Computers contain so many useful parts and components that can be recycled, reused and re-purposed, that it's a shame to simply throw them away. PC fans make great air filters, mother boards can become jewelry, hard drive platters beautifully turn into clocks and power supplies, and cd drives magically become home made secret safes and roulette wheels! So, think long and hard next time you find yourself thinking about throwing away a computer, and instead, take it apart and make one of the amazing projects below.

Electronic waste

Defective and obsolete electronic equipmentElectronic wastedescribes discarded electrical or electronic devices. The used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered as e-waste. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics.All electronic scrap components, such asCRTs, may contain contaminants such aslead,cadmium,beryllium, orbrominated flame retardants. Even in developed countriesrecycling and disposal of e-wastemay involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaking of materials such as heavy metals fromlandfillsandincineratorashes. Scrap industry and U.S.EPAofficials agree that materials should be managed with caution[1]

Hoarding (left), disassembling (center) and collecting (right) electronic waste inBengaluru,India"Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment deviceelectronics,mobile phones,television sets, andrefrigerators. This includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Others are re-usables (working and repairable electronics) and secondary scrap (copper,steel,plastic, etc.) to be "commodities", and reserve the term "waste" for residue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics.Cathode ray tubes(CRTs) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle.[2]CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead andphosphors(not to be confused with phosphorus), both of which are necessary for the display. TheUnited States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) includes discarded CRT monitors in its category of "hazardous household waste"[3]but considers CRTs that have been set aside for testing to be commodities if they are not discarded, speculatively accumulated, or left unprotected from weather and other damage.The EU and its member states operate a system via the European Waste Catalogue (EWC)- a European Council Directive, which is interpreted into "member state law". In the UK (a EU member state), this is in the form of the List of Wastes Directive. However, the list (and EWC) gives broad definition (EWC Code 16 02 13*) of Hazardous Electronic wastes, requiring "waste operators" to employ the Hazardous Waste Regulations (Annex 1A, Annex 1B) for refined definition. Constituent materials in the waste also require assessment via the combination of Annex II and Annex III, again allowing operators to further determine whether a waste is hazardous.[4]Debate continues over the distinction between "commodity" and "waste" electronics definitions. Some exporters are accused of deliberately leaving difficult-to-recycle, obsolete, or non-repairable equipment mixed in loads of working equipment (though this may also come through ignorance, or to avoid more costly treatment processes). Protectionists may broaden the definition of "waste" electronics in order to protect domestic markets from working secondary equipment.The high value of thecomputer recyclingsubset of electronic waste (working and reusable laptops, desktops, and components likeRAM) can help pay the cost of transportation for a larger number of worthless pieces than can be achieved with display devices, which have less (or negative) scrap value. In A 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment",[5]found that of 215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30% were brand new and 70% were used. Of the used product, the study concluded that 15% was not reused and was scrapped or discarded. This contrasts with published but uncredited claims that 80% of the imports into Ghana were being burned in primitive conditions.Amount of Electronic waste world-wide[edit]

A fragment of discarded circuit board.Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3), falling prices, andplanned obsolescencehave resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Dave Kruch, CEO ofCash For Laptops, regards electronic waste as a "rapidly expanding" issue.[6]Technical solutions are available, but in most cases a legal framework, a collection, logistics, and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied.Display units (CRT, LCD, LED monitors), processors (CPU, GPU, or APU chips), memory (DRAM or SRAM), and audio components have different useful lives. Processors are most frequently out-dated (by software no longer being optimized) and are more likely to become "e-waste", while display units are most often replaced while working without repair attempts, due to changes in wealthy nation appetites for new display technology.An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year.[1]The USA discards 30 million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators.[7][8]According to a report by UNEP titled, "Recycling - from E-Waste to Resources," the amount of e-waste being produced - including mobile phones and computers - could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in some countries, such as India.[9]The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing away about 3 million tons each year.[10]China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries.[10]Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Up to 60 elements can be found in complex electronics.In the United States, an estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded electronics.[11][12]While there is agreement that the number of discarded electronic devices is increasing, there is considerable disagreement about the relative risk (compared to automobile scrap, for example), and strong disagreement whether curtailing trade in used electronics will improve conditions, or make them worse. According to an article inMotherboard, attempts to restrict the trade have driven reputable companies out of the supply chain, with unintended consequences.[13]Global trade issues[edit]

Electronic waste is often exported to developing countries.

4.5-volt, D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, A23, 9-volt, CR2032, and LR44 cells are all recyclable in most countries.One theory is that increased regulation of electronic waste and concern over the environmental harm in mature economies creates an economic disincentive to remove residues prior to export. Critics of trade in used electronics maintain that it is still too easy for brokers calling themselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste to developing countries, such as China,[14]India and parts of Africa, thus avoiding the expense of removing items like bad cathode ray tubes (the processing of which is expensive and difficult). The developing countries have become toxic dump yards of e-waste. Proponents of international trade point to the success offair tradeprograms in other industries, where cooperation has led to creation of sustainable jobs, and can bring affordable technology in countries where repair and reuse rates are higher.Defenders of the trade[who?]in used electronics say that extraction of metals from virgin mining has been shifted to developing countries. Recycling of copper, silver, gold, and other materials from discarded electronic devices is considered better for the environment than mining. They also state that repair and reuse of computers and televisions has become a "lost art" in wealthier nations, and that refurbishing has traditionally been a path to development.South Korea, Taiwan, and southern China all excelled in finding "retained value" in used goods, and in some cases have set up billion-dollar industries in refurbishing used ink cartridges, single-use cameras, and working CRTs. Refurbishing has traditionally been a threat to established manufacturing, and simple protectionism explains some criticism of the trade. Works like "The Waste Makers" byVance Packardexplain some of the criticism of exports of working product, for example the ban on import of tested workingPentium 4laptops to China, or the bans on export of used surplus working electronics by Japan.Opponents of surplus electronics exports argue that lower environmental and labor standards, cheap labor, and the relatively high value of recovered raw materials leads to a transfer of pollution-generating activities, such as smelting of copper wire. In China, Malaysia, India, Kenya, and various African countries, electronic waste is being sent to these countries for processing, sometimes illegally. Many surplus laptops are routed todeveloping nationsas "dumping grounds for e-waste".[6]Because the United States has not ratified theBasel Conventionor itsBan Amendment, and has few domestic federal laws forbidding the export of toxic waste, theBasel Action Networkestimates that about 80% of the electronic waste directed to recycling in the U.S. does not get recycled there at all, but is put oncontainer shipsand sent to countries such as China.[15][16][17][18]This figure is disputed as an exaggeration by the EPA, theInstitute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and theWorld Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association.

