Disposing of old computers can be harmful to the environment due to toxic components. Recycling is a solution, but it requires specialized equipment and trained personnel. Manufacturers may offer recycling, or local charities and waste management companies can help. E-waste facilities are an option, but it’s important to research their practices. Erase personal data before disposing of the computer.
You’ve finally decided that your old computer is a junker, so now you’ve replaced it and are wondering what, exactly, you should do with the abandoned equipment. This has become a growing problem worldwide, as the proliferation of inexpensive personal computers in the late 1990s led to a profusion of electronic waste, also known as e-waste. E-waste can be extremely harmful to the environment, leading advocacy organizations to ask consumers to dispose of old electronic devices, including computers, very carefully.
Before delving into what to do with your old computer, it may be helpful to briefly explain why e-waste is considered harmful. Your computer is made from a wide variety of components, many of which are toxic. When old computers are disposed of improperly, these substances can enter the environment, causing pollution and the subsequent death of plants and animals, along with birth defects. Many of these components are also produced in unsustainable ways, causing even more environmental damage. Because these components can be reclaimed and recycled, throwing out an old computer is not only environmentally questionable, but it also takes up valuable landfill space. As a result, many companies have begun offering computer recycling, allowing consumers to transform their old computers so they can be broken down into their various components, breathing new life into building materials.
However, recycling is not a simple solution. Recycling electronics requires specialized equipment and highly trained personnel, and not all recycling companies are run in an environmentally friendly manner. Some do not recover many substances from old computers, for example by attaching themselves to the most precious components, while others use practices that can lead to pollution and health problems for their employees, such as breaking screens with hammers to access the precious metals inside. Worse yet, some companies export their old electronic devices to the developing world, where they could be destroyed by untrained people, causing widespread pollution, health problems and piles of waste, as documented in numerous news expositions.
Given the information above, you can see why you need to think carefully when disposing of an old computer. The first thing you should do is erase your hard drive, making sure that no personal data is stored on your computer. Next, you should contact the manufacturer. In many countries, electronics manufacturers are required to take back old products and recycle them, and may be subject to oversight by third-party organizations to ensure this recycling is done properly. In fact, you may have paid a recycling fee for just this purpose when you bought your computer; the manufacturer may send you a postage-paid container to ship your computer back in.
If the manufacturer doesn’t offer recycling, you can go to a local charity to see if the equipment is usable. Make sure you ask the charity what it does with computers it no longer wants, to make sure it’s being handled ethically. You can also contact your local waste management company or the city where you live to learn about e-waste recycling days, during which teams collect unwanted electronics for proper recycling. Ask about the companies they recycle with and the practices they use to ensure your old computer is disposed of properly.
Finally, you can take your computer directly to an e-waste facility. If you choose to do this, ask about the practices the company uses and what percentage of materials are typically reclaimed. If you can, visit the manufacturing facility to make sure that the old computer will actually be recycled and that this recycling will be done properly.
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