Managing used computers & electronic equipment

6 Pages·2003·0.41 MB·English

by  Illinois. Bureau of Energy and Recycling

ANAGING
Used Computers
&
Electronic
Equipment
BUREAU OF ENERGY
AND
RECYCLING
ILLINOIS
RIGHTHERE. RIGHTNOW.
Illinois Department of
CommerceandEconomicOpportunity
RodR.Blagojevich • Governor
JackLavin •Director
Re-Purpose
It
sthenumberofproductswithelearoniccomponents
continues to grow, the resulting increase in electronic Downstreamthecomputertoalesscriticalordemanding
waste poses a challenge for solid waste managers. application. For example,use it in a home network as
Examples of electronic equipment include: computer anextraterminalsharingabroadbandconnection,setit
monitors and computers, televisions, photocopiers, up for someone less technical to get e-mail, or let the
facsimile machines, video monitoring equipment, tele- youngstersrun educationalgames onit. The moretech-
phones, and communications and audio equipment. nically adept can turn it into a Linux orWeb server.
Resale
Computers provide an example ofthe increasing num-
bersofelectronic equipmententeringthewaste stream. Some companies sell or offer their used computers to
The Carnegie Mellon Universin^Green Design Initiative employees.Otherssellorgivxthemtocomputerrepair/
Technical Report ^7-10 estimates that 55 million
resale businesses.
whole personal computers will be landfiUed by 2005,
which will require 135 million cubic feet of landfill Leasing
space, base on a weighted average of 42 pounds for
each personal computer which occupies a volume of Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as
2.4 cubic feet. IBM, Digital, Dell, Compaq and Gatew^ay, offer leasing
options. Many third partv* leasing operations, which
Environmental Concerns purchase and lease OEM equipment, are listed on the
Internet at http//w^w.remarketing.com/htmIAeasing.
Electronicequipmentmaycontainsignificantquantities Contact companies directlyformore information.
ofhazardous materials such as lead,mercun cadmium,
,
chromium,lithium,nickel,andzinc. Ifmismanaged,these Asset Management
materials can be harmful to human health and the
environment.In addition,preciousmetals such as silver Assetmanagement companiesprovide afull-service elec-
and gold can be found in electronic equipment. These tronics collection,component recover}’ and refurbishing
materialsmaybefoundinmonitors,printers,keyboards, program for corporations. A list ofthese companies can
laptops,terminals and mainframes. be found at: http://www^.remarketing.com/html/user/list-
brokers.cgi
.
What are the Management
Materials Exchange
Options for Used Computers?
Options are available that give old computers a new Listtheitemsonamaterialsexchangethatfindsusersfor
surplus materials.
lease on life,spare the expense and hassle ofmanaging
them as fully-regulated hazardous waste, and safeguard Computer Recyclers
theenvironment.Thefollowinglistprovidessomeideas
to getyou started. There are anumberofrecyclingcentersandelectronics
demanufacturers in Illinois and the Midwest.These
Computer Donation businesses disassemble computers, sah’age parts and
sell reclaimed materials. Before choosing a computer
Donating usable computers to a school or nonprofit
recycler,check to make sure the firm meets applicable
group benefits both the receiving organization and the
environmental,safetv’ and health programs,and has dis-
company making the donation.
posal and recycling outlets for the recovered materials.
PrintedbytheAuthorityoftheStateofIllinois
1,000 4/03 PrintedonRecycledPaper
What to Ask When Selecting a
Computer Recycler Electronic
/
Management Company:
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO) cautions generators to personally
evaluate the services and compliance status of any
companytheyusetomanageequipment. Herearesome
questions that help you evaluate potential computer
recyclers and electronic management companies:
Q
Does the firm have the necessary state and local
permits?
Q
Does the company accept the type of equipment
you would like to recycle?
Q
What fee does the facility charge?
Q
How does the facility manage the materials and
wastes?
Q
Does the firm have contracts with foundries and
scrap dealers for its metals? Does the firm have
contractswith precious metal refiners for its circuit
