Refurbishing VS RecyclingWhat Is E-waste? Statistics What Are The Hazards? Recycling Pros Recycling Cons Refurbishing Pros Refurbishing Cons Practical Guidelines

What Is E-waste?Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. The amount of electronic products discarded globally has skyrocketed recently, with 20-50 million tons generated every year. E-waste is now the fastest growing component of the municipal solid waste stream because people are upgrading their mobile phones, computers, televisions, audio equipment and printers more frequently than ever before.

Local Examples

Discarded CRT Monitors in Wood County

Right At Your Door

Discarded hard disks in Wood County

US StatisticsFrom 1999 through 2005, recycling rate was relatively constant at about 15%. During these years, the amount of electronics recycled increased but the percentage did not because the amount of electronics sent for end of life management increased each year as well For 2006-2007, the recycling rate increased to 18%, possibly because several states have started mandatory collection and recycling programs for electronics Of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products ready for end-of-life (EOL) management, 18% (414,000 tons) was collected for recycling and 82% (1.84 million tons) was disposed of, primarily in landfills

What Are The Hazards?Hidden Hazards of E-WasteLead Polychlorinated Biphenyls Mercury Cadmium Arsenic Zinc Chromium Selenium Brominated Flame Retardants

E-waste in Landfills

The current system for disposing of electronic waste is cumbersome and inconvenient, with consumers often resorting to dumping toxic waste in landfills where substances can leach into the ground and water.

Did you Know?Just one cell phone can pollute up to 132,000 liters of drinking water.

E-waste Exported

E-waste is routinely exported overseas where labor and environmental laws are lacking. Electronics that are improperly recycled can harm workers in the recycling yards, as well as their neighboring communities.

Did you Know?E-waste being burned produces dioxin. Dioxins are highly toxic because they accumulate in the body and lead to deformities of the fetus, decreased reproduction and growth rates, and cause impairment of the immune system.

Recycling Pros

Materials are dissembled to raw components Materials can be used in the production of other products Recyclers can generally handle a wider range of materials and a greater volume Sometimes more cost effective to hire a third-party recycling contractor to maintain compliance with local and federal laws

Recycling Cons

Working equipment is destroyed as scrap material Recycling is costly and consumes 20 times more energy than reuse According to the Commerce Department, as much as 80 percent of e-waste collected for recycling is sent overseas In developing countries laws to protect workers and the environment are inadequate or not enforced

Refurbishing Pros

Equipment is repaired for reuse instead of scrapped Companies can receive a tax deduction for donated equipment Reusing a computer is 20 times more effective at saving life cycle energy use than recycling Refurbished computers can benefit the underprivileged in our communities and in the developing world

Refurbishing Cons

Refurbishers handle a more narrow range of equipment than recyclers Some refurbishers do not provide adequate data security measures Refurbished equipment may lack the speed, memory, storage and graphic capabilities of newer models Older refurbished computers may not be compatible with new peripherals and software

Christian Ecological Stewardship

Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable. Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

It Begins With You

Luke 12:15,23,34. And He said to them, "Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does life consist of his possessions. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Practical Guidelines To Donating ComputersContact the organization first, or visit its Web site, to review any necessary technical requirements Make sure the refurbisher uses secure data deletion standards such as DOD standard deletion If possible, provide the charity with a complete, fullyoperational system including the keyboard, mouse, cables, documentation and any other hardware you're including Package everything carefully to avoid damage, even if you're personally delivering the computer Placing a value on the computer is generally up to you. Don't forget to ask for a receipt If your computer is too old to refurbish, you should recycle it. Finding a reputable recyclers or refurbisher takes a bit of online leg work, but it's well worth the effort

Computers for Charity

Our mission is to reduce the electronic waste in our landfills by taking donations of computers and related accessories and refurbishing them to distribute to individuals, charities and non-profits in need, thereby bridging the digital divide by providing the basic technology required to succeed in today's world.

http://computersforcharity.webs.com