Computer Waste Strategy

Every time a computer system is reused, earth resources are saved in energy and all the components that go into the making of the equipment. Therefore refurbishing and recycling computer equipment is an integral part of waste strategy.

On the one hand "As 75% of environmental damage occurs within PC production process ……..extending a PC's useful lifespan is one of the most effective options to reducing their environmental cost" (Computing August 2007)

On the other hand, a study done by European web hosting provider Amenworld showed that, on average, servers needlessly use 1000 kWh of energy, producing an excess of 632Kg of CO2 per server per year. UK web hosting provider Memset recently stated that "ripping and replacing" servers that are over three years old is essential.

Another factor is that as computers gets less expensive, maintenance is not always a viable option as repairing costs do not reduce accordingly.

Recycling makes better use of our limited resources as the fewer virgin materials and the less energy we use to make new products , the less resources we need to extract and the less the environmental impact.

Recycling reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.

Business users and computer recyclers therefore have to consider whether to keep the equipment in use or to recycle. Recycling can be a viable option that can generate some income for the organisation through resale of reusable parts, and an efficient and earth friendly method of disposal. It could save both on excessive use of energy and production of CO2, and on re-use of the equipment through component and materials salvage.

Computer Facts Approximately 2 million tonnes of WEEE is collected each year in the UK, and this is increasing. Sources state that 98% could be returned as materials to the manufacturing supply chain if handled in the optimum manner. Approximately 90 million mobile phones which are no longer used could release 18 tonnes of copper, 428,000 ounces of silver and 85,000 ounces of gold. What equipment is classed as WEEE? Computers and telecommunications Photocopiers, mobile phones, printers Test and monitoring equipment, control instruments Medical equipment Electronic games and sports equipment, ATMs, ticket machines Vending and slot machines .....if it has an electric current going through it, to be safe, treat it as WEEE.

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