The number of homes that have a computer is a sign of the development and prosperity of a nation. A country's recycling of high-tech products has also become a sign of an evolved nation. Computers are a significant contributor to landfills, and with the hazardous materials they contain, they have become a biohazard. The reasons to recycle computers are numerous.
Reuse Programs
People recycle to help others. One form of "recycling" is to simply pass the computer to someone else who can use it. This keeps the computer out of the entire disposal system. It also can offer usable technology to someone who could otherwise not afford it. There are programs to donate computers to schools, non-profits and even other countries. Aside from feeling gratitude or personal satisfaction for the donation, it might be possible to get a tax deduction for this kind of action.
Hazardous Materials
Recycling gets hazardous materials where they belong. Computers are composed of many materials. Early computers contained gold, which was enough to justify saving them. Gold hasn't been used in computers in many years, but many toxic materials have been. Cathode ray tubes contain lead. Computers may also contain barium, beryllium, cadmium, lithium and PCBs, all harmful to human health. Putting these in a landfill could lead to them leaching out into the local soil or water.
Landfills
Recycling keeps computers out of landfills. Some estimates put the number of computers in landfills at over 10 million a year. That represents a lot of volume. The metal might eventually decompose, but "eventually" is a whole lot longer with the plastics in computers. Keeping the toxins out of landfills is important, too.
Usable Parts
As mentioned, some older computers have gold. Many have copper, cobalt and nickel. All are worth recovering. The metal parts can be recycled. But before seeing that old computer as scrap, consider that many components are reusable. Various commercial companies remove and sell usable parts from discarded computers. Keyboards, mice, memory cards and power cords are often perennially useful.
Upgrade
Saving money is one reason to recycle. One more way to recycle a computer is not to recycle it at all, but upgrade it. Computers that are less than five years old can usually be upgraded to be current, which likely means saving money over buying a new one.
It's the Law
Avoiding penalties is a motivation for recycling. Federal law prevents improper handling of toxic materials, and most states prohibit the improper disposal of computers. Throwing a computer into the dumpster can lead to significant fees. Many computers do end up in landfills. However, most computers have tracking information imbedded in them, and there's a risk the purchaser might be identified. Following these laws makes good sense all the way around.
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