How do you recycle computers and electronics components? Describes how electronics and computer components are recycled, reused and re-sold. Today, recycling is one of the most important things we can do...
Today, recycling is one of the most important things we can do to help save our environment and make our planet a better place for our kids to live.
But just saying that you are going to recycle and actually recycling are two different worlds.
But just saying that you are going to recycle and actually recycling are two different worlds.
People who do recycle do so because they know how beneficial this process can be for the environment in the near future. The ones that don't recycle either feel they don't have the time or don't know how much every single piece helps.
One item that is very important in the area of recycling is computers and their electronic components.
Many states have passed laws governing the way that computers can be disposed of. There are even nonprofit organizations that will refurbish a computer so that it can be made usable again.
Before most consumers will fall head over heels into the process of recycling, many say that understanding the process can do wonders in helping to promote the importance.
Becky Harwell, the owner of Axcess Technologies in Austin, Texas, has been involved in electronic recycling for ten years and has a complete understanding of how computers and electronic components are recycled.
"It is quite a process," she said. "For instance we work with, say, a manufacturing equipment manufacturer (somebody who makes the tools that build the parts that go into computers.) Those tools, because they typically are working in clean room environments, have a very, very high grade metal content."
"For instance, many of these tools are made of straight stainless steel," she added. "However, the metal will have contaminants on them. They may have brass fixtures or they might have copper tubing on them. Whenever you have commingled metals like that, you decrease the value."
It's not easy having metals separated. According to Harwell, they have machines called OS that separate the metals so that they can be used more fittingly.
"OS will actually separate these large tools," she said. "These are huge. We're talking about two ton size pieces of equipment. They will separate the metal. They can take the brass valves off or take the copper tubing off. This way, you actually produce a clean commodity to the market."
Producing a clean commodity to the market is a must. And even though metal recyclers will tell you that bringing in your electronic components to be looked at is a great idea, don't expect every component to be usable. Not all components are usable by the companies, but they will be disposed of in a way that is helpful to the environment.
"Our general rule of thumb is to always evaluate the materials," Harwell said. "When we evaluate this material, we're looking for the ratio of recoverable materials to lower grade materials like plastics. All materials are certainly recyclable, but in terms of value of recovery, it's very negligible in terms of what you can get out of plastic. We ask ourselves, "What is the value of this potential piece of equipment?"
