Computer Recycling - What You Need To Know

Computers are now a major part of every day life inexample), so you could possibly return the computer
the 21st Century and as technology advances andto the manufacturer, and many other firms
prices drop, more and more computers and ITspecialising in the sales of computers may even take
equipment are replaced on a regular basis leaving theyour old one when you purchase a new one so it is
question of what happens to the old ones.always worth asking.
According to Waste Online, the market forTake it to a Recycling Centre
refurbished computers has risen by 500% in recentYou could take your old computer to an established
years and yet less than 20% of unwantedwaste disposal facility to recycle it. First you should
computers are recycled. In the UK alone, around acheck what they can accept and whether or not
million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste isthey will take care of removing files and personal
produced and computer equipment makes up nearlydata from the computer's hard drive. Even if your
40% of this waste and up till now, a large proportioncomputer isn't in good working order, it can often be
of it ended up in Landfill sites or was incinerated. Thisrepaired and upgraded to the point it is useful for
poses a major threat to the environment and oursomeone else. If this is the case then it is wise to
health as computers are laden with toxic material andcheck beforehand that they comply with the
as such, are considered hazardous waste. MonitorsElectrical Equipment (Safety Regulations) 1994 which
for example, contain a lot of lead.requires that all the equipment must be safe to use.
New regulations have been introduced in order to limitDonating your computer to someone else
the amount of electronic and electrical waste, whichMost computers can be reused by someone else so
includes computer and IT equipment, ending up inanother option is to donate the computer to a non
landfill sites.profit organisation or an organisation specialising in the
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)re-distribution of computers, possibly to schools or
Regulations 2006third world countries. If you have any software that
The regulations came into force on the 2nd Januaryyou want to donate with the computer, try to get
2007 and will be fully implemented from the 1st Julytogether all the relevant licences and supporting
2007 and require that anyone manufacturing, brandingdocumentation. An important point is to find out what
or importing electrical and electronic equipment whichwill happen to the computer when it needs disposed
came on the market after 13th August 2005 will beof if, particularly if it may end up in a third world
responsible for the safe and environmentally friendlycountry as there is no point in protecting the
disposal of that equipment.environment at home only to pollute it somewhere
This means they will have to fund the cost ofelse.
collecting, treating and recycling all electrical andProtection of Data
electronic equipment and by the 15th March 2007A major concern when recycling computers is what
should have already registered with a compliancehappens to sensitive and personal data that could be
scheme in order to carry this out. By April 2007 theypresent on the hard drive. Most organisations
must mark their goods with a crossed wheelie binspecialising in redistributing or reselling old computer
symbol meaning it must not be disposed of alongequipment will ensure that your hard drive is
with other household rubbish.reformatted and all personal data erased but you
So what options do you as a consumer have whenshould always check that this is the case. If you are
you no longer require your old computer?more technically minded you can, if you prefer, clean
Disposing of Computersyour computer yourself beforehand. If your
If you want to get rid of an old computer orcomputer has been used for business purposes then
computer parts then you basically have a number ofunder the Data Protection Act, all information
options:collected by businesses must be destroyed when the
Sell itstorage system it was kept on (your computer's
If your computer is in good working order then youhard drive for example) is no longer being used by
could ask around for anyone who is looking for a lowthe business.
cost PC, or perhaps put an advert in the localConclusion
newspaper or in your local shop windows. This wayAs responsible citizens we all have an obligation to
everyone wins as the computer is reused bymake sure that our computer and IT related
someone else, you get something for it, and itequipment is disposed of in a safe and
doesn't harm the environment.environmentally friendly way. In order to be sure that
Returning your computer to the manufacturerthis is the case, it is essential only to use companies
An increasing number of companies are offering aand organisations that are fully licensed with the
free return service for their old computers, (DELL forappropriate governing bodies.