Independent research byArizona State Universityshowed that 87-88% of imported used computers did not have a higher value than the best value of the constituent materials they contained, and that "the official trade in end-of-life computers is thus driven by reuse as opposed to recycling".[19]Electronic Waste Dump of the World: Guiyu, China[edit]

The E-waste centre ofAgbogbloshie, Ghana, where electronic waste is burnt and disassembled with no safety or environmental considerations.Guiyuin theShantouregion of China is a huge electronic waste processing area.[15][20][21]It is often referred to as the e-waste capital of the world. The city employs over 150,000 e-waste workers that work through 16-hour days disassembling old computers and recapturing whatever metals and parts they can reuse or sell. The thousands of individual workshops employ laborers to snip cables, pry chips from circuit boards, grind plastic computer cases into particles, and dip circuit boards in acid baths to dissolve the lead, cadmium, and other toxic metals. Others work to strip insulation from all wiring in an attempt to salvage tiny amounts of copper wire.[22]Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal causes a variety of environmental problems such as groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, or evenwater pollutioneither by immediate discharge or due tosurface runoff(especially near coastal areas), as well as health problems includingoccupational safety and healtheffects among those directly and indirectly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.Only limited investigations have been carried out on the health effects of Guiyu's poisoned environment. One of them was carried out by Professor Huo Xia, of the Shantou University Medical College, which is an hour and a half's drive from Guiyu. She tested 165 children for concentrations of lead in their blood. 82% of the Guiyu children had blood/lead levels of more than 100. Anything above that figure is considered unsafe by international health experts. The average reading for the group was 149.[23]High levels of lead in young children's blood can impact IQ and the development of the central nervous system. The highest concentrations of lead were found in the children of parents whose workshop dealt with circuit boards and the lowest was among those who recycled plastic.[23]Six of the many villages in Guiyu specialize in circuit-board disassembly, seven in plastics and metals reprocessing, and two in wire and cable disassembly. About a year ago the environmental group Greenpeace sampled dust, soil, river sediment and groundwater in Guiyu where e-waste recycling is done. They found soaring levels of toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants in both places.[24]Lai Yun, a campaigner for the group found "over 10 poisonous metals, such as lead, mercury and cadmium, in Guiyu town."Guiyu is only one example of digital dumps but similar places can be found across the world such as Asia and Africa. With amounts of e-waste growing rapidly each year urgent solutions are required. While the waste continues to flow into digital dumps like Guiyu there are measures that can help reduce the flow of e-waste.[23]A preventative step that major electronics firms should take is to remove the worst chemicals in their products in order to make them safer and easier to recycle. It is important that all companies take full responsibility for their products and, once they reach the end of their useful life, take their goods back for re-use or safely recycle them.Trade[edit]Proponents of the trade say growth of internet access is a stronger correlation to trade than poverty.Haitiis poor and closer to theport of New Yorkthan southeast Asia, but far more electronic waste is exported from New York to Asia than to Haiti. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in reuse, refurbishing, repair, and remanufacturing, unsustainable industries in decline in developed countries. Denying developing nations access to used electronics may deny them sustainable employment, affordable products, and internet access, or force them to deal with even less scrupulous suppliers. In a series of seven articles for The Atlantic, Shanghai-based reporter Adam Minter describes many of these computer repair and scrap separation activities as objectively sustainable.[25]Opponents of the trade argue that developing countries utilize methods that are more harmful and more wasteful. An expedient and prevalent method is simply to toss equipment onto an open fire, in order to melt plastics and to burn away non-valuable metals. This releasescarcinogensandneurotoxinsinto the air, contributing to an acrid, lingeringsmog. These noxious fumes includedioxinsandfurans.[26]Bonfire refuse can be disposed of quickly into drainage ditches or waterways feeding the ocean or local water supplies.[18][27]In June 2008, a container of electronic waste, destined from thePort of Oaklandin the U.S. toSanshui Districtinmainland China, was intercepted in Hong Kong byGreenpeace.[28]Concern over exports of electronic waste were raised in press reports in India,[29][30]Ghana,[31][32][33]Cte d'Ivoire,[34]andNigeria.[35]Environmental Impact of Electronic Waste[edit]

Old keyboardsThe processes of dismantling and disposing of electronic waste in the third world lead to a number of environmental impacts as illustrated in the graphic. Liquid and atmospheric releases end up in bodies of water, groundwater, soil, and air and therefore in land and sea animals both domesticated and wild, in crops eaten by both animals and human, and in drinking water.[36]One study of environmental effects in Guiyu, China found the following: Airbornedioxins one type found at 100 times levels previously measured Levels ofcarcinogensinduck pondsandrice paddiesexceeded international standards for agricultural areas and cadmium, copper, nickel, and lead levels in rice paddies were above international standards Heavy metalsfound inroad dust lead over 300 times that of a control villages road dust and copper over 100 times[37]The environmental impact of the processing of different electronic waste componentsE-Waste ComponentProcess UsedPotential Environmental Hazard

Cathode ray tubes (used in TVs, computer monitors, ATM, video cameras, and more)Breaking and removal of yoke, then dumpingLead, barium and other heavy metals leaching into the ground water and release of toxic phosphor

Printed circuit board (image behind table - a thin plate on which chips and other electronic components are placed)De-soldering and removal of computer chips; open burning and acid baths to remove final metals after chips are removed.Air emissions as well as discharge into rivers of glass dust, tin, lead, brominated dioxin, beryllium cadmium, and mercury

Chips and other gold plated componentsChemical stripping using nitric and hydrochloric acid and burning of chipsHydrocarbons, heavy metals, brominated substances discharged directly into rivers acidifying fish and flora. Tin and lead contamination of surface and groundwater. Air emissions of brominated dioxins, heavy metals and hydrocarbons

Plastics from printers, keyboards, monitors, etc.Shredding and low temp melting to be reusedEmissions of brominated dioxins, heavy metals and hydrocarbons

Computer wiresOpen burning and stripping to remove copperHydrocarbon ashes released into air, water and soil.

