Why Recycle?

• All of the hazardous materials involved are not only accounted for, but either recycled or properly disposed of.
• Recycling makes sense economically and greatly reduces your environmental liability.
• Recycling enables us to conserve valuable resources.  Reclaiming precious metals, copper, steel, aluminum, plastic, and CRT glass displaces the use of virgin materials and conserves energy and natural resources.
• Recycling saves valuable landfill space.
• Recycling greatly reduces lead emissions from incinerators, thus helping to reduce air pollution.
• Recycling is the legally, morally, and politically correct thing to do, and could help companies meet their recycling mandates.

 

Businesses today are increasingly faced with the dilemma of disposing of obsolete electronics equipment. This unwelcome byproduct of the computer age is the result of the technology explosion, with lower prices for more powerful and flexible machines. The bulky systems of yesterday are being replaced by smaller, more efficient machines, capable of multiple tasks. Consequently, American businesses are discarding equipment, that was once a re-sell asset, at an alarming rate.
 

Environmental Considerations

Electronic equipment can contain a variety of toxic materials that are detrimental to the environment if not properly disposed. Those responsible for disposing of such materials can be held liable, and face possible fines for unlawful disposal. One of the toxic materials is lead. Lead, combined with tin solder, is used in the production of electronic circuit boards found inside all computers, communications equipment, televisions, video cassette recorders, radios, etc. In addition, lead is used in the production of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) or "picture tubes", which can be found in televisions and computer monitors.  Lead is essential here because it absorbs radiation of x-rays produced by rapid deceleration of electrons inside the CRT, which would otherwise result in harmful health effects to those watching or repairing the screen. Older electronic equipment, particularly that produced before 1980, can contain additional toxic chemicals. These "dinosaurs" may use capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs) or relay switches containing mercury. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers both of these chemicals highly toxic.