What's the Best Way to Recycle Old Tech in the US? 255
Tim Danhamn writes "SmartPlanet.com, a green-focused Web site, has put up an article about the best way to recycle your old tech, including local recycling centers and reusing old technology in other ways. I'm about to upgrade to a new PC and I have a lot of old radios, MP3 players and other electronic goods lying around the house. The article though is mostly about solutions in the UK, so I want to know - what is the best way to recycle old tech in the US?"
Damn (Score:2)
Re:Damn (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think I've ever had a monitor or computer make it through the night without a 'dumpster' diver type grabbing it for themselves....
Re:Damn (Score:5, Funny)
Some friends of mine worked in a retail store, and had an old dot matrix printer that still worked, but they were done with. They put it out by the dumpster with a "free" sign on it. It sat by the dumpster for weeks, until one of them went out and put a "$10, inquire inside" sign on it, and it walked off within the hour.
Re:Damn (Score:5, Funny)
Years ago, I was doing some HVAC work at an apartment community. This complex was made up of many buildings with several townhomes in each, all side by side. The electric meters for each townhome were grouped together on the back porch of one of the townhomes in each building. The particular condensing unit we were working on happened to be on the back porch where all the power meters were. While we were fixing it, the lady who lived in the house came out and asked us:
At this point, the other guy working with me (a real wise ass from NY) doesn't even skip a beat and says very matter of factly:
Now it's all I can do to keep from laughing in her face at this point, but somehow I manage. She seems satisfied and goes back inside.
About a week later, I go back to the same unit to check it out and make sure it's still working fine and EVERY SINGLE METER had a brick on top of it. I bet I laughed for an hour.
Re:Damn (Score:4, Insightful)
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Ok...and how else do you propose that I throw out my trash?? I put it to the curb...they take it away. Not sure how you
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Your heavy metals go into the landfill, and no landfill is 100% leak proof for all of eternity. The metals seep into the groundwater below said landfill. This water flows into the main water sources of the area, where your municipality DOES get it's water. This is a middle-school level physical science concept.
Re:And we all know that heavy metals come from? (Score:4, Informative)
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Re:And we all know that heavy metals come from? (Score:4, Informative)
I know you're trolling, but for anyone reading this and wondering;
The metals mentioned don't exist in nature*. Galena, Chromite, Cassiterite etc are ores which do exist in the environment and from which chrome, lead and tin etc are produced. They're relatively safe because they're locked in host rock and largely insoluble in water.
* Except crystalline lead in very rare circumstances.
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Hmm...lessee...I got a sunfire 280R the other day, and the T3 array for it...not sure what to do with it yet..but, may make it a database/web thing for a project I'm playing with. I have a sun ultra2 with linux on it...that is my dedicated email server....I've got a Dell 6300....dedicat
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YOu know...even with ALL the computers I have running 24/7 in my place....it is the A/C that is sucking up all the power in my place. I live down in the New Orleans area...and trust me...the A/C comes on in mid to
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I know, I know! (Score:5, Insightful)
EBay.
Seriously, what better way to not trash something by getting what life (or parts) are left in it?
People get some good money for hardly working/not working tech on EBay just for parts alone. And hell, you may have no use for that old P350 but someone else on there just might. Why not let them have it for a few bucks+shipping?
list of resources (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I know, I know! (Score:5, Informative)
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They're outdone by embedded chips in washing machines. No, really.
Re:I know, I know! (Score:5, Insightful)
I keep series of early PCs around for precisely this reason. Getting games like XCOM, Masters of Orion II, Might and Magic IV, Star Control II, Echelon, Privateer I/II, Wing Commander I/II/III, etc, etc can excruciatingly hard to get going without sound issues, with the proper framerate, with multiplayer (null modem) support etc...
I can be almost impossible unless running on real hardware from the era.
A P166 would make a good platform for late dos era games, and early win95 games.
