up. Getting rid of these appliances is better sooner done.
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