| The fight for the planet is on. It is now fully | | | | manufacturers, such as Dell, Apple and HP, |
| proven, undeniably, evident that the earth is | | | | provide their own programs to dismantle and |
| fighting for its life. During its short but deadly | | | | recycle old equipment. You can visit each of their |
| lifespan, human civilization has managed to place a | | | | respective sites to find out how these programs |
| devastating strain on the planet's resources and | | | | work. |
| health. | | | | The final option is to seek out a reputable |
| It is now our duty to reverse this ill effect, even | | | | hardware recycling or asset recovery program |
| though it may be too late. There are thousands | | | | online. One problem with the current computer |
| of ways people can contribute to the cause: from | | | | sales environment is that consumers are goaded |
| taking on older techniques such as recycling paper | | | | too frequently to buy upgraded or better |
| to utilizing newer technologies like fuel-efficient | | | | computer hardware. This cycle creates more |
| cars. I'd like to concentrate on one specific way | | | | waste on the other end when the old equipment |
| through which people can help the planet- recycling | | | | model is 'kicked out of the house' by the younger |
| computer equipment. | | | | model. |
| Throwing away used networking hardware, | | | | Much of the time, experienced hardware |
| monitors, hard drives, routers, RAM, webcams, | | | | professionals may actually be able to repair or |
| batteries or anything of the like can have a | | | | salvage your old equipment. Instead of buying |
| devastating effect if the equipment ends up in our | | | | new equipment, you can save money and the |
| landfills. | | | | environment by repairing, reusing, and recycling |
| From nysscpa.org: | | | | your hardware. There are several online vendors |
| Most of the environmental concerns with | | | | that will pay top dollar for your used cisco, dell, |
| computers lie with the monitor, specifically its | | | | apple, HP, or any brand name computer hardware. |
| cathode ray tube (CRT). Each color monitor | | | | This creates an 'eco-system' for computer |
| contains, on average, four to five pounds of lead, | | | | hardware that benefits the planet instead of |
| considered hazardous waste when disposed of, | | | | harming it. |
| according to EPA standards. Computers also | | | | Some of these vendors provide repair and |
| contain other hazardous materials, including | | | | recycling services to resell the refurbished |
| mercury, cadmium (a known carcinogen), and | | | | computer equipment at a lower price. In turn, |
| hexavalent chromium (shown to cause high blood | | | | businesses and consumers can then purchase a |
| pressure, iron-poor blood, liver disease, and nerve | | | | refurbished cisco or refurbished juniper router, dell |
| and brain damage in animals). | | | | server or mac powerbook at a discounted price. |
| One way to get rid of old computer equipment is | | | | The key to this cycle is no new equipment needs |
| to donate it to one of the many non-profit | | | | to be manufactured, and in turn create additional |
| organizations that will accept it. Many local schools | | | | waste. |
| and non-profits could greatly benefit from your | | | | Many citizens, cities, consumers and corporations |
| old computer equipment. Two sites to help you | | | | still do not know how to properly dispose of |
| donate are sharetechnology.org and cristina.org. | | | | computer equipment, even though it has become |
| If you believe that your equipment is beyond | | | | so commonplace. It is integral that this 'know-how' |
| repair or reuse, one option for disposal is the full | | | | become common knowledge. |
| dismantling of the hardware. Many hardware | | | | |