When it's time to upgrade your computer, consider recycling your old equipment rather than throwing the machine in the trash. Computer recycling can benefit your local community and the entire planet. Many local governments offer computer recycling programs to provide computers to those in need. Also check with local charities and thrift stores, many of which accept donated used computers for recycling. Some computer manufacturers take back their old computers for recycling when you are done with them.
Keep Harmful Chemicals Out of the Environment
Computer equipment contains harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury, according to the website for the E-Cycle program in Washington. When computers are thrown into landfills or incinerated, these chemicals can escape as the units deteriorate, causing environmental damage. By taking your old computer to a dedicated computer recycling center, you ensure that any toxic chemicals will be properly handled as your computer is recycled and repurposed. When harmful chemicals are handled expertly, they do not pose a risk to the environment or human health, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Help Local Communities
Computer recycling programs take broken or outdated machines and turn them into new, working computers. Even if your old computer does not function properly, computer recycling experts can remove the parts of your machine that still work and combine them with parts from other computers to create new machines. In many areas, these new computers are donated to schools and community groups. According to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, this form of recycling saves money and provides much-needed equipment to groups who would not be able to afford computers otherwise.
Save Energy and Natural Resources
The EPA claims that recycling 1 million laptop computers saves the equivalent of energy used by 3,657 U.S. homes in one year. By reusing valuable materials from old computers, manufacturers save energy that would otherwise be spent mining and producing new computer equipment. Computers contain numerous valuable natural resources such as gold and copper. When you recycle your computer, the precious metals from your old machine can be used to create new machines. By reusing natural resources in computer recycling, computer manufacturers save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prolong the life of the planet's natural resources.
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