Reusing and Recycling Electronics:

Reusing and Recycling Electronics:

Being Born Again in the

Information Technology Industry

Business Technologies

Individual Research Assignment

Mary Melka

Televisions, computers, wireless phones, copiers, fax machines, telephones, and VCRs, are just some of the electronics that have become a central part of our everyday lives. Technology has continued to advance the functionality of these products. It has also shortened their lifecycles. Electronic products quickly become obsolete when new and improved equipment and software hit the store shelves. As a result, tons of electronic waste (e-waste) is produced each year.

Between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500 million personal computers will become obsolete - almost two computers for each person in the United States (http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/electronics/). Some studies predict that a large number of televisions will be disposed of when high definition television becomes widely available. Many used televisions, monitors, printers, and other types of electronic equipment are being stored in attics, basements, and warehouses. Do you have any obsolete electronics “stored” in your home or business? Consumers keep these products because they believe that they may still be valuable someday. More often they are simply unsure of how to dispose of them properly. Unfortunately, the longer electronic equipment remains in storage, the less useful it becomes.

As a consumer or a business owner, the question is what to do with used electronic equipment that no longer meets your needs and has little value to your organization.

The purpose of this paper is to encourage you to find ways to reuse or recycle used electronic equipment. Doing so will help others, help the environment, and is your corporate responsibility.

Computers are a complicated assembly of more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic, such as chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic metals, photo-active and biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic additives (http://www.electronicsrecycling.org/). In Appendix A, the reader will find the composition of a typical desktop personal computer. As you can see from this table, the main components of PC’s are plastics (23% of total PC weight), Aluminum (14%), Iron (20%), Silica (25%), Copper (7%) and Lead (6%).

Computers include lead and cadmium in computer circuit boards, lead oxide and barium in computer monitors' cathode ray tubes, mercury in switches and flat screens, and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing.

E-waste is defined as used electronic equipment that no longer meets the consumer’s wants or needs. The equipment may be outdated, broken, or just not as innovative as newer products on the market. Electronic equipment and its hazardous components become a threat to the environment when they are not properly disposed. Most often, this equipment ends up in landfills. A sanitary landfill has been designed and engineered to accept municipal waste while ensuring minimal negative impact upon the environment. However, when equipment is disposed in landfills containing hazardous materials like lead, mercury, or chromium, these things leach into the ground water and pollute the air. These harmful affects of the environment by these landfills is disturbing.

This deterioration is preventable. There are better options. This paper will offer several good options to the reader for reuse and recycling by examining ten of the most popular resources known for their reuse and recycling efforts.

Reuse is the environmentally preferable option for managing older electronic equipment. Extending the life of old products minimizes the pollution and resource consumption associated with making new products. Reuse also gives people who cannot afford new products access to electronic equipment at reduced or no cost. Some states exempt electronic equipment intended for reuse from hazardous waste regulations which apply to transportation and handling.

The Environmental Protection Agency website located at http://www.epa.gov/ compiles a list of many nonprofit and charitable organizations that are able to accept working electronic equipment, particularly computers, and offer them to schools, community organizations, and needy individuals. Throughout the country, these organizations help match equipment donors with recipients, and provide computers, training services, and access to the Internet. The following is a list of 10 such organizations eager to accept electronic donations for reuse throughout the nation.

1. National Cristina Foundation

2. Gifts in Kind America

3. Usedcomputers.com

4. Educational Assistance, Ltd.

5. Goodwill Industries

6. Computers for Schools

7. Salvation Army

8. World Computer Exchange

9. National Safety Council

10. Armed Forces Recruiting Sites

The National Cristina Foundation (NCF) maintains a database of pre-screened charitable organizations that can use certain types of computer and other business equipment for training and educational purposes. When you contact NCF with equipment you want to donate, they will check their database to see who can use it. When they find a match, they will tell you where to ship the equipment.

Donors do have to pay shipping, but NCF is qualified with the IRS to give you special tax deductions for the equipment you donate. These tax deductions may total more than the cost of your equipment. NCF will attempt to place equipment that is up to 10 years old. Equipment older than that will generally be directed to recycling facilities.

NCF can accept large and small donations, down to a single piece of equipment from individuals or corporations.

NCF was founded by D. Bruce McMahan, Ph.D. and Yvette Marin, Ph.D. after Dr. McMahan donated a computer to his daughter Cristina's special education class (http://www.cristina.org/). Cristina, who has cerebral palsy, has motor and learning difficulties. The computer made such a difference to Cristina and other students in her class that Dr. McMahan and Dr. Marrin decided to bring this technology to the people who need it on a much wider scale (http://www.cristina.org/).