[38]Information security[edit]E-waste presents a potentialsecuritythreat to individuals and exporting countries.Hard drivesthat are not properly erased before the computer is disposed of can be reopened, exposing sensitive information.Credit cardnumbers, private financial data, account information, and records ofonlinetransactions can be accessed by most willing individuals. Organized criminals in Ghana commonly search the drives for information to use in localscams.[39]Government contracts have been discovered on hard drives found inAgbogbloshie. Multi-million dollar agreements from United States security institutions such as theDefense Intelligence Agency(DIA), theTransportation Security AdministrationandHomeland Securityhave all resurfaced in Agbogbloshie.[39][40]E-waste management[edit]Recycling[edit]

Computer monitors are typically packed into low stacks on wooden pallets forrecyclingand then shrink-wrapped.[26]See also:Computer recyclingToday the electronic waste recycling business is in all areas of thedeveloped worlda large and rapidly consolidating business. People tend to forget that properly disposing or reusing electronics can help prevent health problems, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.[41]Part of this evolution has involved greater diversion of electronic waste from energy-intensive downcycling processes (e.g., conventional recycling), where equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This recycling is done by sorting, dismantling, and recovery of valuable materials.[42]This diversion is achieved through reuse and refurbishing. The environmental and social benefits of reuse include diminished demand for new products and virgin raw materials (with their own environmental issues); larger quantities of pure water and electricity for associated manufacturing; less packaging per unit; availability of technology to wider swaths of society due to greater affordability of products; and diminished use of landfills.Audiovisual components, televisions,VCRs,stereo equipment,mobile phones, other handheld devices, andcomputer componentscontain valuable elements and substances suitable for reclamation, includinglead,copper, andgold.One of the major challenges is recycling the printed circuit boards from the electronic wastes. The circuit boards contain such precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc. and such base metals as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. One way e-waste is processed is by melting circuit boards, burning cable sheathing to recover copper wire and open- pit acid leaching for separating metals of value.[43]Conventional method employed is mechanical shredding and separation but the recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such ascryogenic decompositionhave been studied for printed circuit board recycling,[44]and some other methods are still under investigation.Consumer awareness efforts[edit]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages electronic recyclers to become certified by demonstrating to an accredited, independent third party auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage electronics. This works to ensure the highest environmental standards are being maintained. Two certifications for electronic recyclers currently exist and are endorsed by the EPA. Customers are encouraged to choose certified electronics recyclers. Responsible electronics recycling reduces environmental and human health impacts, increases the use of reusable and refurbished equipment and reduces energy use while conserving limited resources. The two EPA-endorsed certification programs are: Responsible Recyclers Practices (R2) and E-Stewards. Certified companies ensure they are meeting strict environmental standards which maximize reuse and recycling, minimize exposure to human health or the environment, ensure safe management of materials and require destruction of all data used on electronics. Certified electronics recyclers have demonstrated through audits and other means that they continually meet specific high environmental standards and safely manage used electronics. Once certified, the recycler is held to the particular standard by continual oversight by the independent accredited certifying body. A certification accreditation board accredits certifying bodies and oversees certifying bodies to ensure that they meet specific responsibilities and are competent to audit and provide certification. EPA supports and will continue to push for continuous improvement of electronics recycling practices and standards.[45] e-Cycle, LLC: e-Cycle, LLC is the first mobile buyback and recycling company in the world to bee-Stewards, R2 and ISO 14001 certified. They work with the largest organizations in the world, including 16 of the Fortune 20 and 356 of the Fortune 500, to raise awareness on the global e-waste crisis.[46] Best Buy: Best Buy accepts electronic items for recycling, even if they were not purchased at Best Buy. For a full list of acceptable items and locations, visit Best Buys Recycling information page.[47] Staples: Staples also accepts electronic items for recycling at no additional cost. They also accept ink and printer toner cartridges. For a full list of acceptable items and locations, visit the Staples Recycling information page.[48] In the US, theConsumer Electronics Association(CEA) urges consumers to dispose properly of end-of-life electronics through its recycling locator at www.GreenerGadgets.org. This list only includes manufacturer and retailer programs that use the strictest standards and third-party certified recycling locations, to provide consumers assurance that their products will be recycled safely and responsibly. CEA research has found that 58 percent of consumers know where to take their end-of-life electronics, and the electronics industry would very much like to see that level of awareness increase. Consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers sponsor or operate more than 5,000 recycling locations nationwide and have vowed to recycle one billion pounds annually by 2016,[49]a sharp increase from 300 million pounds industry recycled in 2010. The Sustainable Materials Management Electronic Challenge was created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Participants of the Challenge are manufacturers of electronics and electronic retailers. These companies collect end-of-life (EOL) electronics at various locations and send them to a certified, third-party recycler. Program participants are then able publicly promote and report 100% responsible recycling for their companies.[50] AddressTheMess.com is aComedy Centralpro-social campaign that seeks to increase awareness of the dangers of electronic waste and to encourage recycling. Partners in the effort include Earth911.com, ECOInternational.com, and theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Many Comedy Central viewers are early adopters of new electronics, and produce a commensurate amount of waste that can be directed towards recycling efforts. The station is also taking steps to reduce its own environmental impact, in partnership with NativeEnergy.com, a company that specializes inrenewable energyandcarbon offsets. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition[51]is a campaign aimed at protecting human health and limiting environmental effects where electronics are being produced, used, and discarded. The ETBC aims to place responsibility for disposal of technology products on electronic manufacturers and brand owners, primarily through community promotions and legal enforcement initiatives. It provides recommendations for consumer recycling and a list of recyclers judged environmentally responsible.[52] The Certified Electronics Recycler program[53]for electronic recyclers is a comprehensive, integrated management system standard that incorporates key operational and continual improvement elements for quality, environmental and health and safety (QEH&S) performance. The grassrootsSilicon Valley Toxics Coalition(svtc.org) focuses on promoting human health and addresses environmental justice problems resulting from toxins in technologies. Basel Action Network(BAN.org) is uniquely focused on addressing global environmental injustices as a result of the global toxic trade. It works for human rights and the environment by preventing disproportionate dumping of hazardous waste on developing countries, on a large scale. Today, BAN is not only the leading global source of information and advocacy on toxic trade and international hazardous waste treaties, but it has also developed market-based solutions that rely on the highest standards for globally responsible recycling and rigorous accredited and independent certification to those standards. Texas Campaign for the Environment(texasenvironment.org) works to build grassroots support for e-waste recycling and uses community organizing to pressure electronics manufacturers and elected officials to enact producer takeback recycling policies and commit to responsible recycling programs. The World Reuse, Repair, and Recycling Association (wr3a.org) is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of exported electronics, encouraging better recycling standards in importing countries, and improving practices through "Fair Trade" principles. Take Back My TV[54]is a project of The Electronics TakeBack Coalition and grades television manufacturers to find out which are responsible and which are not. The e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA)[55]has been instrumental in building a network of e-waste recyclers and refurbishers in the country. It continues to drive the sustainable, environmentally sound management of all e-waste in South Africa. E-Cycling Central is a website from the Electronic Industry Alliance which allows you to search for electronic recycling programs in your state. It lists different recyclers by state to find reuse, recycle, or find donation programs across the country.[56] Ewaste.guide.info is a Switzerland-based website dedicated to improving the e-waste situation in developing and transitioning countries. The site contains news, events, case studies, and more.[57] StEP: Solving the E-Waste Problem This website of StEP, an initiative founded by various UN organizations to develop strategies to solve the e-waste problem, follows its activities and programs.[42][58]Processing techniques[edit]