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For reference, I've got a C2D E6300, 2 GB of RAM, and a GeForce 7900 GS. With DOSBox 0.72 under Windows XP, I can run Duke Nukem 3D at 320x200 between 50 and 70 FPS, and 640x480 at 30-50 FPS (obtained via FRAPS).
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Some of them will. A pile of them won't, or will run with 'issues'. And throwing more hardware at the problem doesn't help.
DOSBox still presents all kinds of glitches ranging from minor to unplayable. Some games work flawlessly, like Doom and Duke Nukem 3D... but then games like Mechwarrior II, or Destruction Derby 2 are practically unplayable, while games from the Wing Commander series all seem to require tweaking dosbox
Re:I know, I know! (Score:5, Informative)
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Here's a better way: http://www.wwcs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cr_home [wwcs.org]. They use the stuff to train at-risk youth in the tech trades. Drop-offs are free, pickups have a small fee ($150 for a semi-load -- they even palletize for you!). I send about 3 semis worth to them each year. The link is to a place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They might be able to help you find a similar program in your area.
Ebay and Craigslist and... (Score:2)
The best recycling is always as close to original use as possible. Free stuff gets picked up pretty fast from craigslist in my experience (used to work for usenet, but the spammers and jerks ran everyone off). You can always put stiplations on it, which aren't binding, but at least encourage people.
I recently got rid of over 6 linear feet of technical books I no longer need this way, and several old computers. A geek picked the books up, an
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Your desire to recycle tech is not passed on to your buyer, who is merely looking for cheap stuff.
That is not recycling.
There has to be SOMETHING better than eBay for this.
Send it to China ... It'll come back... (Score:5, Informative)
the US sends vast electronic garbage to China, and how some of the materials may be finding their way back here, in a not-so good way.
link [publicradio.org]
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The Electronics Takeback Coalition [computertakeback.com] runs a computer takeback campaign and maintains a list of electronics recyclers [computertakeback.com] who they have deemed "responsible" based on a pledge the listed recyclers have signed onto. The pledge includes no exporting, no sending to prisons (where labor safety standards are often nonexistent or unenforced), and not sending it to landfills or incinerators.
Here in San Francisco, I regularly bring recycling to Computer Recycling Center [crc.org] dropoffs. They even do pickups if you have at leas
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Except monitors. They, apparently, are evil.
Re:Send it to China ... It'll come back... (Score:4, Interesting)
China's idea of "recycling" is having lower income people burn the old parts in open drums to reclaim the metals. This process dumps tons of burned plastic residue, PCB's and metals such as mercury all over the local landscape. There are areas of China that are becoming almost inhabitable. Birth defects are increasing. The study she did went so far as to measure the significant increase in these chemicals in breast milk.
For most of these chemicals they were tracking, the only places in the world that higher concentrations in the environment were in areas of Taiwan where a lot of this is manufactured.
From a financial perspective US companies that are moving manufacturing to China are not really saving any money on the manufacturing costs. (My wife worked in the finance department for a major power tool manufacturer and others have shared similar stories) Where they are saving money is in not having to provide all the controls and filters that the EPA is requiring at their facilities. The Chinese government has been willing to sell the future health of the country in the name of economic progress. And American companies are all too willing to oblige.
"Freecycle" (Score:5, Informative)
Re:"Freecycle" (Score:4, Interesting)
Every time we have listed something, I said to myself "there is no way anyone wants that crap." And every time we immediately get multiple takers.
We listed the plants in a flowerbed we were going to pave over and within a couple of days someone came to our house, dug them out and carted them off.
What's the best way to recycle tech in the US? (Score:3, Funny)
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Freegeek! (Score:4, Informative)
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A little further south, in Eugene, Oregon Geeks Without Borders [gwob.org] does a similar thing, with a more international focus.
And, for actual junk, Nextstep Recycling and Computer Re-Use [nextsteprecycling.org] in Eugene will take almost anything, though they charge a fee for monitors, as just about everybody does.
Disclaimer: I helped found Geeks Without Borders, and currently sit on the board. I also helped with the startup of MacRenewal, the predecessor organization to Nextstep Recycling.