Gifts In Kind America (GIKA) is very similar to the National Cristina Foundation, except that GIKA accepts all types of commodities, and does not restrict itself to just computer and office equipment. It offers the same tax benefits, and can accept large and small quantities (http://www.giftsinkind.org/).

UsedComputer.com is an online marketplace specifically to buy and sell used computer equipment.

Educational Assistance Ltd. (EAL) only accepts donations of newer computers and excess inventory from corporations nationwide. Their priority is to exchange these goods for scholarships within a national network of accredited colleges and universities. All scholarships are designated for students with severe financial need. Founded in 1982, EAL is a tax exempt nonprofit organization that is qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions (http://www.ealworks.org/). There are no fees for EAL's services, and EAL coordinates the entire donation process. You can free warehouse space quickly and easily, and EAL provides a donation receipt for tax purposes. You get a single shipping address for your entire donation, EAL will follow your guidelines when determining where your donation will be placed, and scholarships can be awarded in your company name (http://www.ealworks.org/).

Goodwill Industries is one of the world's largest nonprofit providers of employment and training services for people with disabilities and other conditions such as welfare dependency, illiteracy, criminal history and homelessness.

To fund its programs, Goodwill collects donated clothing and household goods and then sells these items in more than 1,500 retail stores throughout North America and beyond (http://www.goodwill.org/). Goodwill also raises money by providing contract services to community-based businesses. Nearly 83% of revenues are channeled into job training/placement programs and other critical community services (http://www.goodwill.org/).

The Goodwill network extends to virtually every corner of the U.S. and Canada, with 187 autonomous member organizations in North America. It also has 54 international associate members in 37 countries (http://www.goodwill.org/).

In addition, Goodwill Industries of Southern California has established its Computer Recycling Services, which specializes in collecting, refurbishing, and selling used computer equipment. They can work with smaller companies, as well as organizations that are upgrading and need to get rid of larger quantities of older computers. So far, this is only offered in the Los Angeles area, but check with your local Goodwill to see how they can help you when you upgrade computer equipment.

Computers for Schools is a Chicago based non-profit organization that has affiliates in 34 states that refurbish donated Pentium PC's and late model Macintoshes and then distributes them to needy schools (http://www.pcsforschools.org/).

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/). This organization will accept many types of computer equipment in working condition.

World Computer Exchange (WCE) is a non-profit dedicated to helping the world's poorest youth bridge the disturbing global divides in information, technology and understanding (http://www.worldcomputerexchange.org/). WCE does this by keeping donated PC, Mac, and Laptop computers out of landfills and giving them new life connecting youth in developing countries to the Internet. The computers and networking gear connect schools in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to tech-savvy sister-schools for cultural exchanges to deepen understanding of technology and of their cultures and histories (http://www.worldcomputerexchange.org/).

The National Safety Council is also an excellent resource for how to donate, reuse, or recycle old computer equipment. The National Safety Council has assembled a good resource for finding out the best way donate, recycle, or re-use computer and electronic equipment that is no longer needed (http://www.nsc.ie/).

Armed Forced Recruiting centers may also be willing to accept donations of electronic equipment.

These and other nonprofit organizations may be able to provide documentation of your donation, so that it may be applied toward your federal income tax return. Large companies, in particular, can take advantage of the 21st Century Classrooms Act for Private Technology Investment. Under this legislation, corporations can deduct from the full purchase price of computers if the equipment is no more than two years old. Corporations can utilize annual depreciation deductions; in essence, companies can receive double tax benefits.

A second option is to sell the equipment to a scrap dealer/ recycler. There are several companies that will buy your old computer(s) for recycling. Type "computer recycling" into your favorite web search engine and you will find several companies that will buy your old computer in your area.

When electronic equipment is too old to be reused or is broken beyond repair, it can be sent to one of the many companies that specialize in disassembling electronics, salvaging parts, and selling reclaimed materials. Many types of electronic equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers, and scanners, contain materials suitable for reclamation and use in new products. These materials include plastic, glass, steel, aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and other metals.

Since electronics recycling operations typically require a mix of automated processing and manual labor, both of which have costs, there may be a charge associated with recycling your computer. Before choosing a recycler, check to make sure that the firm meets all applicable state and local regulatory requirements and that it properly manages the recovered materials. To find out more about the regulations that apply in your state, you should contact the environmental agency in your state. You should contact your state EPA office for to answer specific questions about transporting and recycling electronic equipment.