Recyclingthe lead from batteries.In many developed countries, electronic waste processing usually first involves dismantling the equipment into various parts (metal frames, power supplies, circuit boards, plastics), often by hand, but increasingly by automated shredding equipment. A typical example is the NADIN electronic waste processing plant inNovi Iskar,Bulgariathe largest facility of its kind inEastern Europe.[59][60]The advantages of this process are the human's ability to recognize and save working and repairable parts, including chips, transistors, RAM, etc. The disadvantage is that the labor is cheapest in countries with the lowest health and safety standards.In an alternative bulk system,[61]a hopper conveys material for shredding into an unsophisticated mechanical separator, with screening and granulating machines to separate constituent metal and plastic fractions, which are sold tosmeltersor plastics recyclers. Such recycling machinery is enclosed and employs adust collection system. Some of the emissions are caught by scrubbers and screens. Magnets,eddy currents, andtrommel screensare employed to separate glass, plastic, andferrousand nonferrous metals, which can then be further separated at asmelter.Leaded glass from CRTs is reused in car batteries, ammunition, and lead wheel weights,[26]or sold to foundries as afluxing agentin processing rawlead ore. Copper, gold, palladium, silver and tin are valuable metals sold tosmeltersfor recycling. Hazardous smoke and gases are captured, contained and treated to mitigate environmental threat. These methods allow for safe reclamation of all valuable computer construction materials.[18]Hewlett-Packard product recycling solutions manager Renee St. Denis describes its process as: "We move them through giant shredders about 30 feet tall and it shreds everything into pieces about the size of a quarter. Once your disk drive is shredded into pieces about this big, it's hard to get the data off".[62]An ideal electronic waste recycling plant combines dismantling for component recovery with increased cost-effective processing of bulk electronic waste.Reuse is an alternative option to recycling because it extends the lifespan of a device. Devices still need eventual recycling, but by allowing others to purchase used electronics, recycling can be postponed and value gained from device use.Benefits of recycling[edit]Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products.[63]Benefits of recycling are extended when responsible recycling methods are used. In the U.S., responsible recycling aims to minimize the dangers to human health and the environment that disposed and dismantled electronics can create. Responsible recycling ensures best management practices of the electronics being recycled, worker health and safety, and consideration for the environment locally and abroad.[64]Disposing of e-wasteComputer parts can become hazardous landfill clutter if disposed of improperly. Here is how to reuse or recycle computers.By:Networx.comThu, Aug 05, 2010 at 11:53 AM0Facebook18Twitter13Pinterest0Google+

E-WASTE: West Hollywood recycling collection. (Photo: Joshua Barash forCity of West Hollywood/Flickr)Computers have become indispensable and were once virtually un-disposable. Most computers contain rare metals and specialized chemicals that are difficult to recycle. Thankfully, a growing number of programs are available for recycling various types of environmentally hazardous electronic waste, and for extending the life of used computer components.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 1.84 million tons of TVs, computers and cell phones were dumped in 2007, compared to 400,000 tons of recycled electronics. Add your computer to the recycled tally.Here are some ways to recycle used computer parts, as well as ways to make sustainable computer choices and reuse outdated gadgets.Choose the right productsReducing concerns regarding used computers starts with seeking out the least toxic new computers. Acer and Apple promise to eliminate vinyl plastic (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from all their computers by the end of 2009. Cutting out these toxic chemicals will make them more eco-friendly and easier to recycle. HP, Lenovo and Dell promised to eliminate the same toxic chemicals, but have not set a deadline. Greenpeace closely tracks the sustainability of all major electronics companies, publishingcomparative reportsat least once a year.New life for an old computerNo matter what type of computer you buy, consider finding a new home for the computer or its individual parts once you are no longer using it. Schools and nonprofit groups don't care if the hard drive is slow or the operating system is obsolete.First, whether recycling a computer or donating it for reuse, be sure to erase all personal information and data. Several options are available for each operating system. Here isa good CNET videothat explains the reasons and the process for wiping the hard drive.Most Goodwill stores offer free electronics dropoffs. Goodwill works with Dell Computers to revive dead computers and get them into schools or community centers. Other organizations, includingClose the GapandWorld Computer Exchange, collect computers and send them to needy youth in developing countries.Computer recyclingIf computer parts are truly dead and unusable, don't just put them in the trash or the recycling bin. E-waste disposal is more specialized, but recycling programs are available in many communities. Earth 911 has aZIP code search functionto help you find recycling programs in your area. The EPA also hasa list of manufacturers' programsfor taking back and recycling their used products.Computer parts can become toxic e-waste in a landfill, but there are plenty of alternatives. Consider donating old computers for reuse, and recycling machines that are completely dead. Also look for eco-friendly options when buying a replacement computer.

