Recycling Computers
Recycling computers for the purpose to be reused by another consumer could enable great opportunities, save the landfills, save resources, and reduce the impact on environment. The responsible party for recycling a computer is the consumer. Many states already have laws in place that require recycling of computers, (Laws, 2007) most recyclers donate a required number of refurbished computers to schools, nonprofits and low-income families, (Community MAR Americas Program, n.d.).
When a personal computer out lives its usefulness and needs to be replaced and/or discarded the consumer will have to decide to either donate, trade in or throw away the old computer. Which will be the best choice for the consumer? By taking the environmental responsibility and ownership, one cannot just dispose a computer by placing into the trash for the local trash company to pick up. The landfills within the United States are processing more e-waste with the regular trash due to consumer lack of responsibility and this can produce hazardous materials to leach out that runs onto the soil potentially contaminating surrounding properties, watersheds, streams and other water systems, (The Problem With Electronics Most E-Waste is Trashed, Not Recycled, n.d.). In 2003, California adopted a state law that regulates electronic waste recycling; it is now illegal to improperly dispose of a computer (Laws, 2007). As an emerging trend twenty states in the United States have adopted similar legislation regarding e-waste that will allow recyclers to reuse computers by giving to schools, nonprofits, and low-income families. Many older computers that cannot be repaired can be reused for education for reaching in High Schools and community programs, which are in calamitous need for these kinds’ donations of computers. A great website that can help in finding a school or nonprofit organization to donate to is, My Green Electronics, on the reuse page a number of listing can put an...