Impact_on_the_Enviroment

Recycling Computers Recycling computers for the purpose to be reused by another consumer could enable great opportunities, save the landfills, save resources, and reduce the impact on environment. The responsible party for recycling a computer is the consumer. Many states already have laws in place that require recycling of computers, (Laws, 2007) most recyclers donate a required number of refurbished computers to schools, nonprofits and low-income families, (Community MAR Americas Program, n.d.). When a personal computer out lives its usefulness and needs to be replaced and/or discarded the consumer will have to decide to either donate, trade in or throw away the old computer. Which will be the best choice for the consumer' By taking the environmental responsibility and ownership, one cannot just dispose a computer by placing into the trash for the local trash company to pick up. The landfills within the United States are processing more e-waste with the regular trash due to consumer lack of responsibility and this can produce hazardous materials to leach out that runs onto the soil potentially contaminating surrounding properties, watersheds, streams and other water systems, (The Problem With Electronics Most E-Waste is Trashed, Not Recycled, n.d.). In 2003, California adopted a state law that regulates electronic waste recycling; it is now illegal to improperly dispose of a computer (Laws, 2007). As an emerging trend twenty states in the United States have adopted similar legislation regarding e-waste that will allow recyclers to reuse computers by giving to schools, nonprofits, and low-income families. Many older computers that cannot be repaired can be reused for education for reaching in High Schools and community programs, which are in calamitous need for these kinds’ donations of computers. A great website that can help in finding a school or nonprofit organization to donate to is, My Green Electronics, on the reuse page a number of listing can put an older computer to great use (Enjoy your Electronics, 2010). Many consumers have choices in the state they live in by disposing a computer with either a recycler, or nonprofit originations. Proper disposal means more than simple diverting away from the landfill or an incinerator. It means giving life back by protecting the environment and possibly helping others by donating. The impact can vary depending on each donation. A company can donate a number of computers to Close the Gap, which is a company committed to bridging the gap in surrounding countries, (Participate, 2006) Another company that is doing global work is World Computer Exchange and there are many ways to donate computers to this organation by visisting their website to find a local chapter, (WCE Chapters, n.d.). If a consumer only has one computer to donate the best resource then would be finding a local recycler, a great website for this is My Green Electronics and type in the desired zipcode to bring up a list of local recyclers, (Enjoy Your Electronics, 2010). Technology is rapidly changing and the advatages of upgrading ones personal computer (PC) to new sleeker model is becoming a consumer temtaption. The prices of new computers are at record lows, so why not recplace the old computer with a sleeker, newer model' On average a consumer will keep a comptuer for three years before replaing it, (The Importance of Responsible Recycling for Used Electronics, 2010). Instead of dumping the old computer into the local trash, the consumer can donate it with receive a tax deduction for their donation. Also, electronic products can be refurbished and reused when utilizing Microsoft Authorized Recycler Refurbisher (MAR). However, first, the consumer must remove all personal data from the computer and the consumer has a number of different ways of performing this task. When a consumer has used a computer for a number of years, the storage on the computer can mound up to a tremendous amount of data. Each consumer will want to protect their privacy and prevent potential identity theft by removing all data from the computer before donating the computer. A personal computer can be filled with personal and financial data and it is necessary to remove it. There are a number of ways to remove data from the hard drive, by destruction of the hard drive, degaussing data, and overwriting the data, (Data Removal Recommendations, 2008). Many software companies have come out with programs to aid in this process, such as Eraser, Disk Scrub, and Super Scrub, which will either write over the hard drive or eliminate all data from and programs from the computer. Paragon is a software group that created a software programs for erasering the data from the computer and protecting the consumer or organization. The program Disk Wiper is available for organizations or personal usages. The two products offered are Disk Wiper 10 Professional or Disk Wiper 10 Personal, (Disk Wiper, n.d.). For Macintosh users, many programs do exist that will permently remove data from the computer. SuperScrubber is a software program that is used at a low cost to erase the hard drive from a Mac computer (SuperScrubber G3 Drive Erasing Utility , 2009). Many savvy internet user can even choose to download software from freeware site, such as Active @ Kill Disk Hard Drive easer program found at www.Killdisk.com (Home, n.d.). When a consumer cannot pyhsical remove the data they can make sure to pick a local recycler that is a legitimate Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) recycler. Picking a Microsoft Refurbisher is not as hard as it might seem, actually Microsoft and Techsoup made it easy on the consumer. A list of refurbishers is published on the Techsoup website and the consumer can search by state or by zip code to find the local refurbisher, (Donate a Computer to a Community Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, n.d.). When a consumer donates a computer to a MAR, the computer is cleaned and reconstructed with same operating system from Microsoft. The flat rate fee is only $ 6.00, for a new license, ((FAQs) About the Community (MAR) Americas Program, n.d.). Steps are also taken to monitor the refurbisher by Microsoft which requires the refurbisher to keep an inventory count, and submit monthly reports. Another way to donate a computer would be to contact the local High School, Boy Scout Troop or the local Habitat for Humanity to donate a computer to. Most high schools have computer labs that require students to disassemble computers and put them back together. Plus some computer classes will even repair computers and then donate them to a non-profit organization like Habitat for Humanity, (Volunteer Opportunities, n.d.). When one starts searching for local organizations one might run into a unique place that might run a shelter or helping hands program. This should be considered as it very well might be a way of helping someone learn and allow a consumer to donate an old computer working or nonworking. The Tommy Nobis Center in Marietta, Georiga is doing just that. The mission for this center is develop and provide training for youth and adult with disabilities. This facilitiy has been open since 1975. This facility has a mulitude of functions, however with recycling computers in 2009 the center launched into a new business and they had no idea how big the program would be. Recycltronics created jobs for people and provided a place to take old computers to be recycled. This Recyling center has devloped into a win – win situation for employees with disabilites and consumers. When a consumer donates to the center they are provided with a receipt for their donation later used for a tax donation. The Tommy Nobis Center takes the following recyclables: TV’s, computers, cell phones, steroes, and any kind of electronic device. Since start up, they have processed over 1 million pounds of elctronics that will not end up in a landfill, (History, 2010). The last way a consumer can choose to recycle the old computer is by utilizing the manufacturer. Most larger manufacturers have programs that will buy back or allow a trade in credit toward a new computer. The National Manufacturer Program was lunched just a few years back due to the growing impact of recycling. This is a way for manufacturers to get repeat business and build relations with the consumer. More manufacturers are getting involved in the e-steward program daily. This program requires that the recyclers that picks up the products do not ship the returned item overseas to a landfill. An e-steward is a responsible recycler and they have been prequialified as such. Depending on what type of computer the consumer has will depend on the program offered. Dell offers a free mail program, where Acer offers a trade-in value for the older model for a new computer. Certainly when trading a printer out it is worth recycling it to the manufacturer or to the local office supply store, Hewlett Packard does office buy backs on most of there products, a quote can be obtained at there website, www.hp.com/united-states/hho/buyback-recycle/ (Get a free quote, 2009). To see other buy back, trade in and other offers to refer to chart below: When recycling computers to be reused by another consumer, it enables another person greater opportunities, saves valuable land fill space, saves resources, and dramatically reduces the impact on the enviroment. The responsible party for recycling a computer is the consumer!