E-cycling

by Eric Hancsak
August 15, 2005

As our need for the coolest, hippest, fastest electronic gizmos increases, so does the pile of "outdated" ones waiting the be discarded. It's estimated that Americans throw away over 100 million cell phones, computers and other electronic devises each year. Of those, only a fraction get reused, reconditioned or recycled. A vast majority sit in landfills or are incinerated.

Why is this a problem?

Most cell phones and computers contain metals like lead and coltan as well as chemicals such as mercury and cadmium. For example, your CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitor or tv set may contain up 8 pound of lead! These metals and chemicals, even in trace amounts, have been found to cause a myriad of health problems in children and adults. While there is certainly no risk, that we know of, of direct contact with a functioning computer or cell phone, these toxic metals and chemicals can and do penetrate the water supply by being incinerated out of the device and into the air or by leaching out while sitting broken in a landfill. Not to mention the fact that the mines that dig for these metals are the biggest industrial polluters in the country, according to the EPA.

Thankfully, we are starting to recognize these dangers and are getting smart when it comes to the disposal of old electronics. Sources have begun popping up that allow conscientious consumers to discard their "e-waste" properly. For instance, Staples office supply stores offer cell phone recycling programs. Many of their stores have drop-boxes near the front counter. If you don't have a Staples in you area that participates in the program, look online; http://www.collectivegood.com and http://www.wirelessrecycling.com both provide simple directions on recycling your phone. Feeling more ambitious? Start your own recycling program. Both sites tell you how.

When it comes to recycling computers, things can get a bit more complicated. Not only are there potential environmental hazards, there is the concern of exposure of personal data, old files, emails, address books, bank receipts, passwords, etc etc. Unless your hard drive is properly "wiped clean" you could be at risk. It is highly recommended that if you are considering donating your computer, you erase your hard drive.

If you want to get rid of that old grey box, first, make sure you backup. Then, erase all important files from the hard drive. Don't know how? There are plenty of online sources to tell you how. Here are a couple:

For Windows:
http://www.mcgill.ca/ics/best/erase/windows/

For Mac:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107437

Once your computer is clean consider donating it to a loved one or a neighbor. Or, donate it to a local school or university. If they can't use the entire machine, their IT department may be able to use it for parts.

If you would rather recycle than donate, contact your computer's manufacturer. It may cost you a few dollars to recycle, but if they are like Dell, chances are they have a program started that makes it relatively easy. Click here to learn about Dell's donation and recycling programs.

When you are ready to dispose of that old device, consider donation or recycling. There are plenty of services available to help you do it the RIGHT way.