| If your computer, fax machine, printer or other | | | | Foundation that donate your recycled computer to |
| electronic equipment has given up the ghost and | | | | non profit organizations after they have been |
| needs to be disposed of, do not throw it into the | | | | repaired. There is also VOTC a charitable organization |
| trash to become another problem for proper disposal. | | | | renowned for its work in Russia and in Mexico with |
| These items contain such contaminants as lead, | | | | street children. They will repair and use your |
| mercury and toxic substances that make them | | | | computer and electronic equipment and software to |
| ineligible to be disposed of in landfills. They should be | | | | benefit the education of these children. VOTC is an |
| recycled. Your dead PC is considered hazardous | | | | acronym for Voice of the Children. |
| waste by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | | | | |
| and the problem this hazardous waste is creating is | | | | Most electronic manufacturing programs have a |
| growing. In the United States alone, about 30 million | | | | recycling program of some sort, although the larger |
| computers are considered scrap each year, adding | | | | manufacturers will charge you a fee and want you to |
| hazardous amounts of toxic chemicals into our land | | | | do the packing and to ship the item to them. The |
| fills. And it is not just our computers that add to the | | | | Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition publishes a report that |
| problem but telecommunication and electric | | | | will tell you which manufacturers that will responsibly |
| equipment does as well. | | | | take back and item for recycling. |
| | | | | |
| Here are several ways you can dispose of your | | | | As you can see, there are many governmental and |
| computer or other electronic equipment and each, in | | | | nongovernmental agencies to which you can send |
| their own way, are recycling programs. Not | | | | your computer and other electronic equipment to be |
| everything that is recycled is broken down and made | | | | recycled. There are also some nongovernmental |
| into something else. Sometimes the item being | | | | recyclers that will repair your old computers or |
| recycled, like the computer, can be repaired and sold | | | | electronics and sell them sharing the profit from the |
| or donated. There are lists available from the National | | | | sale with you. Recycling your old or nonfunctioning |
| Directory of Computer Recycling Programs that will | | | | computer or electronic equipment is not difficult. It |
| give you the name of someone that will recycle your | | | | does however require some research as to how you |
| old computer in your area. | | | | want to handle it and who you want to do the |
| | | | | recycling. Your computer has treated you well over |
| There is also the Back Thru The Future Micro | | | | the years, so don't just dump in on a heap and have |
| Computers, Inc. They will take all desktop equipment | | | | it contribute to environmental pollution. Give it the |
| such as computers, monitors, etc. and recycle them | | | | opportunity to be useful again and perhaps add |
| for use by schools, governmental institutions and | | | | something to the life of someone who will not |
| individuals. There are companies like East West | | | | normally be able to afford it otherwise. |