Some communities have ongoing programs to collect electronic equipment from their residents, while other communities sponsor collection events during the year. Depending on the collection, some communities will accept materials from both households and businesses. At electronicsrecycling.org, consumers can type in their zip code and locate the closest collection programs within miles of their home address (http://www.electronicsrecycling.org/). More information is available at your state’s EPA website. Here you will be able to find out if an electronics recycling collection event is scheduled in your community.

Your final option is proper disposal. Individuals may be able to dispose of old computers through local household hazardous waste collection programs. (This option is not open to businesses). Call your local waste hauler to find out if your local household hazardous waste collection center will take electronic equipment. As a business, your best option is to pursue the several reuse options already discussed in this paper, especially if you have large quantities of equipment needing proper disposal.

The intent was for you to gain an understanding of the importance of recycling electronic computer equipment. This paper offered factual information on the potential health and environmental impacts that can occur as a result of the components in this type of equipment. It also provided you with several excellent resources to pursue reuse opportunities, recycling opportunities and even proper disposal of your e-waste.

Appendix B is a glossary of environmental terms and definitions to further help you gain understanding of this ever growing environmental concern. Through education we can all prevent the destruction of the environment. Knowledge is the power to make a difference!

Appendices C and D located in this paper are pictorials of the status of landfills in the United States. Readers will be interested to note that Wisconsin has 5-10 years of remaining landfill capacity. Then what? Another good reason for all of us to begin utilizing the reuse and recycling resources available to reserve this landfill space.

Appendices E and F located in this paper are pictorials of the state recyling rates and the curbside programs in the United States. When examining this information, the reader will also begin to see the big picture. Recycling rates are low when considering the efforts for the entire state. Very few states are recycling over 40% or more of the potentials.

To conclude, I hope this project has given the reader some ideas on resources available for reuse and recycling of used electronics. I also hope we have reached understanding that these items must be disposed of properly. In order of preference for the environment always remember,

#1 first try to reuse.

#2 then try to recycle or reclaim.

#3 then dispose of properly.

Appendix A

COMPOSITION OF TYPICAL DESKTOP PERSONAL COMPUTER

Source: Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer based on a typical desktop computer, weighing ~60 lbs. Table presented in: Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996.

Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX: MCC.

Name	Content (% of total weight)	Weight of material in computer (lbs.)	Recycling Efficiency (current recyclability)	Use/Location
Plastics	22.9907	13.8	20%	structural, housing, PWB
Lead	6.2988	3.8	5%	metal joining, radiation shield/CRT, PWB
Aluminum	14.1723	8.5	80%	structural, conductivity/housing, CRT, PWB, connectors
Germanium	0.0016	< 0.1	0%	Semiconductor/PWB
Gallium	0.0013	< 0.1	0%	Semiconductor/PWB
Iron	20.4712	12.3	80%	structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Tin	1.0078	0.6	70%	metal joining/PWB, CRT
Copper	6.9287	4.2	90%	Conductivity/CRT, PWB, connectors
Barium	0.0315	< 0.1	0%	in vacuum tube/CRT
Nickel	0.8503	0.51	80%	structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Zinc	2.2046	1.32	60%	battery, phosphor emitter/PWB, CRT
Tantalum	0.0157	< 0.1	0%	Capacitors/PWB, power supply
Indium	0.0016	< 0.1	60%	transistor, rectifiers/PWB
Vanadium	0.0002	< 0.1	0%	red phosphor emitter/CRT
Terbium	0	0	0%	green phosphor activator, dopant/CRT, PWB
Beryllium	0.0157	< 0.1	0%	thermal conductivity/PWB, connectors
Gold	0.0016	< 0.1	99%	Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors
Europium	0.0002	< 0.1	0%	phosphor activator/PWB
Titanium	0.0157	< 0.1	0%	pigment, alloying agent/(aluminum) housing
Ruthenium	0.0016	< 0.1	80%	resistive circuit/PWB
Cobalt	0.0157	< 0.1	85%	structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Palladium	0.0003	< 0.1	95%	Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors
Manganese	0.0315	< 0.1	0%	structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Silver	0.0189	< 0.1	98%	Conductivity/PWB, connectors
Antinomy	0.0094	< 0.1	0%	diodes/housing, PWB, CRT
Bismuth	0.0063	< 0.1	0%	wetting agent in thick film/PWB
Chromium	0.0063	< 0.1	0%	Decorative, hardener/(steel) housing
Cadmium	0.0094	< 0.1	0%	battery, glu-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT
Selenium	0.0016	0.00096	70%	rectifiers/PWB
Niobium	0.0002	< 0.1	0%	welding allow/housing
Yttrium	0.0002	< 0.1	0%	red phosphor emitter/CRT
Rhodium	0		50%	thick film conductor/PWB
Platinum	0		95%	thick film conductor/PWB
Mercury	0.0022	< 0.1	0%	batteries, switches/housing, PWB
Arsenic	0.0013	< 0.1	0%	doping agents in transistors/PWB
Silica	24.8803	15	0%	glass, solid state devices/CRT,PWB