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How to Safely Get Rid of an Old Computer 554,192 views 77 Editors Edited9 weeks agoThree Methods:Reusing Your ComputerSelling or Giving Your Computer AwayDisposing of Your Old ComputerComputers pose several unique challenges when the time comes for their disposal. Like many electronics, computers contain heavy metals that can become environmental hazards when disposed of improperly. Additionally, computers often contain a wealth of personal information in the form of passwords, account numbers, and the like that no user wants to fall into the wrong hands. Luckily, there are several easy methods that allow you to shed that space-wasting old computer without harming the environment or exposing yourself to the possibility of fraud.StepsThings to do Before Disposing of Your Computer1. 1Back up important personal data.Once your computer is gone, it's (most likely) gone forever, so be sure that you've made copies of any and all files on the computer that you'll need in the future. Be conservative - it's always better to back uptoo muchinformation thantoo little.. You may use a USB stick or an external hard drive to store your important information - both of these are available at electronics stores. Additionally, a storage method that's become available in the last few years is the use of cloud drives, which can be free to casual users with the registration of an account.Ad 2Permanently remove all personal datafrom the computer. Once your important information has been backed up, it's wise to delete it from the computer so that future users or identity thieves can't access it. Deleting data by putting it in the recycle bin or your computer's equivalent can actually leave it on your hard drive in a form that's possible for savvy individuals to recover. This means that, usually, rendering your computer completely free of personal information requiresformatting its hard drive.. Formatting a hard drive is irreversible and will essential make your computer a "blank slate" - free of not just your personal data but of basicallyalldata - so make absolutely sure you're done with your computer before doing this. 3Choose an option for disposal.There's no one "right way" to get rid of an old computer - depending on how well it works and your own computing needs, you may choose to re-purpose the computer for another use, sell it or give it away so that someone else can use it, or allow it to be recycled and/or disposed of in an environmentally safe way.. You may also wish to physically remove certain parts of the computer, like the hard drive or video card, so that you can use them in the future, but only remove parts from the inside of your computer if you're confident you can do so safely or you have access to experienced help. 4If reusing, selling, or giving away your computer, clean it.If you don't believe your computer has reached the end of its life, take this opportunity to give it a fresh start by thoroughly cleaning it. Wipe the exterior and the screen with a slightly damp (not wet) rag or mild chemical wipe. Be sure to pay attention to the gaps in between keys on the keyboard, which can becomedisgustingwith long-term use. Use a Q-tip to clean these hard-to-reach spaces. For a deep clean, open the computer's inner compartment and use compressed air to remove dust.Method 1 of 3: Reusing Your Computer1. 1Use your computer as a small file server.One new use for your old computer is as a file server for your home or work place. Basically, your reconfigured computer will act as shared storage for the other computers in your home. This option is a great idea for homes with several computers that all need to access the same data. It's also great in terms of energy efficiency, because, since the computer is acting solely as storage space, you won't need to use its monitor, keyboard, or speakers.. Several free open-source programs exist that allow you to convert your old computer into a server. One example of such a program is FreeNAS. These programs are available for download from the internet.. For extra storage space, you may want toinstall an extra hard drive or two.. You may also want to install a basic, streamlined operating system (such as Ubuntu) on your file server. 2Keep your computer as a backup.An option related to the one above is to use your computer not as storage space for new files, but, rather, as a backup for your new computer. In other words, keep it around so that you'll have a functional replacement for your new computer if it should break or suffer an error. If you choose to do this, you will not even need to remove your personal data from the computer - you can just disconnect it and leave it in the closet until it's needed. 3Consider installing a lightweight OS likeLinux.Another method for getting some use out of an old computer is to install an operating system with exceptionally low system requirements. This allows you to continue using the computer for certain minor purposes - basic word processing, web browsing, simple games, etc. Linux is a free, popular, no-frills operating system with many different variants are often used for this purpose. For example, a Linux system called Puppy Linux is a variety of Linux that has especially low system requirements. 4Use your old computer as a router. Depending on the wireless capabilities of your old machine, you may be able to re-purpose it as a wireless router so that you're able to enjoy internet on your smartphone, tablet, or another computer. Many computers have the ability to act as the broadcasting hub for a wireless network. If yours does, be sure that afirewallis installed for security purposes before using your computer as a router.Method 2 of 3: Selling or Giving Your Computer Away1. 1Attempt tosell it.All that you need to make a posting on an online auction site like eBay are the technical specification of your computer and a few pictures for good measure. You may be surprised to discover that people out there are actually willing to pay money for relatively old machines. For instance, certain types of hardware from the 80's and early 90's may be considered "vintage" and thus fetch a reasonable price from collectors.. If your computer is so old as to be rare or remarkable, you may actually be able to sell (or donate) it to a computer museum where it will be preserved for its role in history.. Also be open to the possibility of selling your computer's parts, rather than the entire machine. If some of your computer's components are higher-quality than others (i.e: after-market video cards, memory, etc.), it may be well worth the effort to remove and sell them separately. 