How Do I Dump my PC?
Recycling E-waste saves attic space and the Earth
There are some things even people on eBay won't buy. A four-year-old cellphone with a burned-out battery. An ancient PC with a slow processor and a sticky hard drive. But you shouldn't dump those devices into the trash either: The machines can contain a toxic brew of materials including lead, mercury, and even arsenic, all of which can leach into the soil if they are disposed of in landfills.
So when there are no buyers, what do you do? You can try to donate that PC to an organization such as the National Cristina Foundation (cristina.org), which gives systems to groups that train people with disabilities and those who are unable to afford a computer. But even these organizations may not accept your clunker if it's too outdated.
The better solution for dealing with this E-waste is to recycle. And good luck with that, buddy. Only about 1 in 10 computers is recycled in the United States because of the hassle of finding a place that will take electronic flotsam. Fortunately, a number of companies and organizations are trying to make it easier.
Computer makers such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell will accept computer products for recycling, disposing of hazardous components safely. HP lets consumers go online and arrange a pickup of old systems and peripherals. The charge per item is $14 to $34, depending on the type of hardware, but the company will accept equipment made by any manufacturer. And if you're looking to buy a new HP computer, the company also offers rebates of $125 when you return an old system. When you order a new Dell computer online, the company gives you the option of returning your old system for recycling and will include a shipping label and pick up the old equipment at no charge. Even if you're not looking for a new computer, Dell will collect individual items for $15 each, which includes shipping charges.
A ZIP drive. Dropping off your digital detritus at a nearby recycling center can spare you the hassle of packing and shipping altogether. At eBay's Rethink initiative site (ebay.com/rethink), there's an extensive list of companies and organizations nationwide that recycle E-waste, including consumer electronics like old VCRs. So does Earth 911 (earth911.org), which lets you search for local E-waste recyclers by ZIP code.
The natural place to drop off an old gadget would be where you buy a new one. Office Depot offered such a service free during a seven-week pilot program last year. The stores took in 10.5 million pounds of tech trash, but the shipping costs made the program too expensive to maintain.
Politicians are looking to reduce the costs of handling E-waste. Just in time for the April 22 Earth Day, two senators--Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, and Jim Talent, a Missouri Republican--have sponsored a bill that would give a $15 tax credit to those who recycle an old computer or TV. That would make two things in life certain in this information age: dead gadgets and tax breaks.
This story appears in the April 11, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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