Note: plastics contain polybrominated flame retardants, and hundreds of additives and stabilizers not listed separately. PWB = Printed Wiring Board CRT = Cathode Ray Tube

Appendix B: Electronics Environmental Glossary

Close the Loop. A term used to describe the last, and most important, step in the recycling process. It refers to the point when a consumer buys a recycled product after it has been put into a recycling program and reprocessed into a new item. (See Recycling Symbol)

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). A product that is discarded from a home or a similar source that is either ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic (e.g. used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline, pesticides, etc.).

Litter. Waste that is improperly disposed of on the street, sidewalk, lakes and other bodies of water, and in the general environment.

Municipal Solid Waste. Garbage or refuse that is generated by households, commercial establishments, industrial offices or lunchrooms and sludges not regulated as a residual or hazardous waste. This does not include source-separated recyclables.

Non-Renewable Resource. A resource that is NOT capable of being naturally restored or replenished; a resource that is exhausted because it has not been replaced (e.g. copper) or because it is used faster than it can be replaced (e.g. oil, coal [what we call fossil fuels]). Their use as material and energy sources leads to depletion of the Earth's reserves and are characterized as such as they do not renew in human relevant periods (They are not being replenished or formed at any significant rate on a human time scale).

Pollution. Contamination of air, soil, or water with harmful substances.

Post-Consumer. A term used to describe material that is being reused/recycled after it has been in the consumer's hands (e.g., a newspaper going back to the paper mill to be recycled into new recycled content paper products). Material or product used by the consumer for its original purpose and then discarded.

Pre-Consumer. A term used to describe material that is being reused/recycled before it ever goes to market (e.g. paper scraps off of a paper mill floor going back into the next batch of paper). Waste material generated during the manufacturing process.

Recyclable. A term used to designate that a product or its package can be recycled. This term may be misleading as there may not be a recycling program that takes the identified material in the consumer's area.

Recycled. A term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product (often taking the place of virgin material), and then bought back by the consumer as new item.

Recycled Content. The amount of pre- and post-consumer recovered material introduced as a feed stock in a material production process, usually expressed as a percentage (e.g., 30% post-consumer content).

Recycle Symbol. The chasing arrow symbol used to show that a product or package may be recycled if there is a program available. On plastics, it is used along with a numbering system (1-7) to help designate plastic resins used in the product.

The three arrows on the symbol represent different components of the recycling process. The top arrow represents the collection of recyclable materials (e.g. an aluminum can, a piece of white office paper, a plastic #2 milk jug) for processing. The collection can be from a curbside collection or a drop-off site. The second arrow (bottom right) represents the recyclables being processed into recycled products (e.g. a new aluminum can from an old aluminum can, notebook paper from white office paper, a park bench from recycled plastic milk jugs). The third arrow on the bottom left is the most important arrow. This one represents when the consumer actually buys a product with recycled content. This is the most important step as it closes the recycling loop. Without this last step, we are pretty much just sorting our garbage.

Recycling. Term used to describe a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing the raw materials into new products.

Recycling Center. A place where recyclables are collected and/or processed (such as separation and baling) in preparation for market.

Renewable Resource. A resource that is capable of being naturally restored or replenished (e.g. trees).

Reuse. To find a new function for an item that has outgrown its original use; use again (e.g. peanut butter jar for a collection; wash and reuse dishes).

Sanitary Landfill. A landfill that has been designed and engineered to accept municipal waste while ensuring minimal negative impact upon the environment.

Source Reduction. Reducing the amount and/or toxicity of an item before it is ever generated (e.g. buying an item with less packaging, using a non-toxic alternative to clean with).

Virgin Product. Term that refers to products that are made with 100 percent new raw materials and contain no recycled materials.

Appendix C

Number of Landfills

Source: BioCycle Magazine, April 1999