2Give your computer to a friend.Before you throw your computer out, ask around to see if any of your friends are looking for an older computer. Tech-savvy people sometimes reconfigure old computers for use as file servers or e-mail stations. They may also be able to scrap your computer for parts, taking what they need and properly disposing of the rest. 3Give your computer to someone with minimal computing requirements.Your old computer may be insufficient for your purposes, but, to someone who's not used to modern computers, it may seem borderline-miraculous. Consider giving your computer to an elderly user like a parent or grandparent. Old, slow computers are perfect for the types of basic tasks that elderly relatives are likely to be interested in. When you have time, try teaching him or her how to use e-mail and surf the web - you'll be doing him or her a favor and ensuring that your old computer isn't going to waste. 4Contact a school, non-profit, or philanthropic organization.Many organizations that exist primarily for the public good have programs to make use of older computers. Contact a local school, church, youth organization, non-profit, or charity and ask if they're willing to find a use for your old computer. There are a wide variety of charitable uses for computers. For instance, some charities will recycle or refurbish computers, then give them to the poor, while others charities will send the computers to schools in undeveloped areas of the world.. As an added bonus, you will sometimes be eligible to receive a receipt of your donation for a tax deduction. 5Give it to a willing stranger.When all else fails, giving a functional computer to a complete stranger is still better than putting it in a landfill. You might try putting a sign on your computer saying something along the lines of "Free old computer - good for parts or case," and leaving it by the curb on a dry afternoon. Or, you might try making the same offer on an online classifieds site like Craigslist. Finally, you can try taking it to a local swap-meet or flea market and fetching whatever price you can for it.. Be extra careful when giving your computer to a stranger, as you have no way of knowing whether they have malicious intentions or not. Be absolutely sure that any personal information has been removed from the computer before giving it away.Method 3 of 3: Disposing of Your Old Computer1. 1Contact the manufacturer.Today, most computer manufacturers offer some sort of end-of-life disposal service for their products. If you're unable to find someone to take your computer off your hands or your computer is in a non-functional condition, consider contacting the manufacturer for safe disposal options.. However, note that not all manufacturers behave equally ethically when disposing of old computers. Some ship computer waste to landfills in the developing world, where it becomes an environmental and health hazard for the local community. Before handing your computer over to your manufacturer, try to research it's ethical record with regards to computer recycling and disposal. 2Trade your computer in when you buy a new one.Some companies, such as Dell and HP, now offer to recycle your old computer for free when you buy a new one from them. If you have yet to buy your new computer and you're interested in purchasing from the same company as before, consider this option, as it allows you to leave the process of finding a responsible means of disposal to the experts while (possibly) receiving a discount on your new computer. 3Use a computer recycling or disposal firm.Today, many independent companies exist for the purpose of processing, recycling, and disposing of computer waste. Some are philanthropic organizations, some are non-profits, and some are for-profit. Search for local companies in your area - you may be able to dispose of your computer for free or may need to pay a disposal fee, depending on which types of services are available.. However, note that, like computer manufacturers, some e-waste recycling and disposal companies have less-than-stellar business practices. Be a responsible consumer by researching the companies you choose for your disposal needs. Make sure your computer will not end up in a landfill in China before handing it over. 4Salvage any usable parts before disposal.Before disposing of your computer, consider whether you have any uses for the case, accessories, or any internal components. For instance, if disposing of several computers of the same model, you might consider using the cases as oversize building blocks for a makeshift bookcase or wall of cubbyholes.AdReaders are asking for your help!Can you tell us aboutpest control?Yes I canCan you tell us aboute-commerce?Yes I canCan you tell us aboutpiercings?Yes I canCan you tell us aboutbody manipulation?Yes I canTips Do any of the above steps, but just don't throw that computer into the trash. Computers are not biodegradable, and your contribution of an unwanted PC will seriously damage the environment.AdWarnings Sensitive personal information can remain on your computereven after deleting it!Because of the way digital data is organized on hard drives, any data you delete isn't actually gone until it gets overwritten, sometimes multiple times. Before you get rid of your computer, either remove the hard drive and mount it in a case to use as a spare external, wipe the drive yourself using software made for that purpose, or destroy the hard drive. In order to wipe the data yourself, download software that permanently deletes and overrides your data. A good example of this is Darik's Boot & Nuke, although there are others that will do the job just as well. This tool will erase your data with multiple passes via a bootable CD to make sure it cannot be recovered. Just make sure you've backed up your data before running this program, because there's no going back from here!http://www.dban.org/ If you really want to be sure the data on the hard drive is safe, whack the platters with a hammer so they cannot be spun. It can be a fun way of releasing some excess aggression, too! Note: the screws are usually Torx screws, which require a special tool to remove. If you want to be really,reallysure your data is safe, you can send your hard drive to a company that can either wipe it for you or shred it. And no, "shred it" isn't some fancy hacker buzzword; they literally feed it into what amounts to a mega-wood-chipper. While we're talking about data, don't forget to remove any other storage devices such as CDs, DVDs, SD cards, and USB flash drives. If you choose to recycle your obsolete computer because it is faulty or beyond re-use, check with your nominated recycling company to ensure that they physically recycle the equipment themselves and that in doing so, your equipment will not be exported to another continent as a working unit. This way, you will not be adding to the mountains of waste that have been exported to other continents for unethical recycling.Related wikiHows

