Time to put your computer out to pasture?

Idea exchange
August 2001

computers Time to put your computer out to pasture?
As you read this story, take a second to consider the computer you're viewing it on. Is it an ancient a relic of the 1990s wheezing toward retirement, or are you using a spiffy new machine just purchased to replace the clunker you had? It seems there's rarely an in-between these days. Computer technology moves so fast that you're either basking in the glow of a brand-new computer or shaking your fist at a suddenly obsolete one. But that accelerated turnover affects more than your pocketbook and peace of mind—it's also taking a toll on the environment.

According to a report released in June by a California environmental group, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), computers contain hundreds of toxic substances, with lead, mercury, and cadmium topping the list. Just about every piece of equipment is a culprit, from monitor glass to circuit breakers and the outer plastics. And if the machines end up in landfills, those chemicals can end up in your groundwater, air, and soil.

Happily government researchers say most old computers aren't actually rotting away in garbage dumps. Instead three quarters of all computers ever sold in the United States are stashed in garages, attics, or stockpiles for disposal. The challenge is making sure those computers never end up in a landfill. So if you've got a couple out-of-date models gathering dust at home or your company is upgrading to a new set of machines, what should you do with the old computers? You can refurbish them, donate them, or recycle them.

If you'd rather not buy a brand new computer, a technician can refurbish your old one. The refurbisher can upgrade your hardware and extend your computer's life. To find a technician, check under "computer service centers" in your yellow pages.

If you definitely need a new computer but you know your old one isn't entirely useless, consider donating it to a school, nonprofit, local church, or even a Third World country. Most groups have minimum donation standards, but if your computer is at least a 486 or a Macintosh Performa you can probably find a new home for it.

Catholic schools in the Chicago archdiocese are currently using computers from Chicago-based Computers for Schools. "The advantage in the program is that our schools can derive significantly more value in the money they're spending," says Ellie Anderson, the archdiocese's director of information technology. "It enables us to buy considerably more units and give more students access to the technology."

Computers for Schools President Willie Cade says his organization donates more than 100,000 computers to schools across the country each year. The program operates in 34 states and gives about 10 computers at a time to each individual school. Most of the computers come from companies or individuals buying new machines, but Cade says donors don't need to worry their old files might end up in unexpected places.

"We wipe them clean so no personal data leaks out into the public and then we reinstall the operating system and add a CDRom," says Cade, who is also the president of the National Association of Refurbishers. The schools pay for refurbishing the older computers.

Anderson says most schools need sets of identical computers, so upgrading companies are their best sources for donations, but small nonprofits or parishes can generally use individual gifts.

Two other organizations to consider when donating your computers are the World Computer Exchange, which sends older machines to schools in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and the National Cristina Foundation, which provides computers for job training for the disabled, the poor, and at-risk students.

A third option is to recycle your old machines. Unfortunately most recyclers charge between $10 and $30. Your computer's manufacturer may recycle an old model, but IBM will send any computer to a Pennsylvania recycler called Envirocycle. The service costs $30, but they'll send a tax deduction receipt.

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition thinks consumers shouldn't have to search for recycling options. It's lobbying lawmakers to force the manufacturers to take care of their obsolete products.

"We're sitting on a wasteberg and in order to find solutions, the manufacturers of computers must take responsibility for their products," says Ted Smith, SVTC executive director. "They need to redesign their products to phase out the toxic materials and make computers and monitors more recyclable. They should take the lead on recycling programs." SVTC argues consumers would pay more for their computers if they could then return them to manufacturers for disposal.—Anne Graber

For more information:
Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
SVTC's report, "Poison PCs/Toxic TVs"
Computers for Schools
World Computer Exchange
National Cristina Foundation
IBM PC Recycling Service: 888-SHOP-IBM
Envirocycle
Computer Recycling Center
PEP National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs
Index of donation organizations
Carnegie Mellon's "Disposition and End-of-Life Options for Personal Computers"

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