Goodwill (Seriously) (Score:2)
I've taken the time to tape a "Good" or "Bad" sticker to the top of my electronics as I retire them, just because
Nooooooooo! (Score:2, Insightful)
TDz.
You can still reuse parts from a older system..... (Score:4, Informative)
DVD / DVD rw drives are still useful in new systems.
Your old floppy drive will still work in your new system.
Older HD can go in to ext cases or be used as a temp / swap disk in new system as well.
Old mac G4 and G5 parts sell good on ebay like the cpus with HS, MB as well the PSU's and cases also DDR 1 ram is still used in many systems older but still in use systems.
High end sounds that a 1-2 years old are still better then todays on board sound.
Other pci cards that you used in the past likely will still work in your new system.
You use also reuse a old case and the fans from it in a new system as well.
Re:You can still reuse parts from a older system.. (Score:2)
I for example, still have several monocrome monitors hanging around, quite a few 5.14" floppy drives, a number of old ISA cards (modems, video cards, MIDI synthesizers, etc), and gobs of old AT cases and power supplies. This stuff is largely trash, but I feel guilty throwing out anything that still technically works.
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Floppy drive ports are still on new boards.
Well packed. (Score:3, Funny)
Give it to a pack rat. They'll pile it up with their other...treasures. Soon you'll read about the guy who couldn't get out of his house because the doors and windows were blocked.
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Working computer (Score:2, Informative)
This idea falls into the "Local Charity Shops". The main targets are probably either very large churches, private schools, and maybe very small churches. Heck, even the local Animal
What I do (Score:5, Informative)
Step 1: Find a local hamfest. Hamfests are held all around the country. Keep an eye out for the bigger ones. There's one in my town once a year, and it's one of the bigger ones around. I nab a table for $10, load it up with old crap, and try to sell it cheap. Minus the cost of the table and gas, I usually make a hundred here. Don't get excited yet. You'll need that money.
Step 2: Find a local recycling program. It just so happens that the county I live in has a recycling facility, and since their focus is not making money as much as it is proper disposal, they're the cheaper option. What I don't sell at hamfest gets taken there. Usually I ring up a good size bill, so financed by option 1 is a good thing.
Step 3: Find food. With the $20 or so left over after all expenses are paid, go eat. Now you just emptied the basement, did so responsibly, and got pizza out of the deal.
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Alternatively, find an electronics repair store. Drop off that 200lb. Sun CRT to get a repair estimate. Give them a false name. Run.
Caveats: only works once per shop, and the owner reserves the right to beat you mercilessly.
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Ambiguity (Score:2)
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Full-blown recycling that is fairly envirofriendly (Score:4, Informative)
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with them. We choose them solely because they guaranteed in writing that all of the IT waste would be processed in the US (not shipping to China) and that none of the IT waste would hit the landfill waste stream (everything is smelted down and recycled).
A large hole in the ground... (Score:2)
Reuse (Score:2)
Targets (Score:5, Funny)
What about Really Dead Stuff? (Score:2)
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(a) the magnets are actually worth something
(b) they are FUN as hell
(c) donate them to local elementary school science class
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However, you should inquire as to where this recycling center is located. Having your old HDs and monitors sent to China for reprocessing probably causes more environmental damage than simply throwing them away.
Ultimately, don't be afraid of paying the landfill a few bucks to properly dispose of your refu
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More non-answers! Apparently I'm not the only one who is at a loss here.
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Your local landfill will probably even give you a recycling credit giving you a discount on a load of garbage if you're taking some in at the same time.
And, there's lots of separate groups like Eugene Oregon's Freenet & Computer Re-use, though I'm not familiar with any centralized national source or listing. Though typing in your city name and "electronics recycling" to Google will likely give you something.
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1Gb is really old? My first hard drive was a 20 meg Seagate. Damn. I'm old.
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Burried Treasure (Score:2)
Just imaging discovering technology that is 5000 years old, especially if there is a world wide cataclysm and the technology is lost.
