Thread: e -Waste

Aren't most parts of a computer recyclable? When my mother got a new computer Apple payed for the shipment of the old computer back to them for recycling. I think all electronics companies should do that.

This past summer a group came to a local plaza and collected any old electronics for recycling. We gave them some telephones, computers, and lots of other junk we had laying around.

If it has a Compaq-compatible cd-drive that works, I'll take that part My old laptop has no OS and the cd drive is junk, so I can't load one on.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

If it has a Compaq-compatible cd-drive that works, I'll take that part My old laptop has no OS and the cd drive is junk, so I can't load one on.

If it has a USB drive some BIOSes can be set to boot from a thumb drive. You could put Linux on it that way.

I have given The DOHWP (Disposal of hazardous waste products) your contact info so that you can take all of their junk -or pieces parts to use.

The only thing that works well is the keyboard. It is seven years old and is not compatible to much -believe me, I've tried.

Their is a recent article in THE National Geographic that would just blow your mind. It is about the computer waste that we ship to foreign countries.
unbelievable.

See if I can find a link.

Originally Posted by Man of Steel

If it has a USB drive some BIOSes can be set to boot from a thumb drive. You could put Linux on it that way.

Ya, it can't do that. It has USB 2.0 ports, but the hubs are not full 2.0 speed, and it will only boot from multibay or hard disk. It's reconditioned, and probably originally from '01-'03

HIGH-TECH TRASH

I found the article. I can't find the picures. The pictures are just, hard to believe.

I remember hearing about e-waste over 10 years ago when I lived in Brazil. The news channel there showed videos of all the VCRs and TVs that were being thrown out here in the US. It really shocked me back then, especially seeing all those VCRs being thrown out because I didn't have one and my dad didn't want to buy one either.

There is a Photo Gallery on the bottom left side of that link you posted. I'm not sure if those are the pictures you were talking about, but they are pretty shocking.

Yaa, that's insane. Those pictures.

Soon we will supposedly HAVE to swith over to HD television. If you want TV. Much like you saw with the VCRs and old Tape recorders. They are obsolete.
Computers...sheesh, they are outdated a day after you buy them.

Originally Posted by Howie

Soon we will supposedly HAVE to swith over to HD television. If you want TV. Much like you saw with the VCRs and old Tape recorders. They are obsolete.
Computers...sheesh, they are outdated a day after you buy them.

Yeah, and in 2009, the signal for the TVs here in the US will be switched to digital only. Any older TV that uses the "rabbit ears" antenna won't work anymore. So that's more e-waste...

Now, as far as computers go. Anytime I upgrade mine, I save the older parts because you can always do something with spare computer parts... build a new system, give it to someone else who needs it, etc. What ends up happening though, is that I never use them (why go to the hassle to build a new slower system when mine is working better) and I eventually throw the parts away anyway.

Now, my best solution for taking care of CRT monitors is to get a baseball bat and beat the living crap out of it. I've done it twice before. Ahhh... it's such a great therapy.

In some U.S. cities, you'll find NGOs that will take old computer parts off your hands. I forget what the one where I used to live was called...I think FreeGeek or something like that.

One of the more sinister U.S. solutions to e-waste is to "donate" used and reconditioned electronics to China and India, where they crap out six months later and become China's and India's problem.

Originally Posted by tyrantt23

Now, my best solution for taking care of CRT monitors is to get a baseball bat and beat the living crap out of it. I've done it twice before. Ahhh... it's such a great therapy.

Careful, those things have enormous capacitors in them which hold about several thousand volts.

Be careful with electronic recycling. Typically what happens, is the old equipment is shipped to third world countries where the only job available for the impoverished locals is picking apart old circuit boards for the metals they are composed of. These villages are home to mountains of old electronics and the residents are exposed to mercury poisoning, lead poisoning, etc. etc.

Originally Posted by tyrantt23

Yeah, and in 2009, the signal for the TVs here in the US will be switched to digital only. Any older TV that uses the "rabbit ears" antenna won't work anymore. So that's more e-waste...

Now, as far as computers go. Anytime I upgrade mine, I save the older parts because you can always do something with spare computer parts... build a new system, give it to someone else who needs it, etc. What ends up happening though, is that I never use them (why go to the hassle to build a new slower system when mine is working better) and I eventually throw the parts away anyway.

They make it so you don't want to hassle with it. Shit, every time you upgrade they practically will throw in the components that you would otherwise save.
Oh... the Digital thing is what I was talking about. ~ Or don't know what I am talking about. I don't think that HD has anything to do with it.

Now, my best solution for taking care of CRT monitors is to get a baseball bat and beat the living crap out of it. I've done it twice before. Ahhh... it's such a great therapy.

Funny you say that. I have a shooting range and the old PC is sitting there, on death row. Waiting for the 44 magnum!


Taosaur, What is NGOs?

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Careful, those things have enormous capacitors in them which hold about several thousand volts.

WHOOOO. What if one of those third world countries discover how to make a bomb out of them?
We may want to consider unilateral sanctions?

Here is a link to the works of an artist (Chris Jordan) that depicted the every day waste and consumption in the American life. The pictures are scary and impressive.

example:
Depicts 426,000 cell phones, equal to the number of cell phones retired in the US every day.


Partial zoom:


Detail at actual size:

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Careful, those things have enormous capacitors in them which hold about several thousand volts.

whoa... lol.
I figured the glass and the cathode ray tube would be the most dangerous part of it. Good thing I didn't get hurt...

NGO: non-governmental organization, a.k.a. non-profit.

Yeah, digital doesn't mean HD. HD is a subset of digital.

I have looked at that link Tyrant and I just can't quit looking at it. It is hard to believe, assuming everything is accurate.

Originally Posted by Howie

I have looked at that link Tyrant and I just can't quit looking at it. It is hard to believe, assuming everything is accurate.

Hey, I'm glad you liked the link.

I'm pretty sure everything is as accurate as an average statistic can be. That artist got pretty famous from those pictures. He even went on the Colbert Report. It's a really neat 6-minute interview, and he also shows a really crazy picture that has to do with aluminum can waste... here's the link to the inverview.

I'd really want to see an exhibition of his work at an art gallery. It would be neat to look at the huge panels of those pictures.