Computer recycling and the recycling of other electronics is not new. Just in recent years has this become a political topic (Action Recycling has recycled computers and other electronics for over 20 years, long before regulation laws began hitting the political tables).
Computer recycling has become cause for concern because of the mass numbers of computers being made and just as quickly, becoming obsolete. Back when computers were a new and a very expensive technology, businesses and homes alike held on to their investment for several years.
Now, with faster and cheaper computers and a much stronger economy than 20 years ago, computers have become a part of business and homes just as much as owning a telephone. With a constant desire for advanced technology and a continued cheaper product, the computer market is through the roof.
In just the United States 10 million obsolete computers will be replaced every year. This is promoted by a faster and cheaper computer that is making it simple and common for a business to upgrade every couple of years.
This is why politicians have scrambled to find solutions and began regulations that not only now protect our current environment, but also a solution for the future.
Why is computer and electronic recycling important?
Computers contain very hazardous elements such as lead, cadmium and mercury.
If billions of computers and monitors end up carelessly in landfills, this would mean disaster to our enviroment.
Not only is this a concern today but also a concern for the many, many more obsolete products in our near future. Govenrments have put pressure on the manufactures to make recycling these items in the future more compatible with modern recycling techniques but regardless, recycling computers and electronics is here to stay and responible disposal will be that of the cosumer. Computers as well as many other electronics are growing to record sales every year, more people are replacing old technology every couple years, including many commmon products like cellphones, MP3 players, PDA's and digital camera.
These are all products that our future generation is growing with and becoming dependant on - telling us the foreseeable future and challege in proper handling and disposal.
What do we do with your computer?
We may look to see if there may be a use for your computer as a complete unit unless your instructions prohibit this (this is only available to home users, we do not sell business computers, due to the safety of the business and strict state regulations). If this has been approved to be sold we will then erase (using hippa compliant software) and format your hard drive from any operating system (windows98, Window ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, ECT.), other software, and any personal data that may remain. This is however is very rare (less than 0.01%) because of our experienced abilty dismantle and sort computer components and prepare them for recycling.
If you request destruction, or a computer is not suitable for sale then we disassemble your computer on site. The process will begin with opening the case and removing each part. Each piece will be sorted into a handfull of categories and then shipped for processing and recovery - locally here in North America. We offer hard drive destruction (an added fee will apply), this will include a certificate of destuction when requested.
How does each piece of the computer get recycled?
The screws and case / tower will be added with steel and other ferrous material. The motherboard, sound card, video card, memory and other circuit boards will be separated and shipped to another facility that will shred and then recover all metals that have recycling value. These recovered metals will be shipped to smelters that melt and purify these metals for reuse. Any hazardous materials found will have been properly disposed or some may even be prepared for reuse. Your hard drive is made up of mostly aluminum therefore, will usually end up at a smelter for aluminum recovery, purified and also prepared for reuse.
