State has new mandates on recycling e-waste

There was a time when the price of a new computer was much higher than replacement components, so people chose to refurbish or replace parts rather than make a new purchase. That, too, has changed. Now, most consumers prefer to trash old PCs and purchase new ones. There is little incentive to do otherwise since the cost of refurbishing an old system or buying a new model with expanded features and new warranties is almost the same.

This situation, however, makes for a lot of unused computers - millions in fact. Ever wonder what happens to all these old computers? The State of Texas wants Texans to recycle them.

As of Sept. 1, an e-waste recycling program was established to ensure that computer retailers, manufacturers and the government are more responsible for the e-waste being generated. Legislators passed new laws attempting to stop or significantly slow e-waste in Texas. The public at large does not realize that electronic equipment quite often contains toxic substances that should be disposed of properly.

Additionally, many computers have CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors that contain anywhere from four to six pounds of lead. Dumping hundreds of pounds of lead into landfills is not good for the environment, the state's water or the health of future generations. On the more positive side, an average PC includes a number of recyclables that have value and should not be discarded. For instance, PCs can contain steel (40 percent), plastic (30-40 percent), aluminum (10 percent) and other metals like copper, gold, sliver, cadmium and platinum (10 percent).

New legislation in Texas (which became law in September) places responsibility for old computers on the shoulders of manufacturers. Before a computer can be sold in Texas, a manufacturer must have devised a recycling plan that is workable, efficient and free to consumers. Retailers in Texas can no longer sell computers until they are equipped with a label indicating that a recovery plan exists.

State agencies will undergo technology audits to ensure that manufacturers and retailers have complied with the new law. Lawmakers are counting on consumers to share in the responsibility for eliminating e-waste by recycling computers.

The National Recycling Coalition projects that computers will be replaced on an average of every two years, with 500 million PCs becoming obsolete each year. That amount of trash can consume a lot of space at any landfill, not to mention the loss of usable components and recyclable parts.

A number of computer manufacturers already have stepped up in support of the state's recycling efforts. Goodwill Industries may be a large benefactor.

When it's time to recycle, to check out TCEQ's list of recyclers of computer and electronic equipment click here.