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Sources and Citations US resources: Chicago Computers for Schools Alameda County, California Computer Resource Center California IWMB Recycler Locator California Computer Recycling Center Oregan FreeGeek Recycle a PC Computer Recycling for Houston, TX Worldwide resources: Old Computer Museum World Computer Exchange Metareciclagem - BrasilArticle InfoFeatured ArticleCategories:Featured Articles|Reduce Recycle and ReuseRecent edits by: WikiHow Intern, Colecrane, Joe ForteIn other languages:Deutsch:Einen alten Computer sicher entsorgen,Espaol:Cmo deshacerte de una computadora sin peligro,Italiano:Come Sbarazzarsi di un Vecchio Computer in Modo Sicuro,Portugus:Como Se Livrar de um Computador Antigo de Forma Segura,:

Where Do Computers Go When They Die?By CAREY GOLDBERGf Americans treated dead people the way they treat dead computers, their basements and closets would be cluttered with family corpses. Under many a desk, there would be a cadaver crammed into the arch meant for knees. Whole warehouses and offices would function as ad hoc mausoleums.RELATED ARTICLESIn the Beginning, There Was Kaypro(Requires Flash plug-in fromMacromedia)If You Can Bring Yourself to Part With It. . .10 Uses for a Dead Computer1. Fish tank.But its a lot of work to make it waterproof.2. Litter box.If your kitty isnt too picky.3. Decoration.Chips and circuit boards can be made into earrings and clipboards.4. Gold mine.Many 60s units used a fair amount of gold.5. Furniture.Use it as doorstop or high-tech hassock.6. Reincarnation.Use it to play old games or upgrade it to use as a backup device or personal Web server.7. Planet saver.Recycle it and feel noble.8. Source of cash.But not much. Sell it to a secondhand-computer shop.9. Gift.If its still breathing, donate it to a good cause or give it to a friend or relative.10. Boat anchor.The New York Times

And only the diligent few, whether out of conscience or lack of space, would dispose of the departed properly. The rest, unable to let go or to find a proper resting place, would offer excuses like, "He cost me so much money in life. I can't accept that he's worthless now!" and, "She was a formative influence in my youth. How can I dump her?"Of course, it makes about as much sense to do nothing with antiquated computers as it did for the eccentric family in John Irving's "Hotel New Hampshire" to stuff their dead little dog and keep him around the house long after his barking and fetching days were past.Yet researchers believe that roughly 14 million to 20 million computers are retired each year in this country, and of those, a 1995 Tufts University thesis estimated, nearly 75 percent are simply stockpiled, taking their place on obscure shelves, under Ping-Pong tables, in unused offices, in hallways.Only 10 percent to 15 percent of them will be re-used or recycled, studies indicated, and 15 percent end up in landfills.True, those numbers are changing, say many involved in the burgeoning businesses of giving old computers new life. In the last few years, thousands of computer reselling and recycling outfits have cropped up around the country, a recent Rand Corp. report said.And the stream those resellers and recyclers depend on -- of functional but dull-edged castoffs -- has swollen as the typical active life span of a new computer in its original work setting has shrunk to as little as two or three years.The companies that funnel older computers to schools and to the technologically needy have been multiplying and are becoming an increasingly national phenomenon, spurred by new tax incentives and the sheer volume of discards.Whole directories on the Internet list groups that take old computers. One of the largest such funnelers, the Detwiler Foundation, based in San Diego, has already placed 37,000 computers in California schools and is branching out into at least nine other states. The federal government is running a program, Computers for Learning, to place hundreds of thousands of old government computers in schools."When you're flushing a million computers out every year, they disappear like ink into blotting paper," said Clive Smith, chief executive officer of New Deal, a Cambridge, Mass., company specializing in software that lets older computers act like newer ones. "When you're flushing 10 million a year, the market mechanisms have to emerge to deal with it."And emerging they are. But the juiciest mystery inherent in "closetware," as some call the squirreled-away old computers, is why it has taken so long, and why, even now, so few older computers are promptly resold or donated.Credit: Keith Meyers / The New York TimesComputers await meltdown.

Certainly, those in the business say, owners' emotional attachment to old computers plays a role. At the East West Education Development Foundation, a Boston nonprofit company that refurbishes and supplies old computers to good causes, the president, Stephen Farrell, said that for donors who bring in their obsolete machines, "it's like bringing your dog to be euthanized -- it's really hard to part with."Brigitte Jordan, a corporate anthropologist and principal scientist at Xerox's research center in Palo Alto, Calif., speculated that owners' attachments to their computers went beyond even the powerful attachments they can form to their cars, in part because computers are so much more interactive and in part because the machines can become repositories of parts of their owners' lives.Of her own first computer, Ms. Jordan said: "It had not only my work on it but my poems and stories on it. It had on it a sort of snapshot of my life at that time, and when I got a new machine, not all of that got transferred. Somehow, in the transition from one machine to another, some piece of my life got lost. It's like losing a photo album."Personal attachments to personal computers are one thing; professional ones are another. Love of machine can be so great that operators of early computers, like the room-size Univac, have been known to take them home when they were decommissioned, said Oliver Strimpel, director of the Computer Museum in Boston.At the museum's Silicon Valley historical collection in Mountain View, Calif., he said, "I've seen people hugging disk drives and computers like long-lost friends they've spent big parts of their lives with."Also seemingly at work in owners' clinging to their computers is a certain inability to accept the harsh economic reality of computer depreciation -- the fact that a machine that cost $3,000 just four years ago is now worth less than $100.In 1991, H. Scott Matthews, then an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, helped produce a study that predicted that by 2005, 150 million computers would be cluttering the country's landfills. Last year, Matthews returned to the much-quoted study, re-evaluated its predictions based on updated figures and lowered that projection, to 55 million.He and his co-authors cited the "second life" given computers by newly established markets for recycled electronic goods as a central reason for the revised estimate. But the biggest reason for the change, he said, was something else: "I think the fundamental behavioral issue we did not consider in the first paper, that we do now, is that people don't want to throw away anything that they think has value. If you have something you paid a couple of thousand of dollars for, you're going to have a hard time throwing it away, even if you don't use it anymore."Especially if it still works fine. But aren't Americans supposed to be experts at throwing things away?Credit: Ed Quinn for The New York TimesScott Cole of Boston with old mice.