Costco has a recycling program now (Score:4, Informative)
Freecycle [freecycle.org] has already been mentioned elsewhere.
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TradeInProgram@greensight.com to me
Dear *my name removed*,
I'll be happy to answer your question. We do not send any of our equipment to China or any other country for processing. Some product is recycled within the USA in an environmentally friendly manner, other items that have some value are disassembled (at our facility) down to their component parts for use in the
Just throw it away (Score:4, Interesting)
Plasma Gasification (Score:4, Informative)
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_arc_gasification [wikipedia.org]
Figured I'd save others the Googling.
Staples (Score:3, Informative)
One word: (Score:3, Funny)
Back in College... (Score:2)
Donate your stuff. (Score:3, Informative)
Donate your stuff.
Also, check out your city's or county's website. They may have local programs for recycling old hardware.
Oh, yeah, you could also donate all your stuff to me.... :)
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Re-use (Score:2)
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Sculptures (Score:2, Interesting)
Donate to a charity (Score:3, Informative)
If you have old equipment that you'd like to donate to a charity, we'll put linux on it (if it's a PC) and ship it to poor kids in a developing nation.
If you're interested, feel free to email me at zavPublic (at) mac (dot) com
The link below is our first shipment.
http://web.mac.com/zav/iWeb/Zav-O-Matic/Off%20to%20Africa.html [mac.com]
Cheers,
- Zav
In Silicon Valley, go to Wierd Stuff Warehouse (Score:3, Informative)
Wierd Stuff Warehouse in Mountain View, CA offers free electronics recycling. If it works, they'll put it up for sale; if not, they'll scrap it properly.
Good place to get CRT monitors cheap, if you want one.
Question for the masses... (Score:2)
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For some more information, I suggest doing some searching on the internet [google.ca].
WARNING: Replacing CCFL's can be very dangerous! The chemicals within the tube are poisonous if inhaled.
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If you can't do that, then tell me the model number and I might pay the shipping to get it from you.
Mobile Phones (Score:2)
But I wish they could all be unlocked to use a low-power accesspoint in my home. The Bluetooth ones would be good as remote controls, if a Java or native applet could harness them.
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Pays you for phones in good condition. Recycles those that aren't.
Don't "just donate it to a school" (Score:4, Informative)
Yes, there are some places where any bit of hardware would be welcome, but the greater majority of NPOs need decent (read 2-4 year old) PCs, not the dinosaur in the basement. We need to access many of those blasted Flash-based sites, and old hardware just won't cut it like it anymore.
If possible, donate to a third-party refurbisher like this [jaredpolisfoundation.org]. Read through this [techsoup.org] for ideas on what NPOs really need. If you do want to donate an old beast that "runs Linux just fine", I encourage you to donate your time to teach and keep the machine up, too. It's hard to break the MS Charity Licensing habit, but it can be done with your help.
Please do the responsible thing, and don't donate your old tech to avoid paying to have it recycled. We barely have money to buy new parts and equipment, we don't have enough to pay for recycling the old stuff so you don't have to.
IDWAANPO: I do work at a non-profit.
Best way to recylcle old trash? (Score:2)
Dell/Goodwill have a program (Score:3, Informative)
Ken
Link: www.reconnectpartnership.com
FreeGeek (Score:3, Informative)
http://freegeek.org/ [freegeek.org]
Is there a FreeGeek branch near you? [freegeek.org]
Guidelines for what they will take [freegeek.org]
What they do with the stuff you give them [freegeek.org]
steveha
Export to China .. (Score:2)
Radio Shack recycles batteries... Or DO THEY? (Score:3, Interesting)
The guy behind the counter said, "That's fine, but if you really care about recycling, just know that if you leave them here, they'll go into the trash. I've never seen the battery recycle bin go anywhere else." I was astounded. I thanked him for his honesty and kept the batteries.
What's your experience with free recycling of batteries and the like at Radio Shack or other retailers?
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