It's great to get the a new computer with the latest bells and whistles, but what do you do with the old stuff? It's a common question. Most families replace their home computers every three to five years. Businesses keep them around only about two years. That makes old computers and other electronic devices the fastest growing segment of what we throw away. Studies show that more than 315 million desktop and laptop computers will become obsolete in the U.S. in the next few years – that's roughly one computer for every American.
Computers commonly contain more than a dozen metals. The good news is that some of those metals – like platinum, silver and gold – can be very valuable when they are recycled. One metric ton of circuit boards and other electronic computer scrap contains more gold than 17 tons of gold ore!
The bad news is that computers also contain high amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium and other metals that can be hazardous. Those 315 million computers we'll be throwing away contain 1.2 billion pounds of lead. Hazardous metal pose a threat to humans, animals and plants, and that makes computer disposal a global health and environmental concern.
In Lincoln, businesses are not allowed to dispose of their computer equipment in the landfill. Information on how businesses can donate or recycle their computers is included on this page.
Households, however, are exempt from these regulations. So what do families do with those old relics? About 25 percent go directly to the landfill. The other 75 percent are stored by their owners because they are perceived to have some value. Many of those are eventually thrown out as well.
Recycling is always the best option for disposing of computers, and it's easy! See the web page information on donating or recycling your old home equipment. And if you have questions on computer recycling, just pick up the phone and call the Recycling Hotline at 441-8215.