"This is the opposite of the disposable society," said Matthews, now a doctoral candidate in economics at Carnegie Mellon's Green Design Initiative. "This is the attic society."Robert Dangelmeyer, a service manager for the Digital Equipment Corp., said that according to four computer-price databases he had examined, computers tended to lose 80 percent of their market value in the first year after purchase. Then their worth levels out for a year or so, he said, before plunging practically to zero.That hurts both individuals and institutions or businesses. In 1993, said Kenneth D. Campbell, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the university bought a supercomputer for its Laboratory for Computer Science that at that point was the 17th-most-powerful computer in the world. It cost $3.8 million.When the computer, the CM5, was shut down four years later, still the 497th-most-powerful computer in the world, he said, the best offer the university could get for it was $750. It decided to donate it to the Computer Museum instead.Museums and collectors, however, generally seek only rare and historically valuable computers. Strimpel, of the Computer Museum, said that any machine produced before 1960 was generally worth preserving; some from the 1960s, like the IBM System 360 series, are and some aren't. From TRS-80s on up, there is usually little collecting interest in garden-variety computers.That means most of the tens of millions of computers in America that have been retired from their primary functions have no obvious monetary value.Some creative types come up with novel uses for their old machines. Clifford Stoll, a notoriously skeptical computer commentator, turned his Mac Plus into a Macquarium, using plans posted on the Internet, and used a gutted 286 computer as a cat litter box for a couple of years."It was flat, squat, pancake-shaped -- it worked well," Stoll said. "But it got too stinky after a while, and it was cheaper to toss it out than clean it. A 286 computer costs about the same as a kitty-litter box anyway -- about $5. My cats liked it, though."Whimsy aside, there do seem to be sensible answers to the riddle of what to do with an obsolete computer, economists and computer professionals say.Credit: Keith Meyers / The New York TimesComputers stockpiled for reuse.

One answer for individual users decommissioning computers -- and for businesses -- is that whatever owners do, they should do quickly, said Dangelmeyer, of Digital, who has often encountered hallways full of computers at companies he has serviced."My perspective is, if it's in the hallway, you've already made a mistake," he said. "If it's in the hallway, now what do you do? People are ripping off memory boards, saying, this is junk, and I need an extra keyboard or a new mouse -- so all of a sudden, it's not a working system anymore; it's been cannibalized."So now you need labor at between $40 and $230 an hour for a skilled technician just to get them back in working order, and they're only worth $100 -- so you turned something worth something into a liability," he said. And there is the issue of further potential liability from sending a lot of computers, including lead-containing monitors, to the dump.Rather, Dangelmeyer recommended, computer buyers should pack up their old computers in the boxes that come from the new ones and have a technician certify that they are in good working order. Then they can either be sold to used-computer dealers or recyclers or given to an organization like East West.Only a handful of areas around the country -- including Somerville, Mass., and Hennepin County, Minn., home to Minneapolis -- have special recycling programs for computers, said Dawn Amore, senior program leader at the National Safety Council's Environmental Health Center, which has a program to foster computer re-use and recycling.But more are exploring the idea, she said, and computer manufacturers, too, are exploring ways to design computers so they are easier to re-use and recycle. Many also accept their old computers back from buyers for recycling, notably IBM, which also has a program in environmentally friendly design.But economically, recycling is still of limited appeal."There's no economic incentive to empty out the closet," said Joe Pucciarelli, research director for the Gartner Group. "Computers sell for 3 1/2 cents a pound for mixed electronics, and it costs more money to drive it to the recycler than it's worth."Indeed, at the Electronic Product Recovery and Recycling Conference last year, run by the National Safety Council, participants noted that a typical 386-based computer had a resale value of $10 to $20, a component value of $5 and a zero net value for plastics and glass.But there can still be life in them there silicon-based bones, and good-deed points for those who pass them on.Smith, of New Deal, offered this simple arithmetic: There are fewer than 7 million computers in American schools for a total of 51 million students. Analysts say there are 33 million older 286 and 386 computers around, not to mention millions of 486s that many people are now discarding in favor of Pentium machines.If most people donated their older computers -- and schools could be convinced that with souped-up, point-and-click software, they were more than adequate for teaching computer literacy, Internet browsing and school subjects -- the United States could approach a one-to-one student-computer ratio much faster, he said."And there are 14 million kids in 8 million households below the poverty line," Smith said. "Do you think they're going to get a trickle-down Pentium any time soon?"After Dump, What Happens To Electronic Waste?December 21, 201012:28 PM ETNPR STAFFListen to the StoryFresh Air36 min 20 sec Playlist Download TranscriptiIn this file photo from 2001, a migrant child sits atop a pile of unrecyclable computer waste imported to Guiya, China, from other countries.Basal Action NetworkWeb ResourcesBasel Action NetworkA Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in GhanaMany people will receive a new computer or cell phone this holiday season and throw out their old equipment. And when old TVs and computers end up in landfills, the toxic metals and flame retardants they contain can cause environmental problems.Yet even recycling your e-waste, as it's called, does not always mean you're doing the right thing."The dirty little secret is that when you take [your electronic waste] to a recycler, instead of throwing it in a trashcan, about 80 percent of that material, very quickly, finds itself on a container ship going to a country like China, Nigeria, India, Vietnam, Pakistan where very dirty things happen to it," says Jim Puckett, the executive director of the Basel Action Network, which works to keep toxic waste out of the environment.Recyclers can make money from selling scavenged metal from electronic equipment, says Puckett, but the process to retrieve usable metals is typically extremely toxic. Workers who remove the metals often have no protective equipment and breathe in high levels of toxic chemicals, which are then released into the atmosphere. And most of the countries where the processing takes place China, India, Ghana, Pakistan do not have regulations in place to protect workers or prevent the primitive recycling operations.iJim Puckett is the executive director of the Basal Action Network, which monitors electronic waste around the globe.Basal Action NetworkRelated NPR Stories

All Tech ConsideredHow To Erase Old Hard Drives Without A Drill BitE-Waste Law: Manufacturers Pay For RecyclingFeb. 2, 2009E-Cycling: Where Cell Phones Go to DieFeb. 11, 2008Environmentalists Teach Dos and Don'ts of E-WasteJan. 10, 2008Puckett describes a trip he took, to Guiya, China, in December 2001 as a "cyber-age nightmare.""It's the only part of the world where you'll go and see thousands of women on any given day that are sitting ... basically cooking printed circuit boards," he says. "As a result, they're breathing all of the brominated flame retardants and the lead and tin that are being heated up. You smell it in the air. You get headaches as soon as you enter this area. It really is quite sad."