According to the National Safety Council, our computers are promptly becoming obsolete. By next year, more computers will become obsolete than the number of new ones that will be sold.

For anyone that has watched this computer explosion erupt, this is not exactly earth-shattering information. Computers purchased 10 years ago for home use cost nearly three thousand dollars and by today's standards are now nearly worthless. It used to be that you would purchase as much computer power as your budget allowed, and then upgrade later. But now, you can buy four times as much "power" for half as much money, and people are more prone to throw out than upgrade.

Indeed, plenty of computers are being thrown out everyday. That means that they end up in our landfills and in our incinerators. Computers and related hardware contain toxins such as lead, mercury and acids. When they are thrown out and land filled or burned, these badies find their way into out drinking water, lakes, streams, soil and air. Not good for the environment -- or us.

The computer industry has come to the rescue. Several companies, including HP and Dell, have up and running recycling programs. The good stuff that can be re-used is in fact re-used. The really old materials are broken into little pieces and the metal and plastics are removed for recycling. The computer recyclables have value, which means that computer recycling is a win-win proposition. There are almost no losers at all.

The only losers are residents of communities that are not actively involved in recycling. Residents need to become involved and demonstrate to their local government leaders that the public wants computer hardware to be recycled, not land filled or burned.

The PAX Fund, a family of mutual funds, has already expressed its willingness to avoid investing in companies that do not support recycling and related environmentally friendly initiatives. Leaders are generally motivated to consider these kinds of "green issues."

Does your community recycle community hardware? Probably, it does not. If not, I suggest that you first arm yourself with pertinent information concerning the identity of harmful materials found in computers and what these materials can do if they are land filled or incinerated. This information is widely available on the Internet.

Once educated, find out who in your local government is responsible for recycling. Get that person's name, with proper spelling, his or her title and address. Then, write to the official and express your concern that old computers are not being recycled.

Local companies are starting to emerge that specialize in computer recycling. Since the recycled material has value, the process may cost little or nothing to your local government. At the same time, everyone will benefit from a healthier environment.

One computer-recycling firm can probably handle the waste from several counties, or perhaps even states. This means that special pickups will have to be advertised and scheduled. And multi- community organization and cooperation will be required.

Absent a squeaky wheel, or a now less-than-likely mandate from Washington, recycling of computer hardware is not going to happen by itself. You need to make it happen.

As I have mentioned, HP and Dell already have their own programs. I suggest that anyone who wants to organize such an initiative might want to contact these companies for help and guidance.

Additional Resources

• Electronics Industry Alliance

• Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Recycling and Economic Development Officials

• National Recycling Coaliton

For more articles by Stuart Leiberman, please press here.

Published: May 31, 2001

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq. writes about environmental issues. He was a New Jersey Deputy Attorney General assigned to the State Department of Environmental Protection from 1986 to 1990. Currently he is a shareholder in the environmental law firm of Lieberman & Blecher, P.C., located in Princeton, New Jersey. Stuart can be reached at slieberman@liebermanblecher.com.