REduce | REuse | REcycle
Recycling Computers
by Mike Thompson
t BB&C we have several ancient monitors and older computers taking up valuable storage space. I wanted to find a home, or a way to dispose of them, without BB&C getting a guest appearance on a CBC’s “Marketplace: High-Tech Trash”. The best written resource for recycling computers and peripherals I found is the Capital Regional District Recycling Guide. “The one-stop resource for all your recycling needs.”
This guide has a section on recycling computers, but most recyclers use the off-putting phrase “Small charges may apply.” Recycling of the computer case is not a problem; Budget Steel will take and crush any metal appliance, for free, 24 hours a day. However, computer monitors contain lead, tin, copper, phosphors and other materials toxic to the environment and even the plastic case contains toxic fire retardants that must be disposed of properly.
Of course, finding another use for your old equipment would be preferable to sending it to the recyclers. One such option is the “Computer in Schools Project”. They can use any working computer with a Pentium III or better processor and any 15 inch or larger monitor. They are located at S. J. Willis School 923 Topaz Avenue. Phone: 360-1490. [Or try our “For Sale” newsgroup -ed]
Hartland Landfill has a recycling area which will take upright computer towers, but not monitors. A map showing their location can be found in the CRD Recycling Guide described above.
The CRD Recycling Guide also lists the CRD hot-line at 360-3030 which put me in contact with Breakdown Recycling at Devonshire Road in Esquimalt (phone 381-2373). Unfortunately Breakdown Recycling in not listed in the CRD Guide, but they recycle computers, keyboards, mice, monitors printers and all computer peripherals. They recycle computers with monitors for $10 each. With no monitor, the computer recycling charge is $1 per computer. For this reasonable charge, they send the computer to Vancouver where the material is recovered and recycled in an environmentally friendly way.