boards? Has the company completed an environ-
mental audit ofthese facilities?
Q
Isthereaprograminplaceforhandlingandmanaging
cathode ray tubes (CRTs)?
Q
Can the companyprovide certificationthat explains
what materials can be disposed?
Q
Does the firm have liabilityinsurance?
Q
Does the company have a safety plan and worker
training program?
? The attached list of^computer recyclers and,reuse |
organi2ations is provided for information%purposes.^^
,
’ DCEOdoesnotendorse^ecmccompamesorservices,*
pordoesItimplythatthe^compameslistedareincom- 1
”1oG V
3)(o2>
.
1^3\| X
Manufacturers’ Recycling Programs
“Take-Back Programs”
Best BuyTake Back Program
http://u'ww.bestbuy.com
ConsumerscantakebacktheiroldelectronicstosomeBestBuystoresin
theU.S.TofindadditionalinformationconuctyourlocalBestBuystore.
IBM Product End-of-Life Management (PELM) Service
http://u'wu'.IBM.cotn/Financingorwu’w.pc.ibm.com/wu'/healt}yy-
computing/emreport/end.html
IBMoffersacomputertake-backprogramformachinesfromanymanu-
facturer. ForaS29-99feethatincludesshipping.IBMwillhelpreocle
your old PC. Computers,monitors,printers and other hardware will
eitherbe recycledinanenvironmentallyfriendlyw^ayordonated toa
charin'. Forfurtherinformation,pleasecallIB.Mat8887746-7426 or
800/354-9693orvisittheirWebsite.
COMPAQ ComputerAsset Recovery Services (CARS)
(CARS)servesasasingleconvenient,responsiblesourcefordisposition
ofanybrandofcomputer-related equipment. Call CARS access line at
800/580-7370toleammore.
Dell Financial Services (DFS)AssetRecoveryServices
http://wu'u\deU.com/us/en/hied/seri'ices/asset_OOO.htm
Dell’scurrentreq-clingprogramoffersconsumersaS15at-homepickup
servicefordispatchingoldPCsfordonationorrecycling. Inaddition, DFS
offersns'oassetdispositionseivices.ValueRecoven'Sen-icesforfunction-
al equipment,and PC Recycling Senices for nonfunctional oroutdated
equipment to help customers manage used electronic equipment. For
additional information or a quote on your equipment, e-mail Dell at
US_DES_AssetRecovery%DeU.comorcall800/95^3355ext.36634
Gateway
Gatewayhastakenadifferentapproach. PurchasersofanewGateway
Computercaneithertradeintheiroldequipment(aslongasithasvalue)
ordonateittoacharitableorganizationandreceiveerebateofuptoS50.
Itistheconsumersresponsibilit>-toidentif)'acharitythatwilltakethe
usedequipment. Thus,Gatewayprovidesanincentivetokeepoldcom-
puters out ofstorage ordisposal facilities,but is not itselfinvolved in
theirend-of-lifemanagement.
Hewlett-Packard (HP)
http://ivwu\bp.com
HPoffersprcxluctend-of-lifereturnprogramsforHPandothermanufac-
turers’hardware. Thecompanywilltakebackequipmentmadebyany
manufacturerforafeerangingfromS13toS34,dependingonthecom-
ponent. Consumersmustboxtheequipment,butFedExwillpickitup
at their door. Equipment is shipped to HP facilities in California and
TermesseeforrecyclingbyMicroMetallics.
Safety-Kleen
http-./Zunvu'.safety-kleen.com
Hazardouswastecompanv'Safetv-Kleenwillcollectelectronicscrapfrom
itsclients.
MPC Program
http://unvu\buympe.com/senices/sbared/recycle.html
-MPC’s recyclingprogram allows customers purchasing new .MPC equif>
menttoreturnoldequipmentforrecycling.AS33perunitdisp>osalfeeis
chargedforreturnsoffewerthanfivesvstems;companiesmayqualifv'for
arebateonquantitiesoffivesystemsormore. Customersmustpurchase
atleastasmanynew.MPCsvstemsasthenumberofsvstemsreturned.
.
Midwest Computer Recyclers & Reuse Organizations
ILLINOIS
niindScmcc'ANM)u,uion
22W M.inrocsi llihMoor
Plionc 512/25WI8DH
(ompulCfRctTfk'
-lywRidtJcKd
Pcoha.II. 6I6U
Phone 30y/691-H"50
Other Resources for Electronic Waste Management
InternationalAssociationofElectronicsRcc>c1cts
NationalRcc>xlingCoalition'sElectronicDatabase
hup//WWWnravuU-org/programs/eleanmUs/settrih/^vtnsthtgasl>
NationalSafetyCouncil’sElectronicProductRec<r iiRcc7clint{
(RPR2)Directory
hup.//www.mcorg/i‘bi/eprJ/recyder.h(m
l*arents-EdiianorvPublishcrs(PEP)NationalDirectoryofComputer
RecyclingPrograms
ShareTileTcchnolog)
hup://www.shwvlech»ologyor}( Recycling,February2000
PROGRAMSTOREFURBISH.REUSE
http;//wu ANDRECYCLECELLPHONES
ResourceCenter
3130PayneAve.
Cleveland.Ohio-m14
hUp//www.cupimora/capfom
T4\3i0ck8cfI,Ji<bli)AH73l70v00d/88.43Su6i-t9e02I1MO TDDusersmayaccessthephonemimhcrsmthisbrochureviathe
htlp://www.crisUna.or^ IllinoisRelayCenterat800/32fv0844
Department
of
Commerce
and
Economic
Opportunity