Published August 18, 1999
From the Earth, its materials were extracted, purified and fabricated into functional form, and back to the Earth it shall not go. Computers, at the end of their very limited life span, are salvage not refuse.
That shinny new Pentium III or Macintosh G3 box may be wondrous and more powerful than can be tamed now, but, before long, their usefulness will cease to be profitable. What then? Inanimate computers are tossed into their own recycle bin. Perhaps unkindly to consider the certain demise of your unblinking friend/fiend, but assuredly it too will arrive, one day, at the door of the professional scrap undertaker.
But maybe first that slightly doughty old hummer will be handed down to the daughter for school work, or up to the father so not to be left behind. The bequeathed, savvy with these wizards of sorcery, will postpone their computer’s dismantlement.
As death and taxes are certainties, so too are computer software and hardware upgrades that hasten the demise of former fortresses. The old reliables are not dead but less desirable than the new ones. Speed, new features and bug fixes are so alluring that obsolescence is our own doing.
Unlike us, Corporations claim they need to “stay current,” by buying the absolute latest in computer and program finery. The perpetual turnstile flings a completely new batch of products into the work place ever couple years or less, and the old is gurneyed out the back, to somewhere.
Systems sold to employees must be identified, cleaned, tested, and priced. Equipment donated to charity is subjected to the same scrutiny. Corporate philanthropic computer gifts are more costly as a tax deduction than from an individual.
Laws prohibit the wholesale landfill disposal of materials known to contain toxic contaminants, like lead in computer monitors. Buried plastics are a burgeoning problem. Old electronic asset disposal must comply with local and federal regulations. Therefore, only electronic reclamation centers are capable of properly recycling surplus, used, damaged, obsolete mainframes, telecommunications, microwaves, medical and consumer electronics.
Outdated PCs regularly disassembled for parts have names such as Apple, Atari, Commodore, Compaq, IBM, Kaypro, NEC, Osborne, Tandy, Texas Instruments and Wang. The modern separation plants, from New Jersey to California and Canada, process truckloads of computers daily.
A common scrap yard would crush the machines like they crushed cars. Some metals are recovered, but most materials are lost. Now days, unique and rapid processes separate and grade computer scrap.
Nonfunctioning or outdated equipment is disassembled. The steel and aluminum chassis are separated from the circuit boards, keyboards, and removable memory ICs. Magnets and cables are salvaged for their nickel, cobalt, and copper. Precious metals, gold, silver, platinum and palladium are extracted and assayed. Plastics are pulverized into small fragments as pure (reused) and mixed (fuel for electrical plants). Less than half of all monitors are carefully neutralized by separating glass and toxic mercury and phosphors; the better cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are refurbished and resold.
Workable used computer parts are looking for homes at these computer salvage facilities (see Web Links). Inquire about dirt cheep CD-ROMs, hard drives and tape drives. Here’s a source for spare keyboards, mice, network and memory cards.
Disposal costs of marginal equipment, at the end of effective use, increases over time. According to International Data Corporation, most corporations store equipment for three years at a cost of $360 per machine and then pay an additional $218 for disposal. A sensible option for older equipment is selling to remarketers at net of $118.00 per machine.
The financial responsibility to corporations for jettisoning their once hi-tech property is enormous: processing, handling, accounting, insurance, liability are a direct drain. Other concerns include the inadvertent interception of sensitive information stored on the tossed hard drives and the circuit designs still patent pending.
Reputable reclamation services certify and validate that all data is totally destroyed. Their reputation depends upon it. Client company reps are invited to be present at asset disposition. These specialized processing plants are securely monitored for fire and theft. Instruction manuals and CDs are shredded; floppy disks are erased, tested and bulk repackaged. Corporate identity on pieces is obliterated. Total weight into the plant equals total weight out on all parts and packaging.
Like new quipment is designated by the industry as quantity one. Working parts and whole computers are reconditioned for other markets such as Dutch schools and governments in Italy and Spain. Mid-grade equipment, generally three years or older, has little residual value in the U.S. marketplace.
Seems strange to read a legitimate advertisement: “confidential and cost effective product disassembly and destruction.” One recycler’s motto: “Don’t degrade the earth when you upgrade at the office.” Better yet, keep your vintage work-horses until they cease to function. Upgrade only when you’re really ready. A perpetually better model will assuredly be available next week.
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Web Links
A&B Recycling
Accu-Shred
Blue Star Electronics
Computer Reclamation
Computer Recycling Services
Electronic Recycling
Emar International
Fox Electronics
HOBI International
Jack’s Recycling
Materials Processing Corporation
R. Frazier, Inc.
Recycling Solutions
Scandinavian Recycling AB
SGS Computer Corporation