How to Properly Manage Your Old Electronic Equipment
A Guide for Consumers and Businesses

Over the last two decades, spectacular advances in technology have led to a dramatic increase in our reliance on electronic products. Televisions, computers, wireless phones, copiers, fax machines, telephones, and VCRs, are just some of the electronics that have become a central part of our everyday lives.

As product innovations multiply and electronic product use increases, the lifespan of electronic equipment has shrunk. Televisions and fax machines may operate for many years, but several electronic products quickly become obsolete when newer, quicker, or better equipment and software hit the shelves. Expensive products are suddenly worth little or nothing, even though we may not want to admit it. As a consumer or a business owner, the question emerges of what to do with old electronic equipment that no longer fully meets your needs and has little residual value.

The purpose of this guide is to encourage you to find ways to reuse and recycle old electronic equipment. Doing so will help others and help the environment

Electronics Waste: A Growing Phenomenon

A recent study estimates that over 20 million personal computers became obsolete in the United States in 1998. Between 1997 and 2007, nearly 500 million personal computers will become obsolete-almost two computers for each person in the United States. Some studies predict that a large number of televisions will be disposed when high definition television becomes widely available. Many used televisions, monitors, printers, and other types of electronic equipment are finding their fate in attics, basements, and warehouses. Businesses and households keep these products because they believe that they may still be valuable, but the longer equipment remains in storage, the less useful it becomes.

Fortunately, a growing network of reuse and recycling organizations provides an environmentally and economically sound alternative to disposing of electronic equipment. In addition, a growing number of local governments are looking for ways to encourage alternative management methods to solid waste disposal for these products.

The Importance of Reusing or Recycling Electronic Equipment

Many state and local government agencies are concerned about how to ensure proper management of older electronic equipment. While end-of-life electronics currently comprise only a small amount (1 to 2 percent) of the municipal waste stream, that percentage is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years. Electronic products often contain hazardous and toxic materials that pose environmental risks if they are landfilled or incinerated. Televisions and video and computer monitors use cathode ray tubes (CRTs), which have significant amounts of lead. Printed circuit boards contain primarily plastic and copper, and most have small amounts of chromium, lead solder, nickel, and zinc. In addition, many electronic products have batteries that often contain nickel, cadmium, and other heavy metals. Relays and switches in electronics, especially older ones, may contain mercury. Also, capacitors in some types of older and larger equipment that is now entering the waste stream may contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Because of the presence of these hazardous or toxic substances, state and federal hazardous waste regulations may apply to handling disposal of certain types of electronic equipment. These regulations make businesses potentially liable for improper disposal of electronics. One state has gone so far as to ban landfilling or incineration of certain types of electronic equipment, such as TVs and monitors (because of the lead-containing CRT) and batteries. For more information on regulations impacting electronics, go to http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/

Reusing and recycling electronic equipment is a beneficial alternative to disposal. Reuse and recycling reduces the amount of toxic and hazardous substances that may enter the environment through disposal. By extending the useful life of products, reuse conserves the energy and raw materials needed to manufacture new products, and doing so reduces the pollution associated with energy use and manufacturing. Recycling electronic equipment also conserves energy and raw materials and reduces pollution in manufacturing by allowing product constituents, such as metals and plastics, to be reclaimed and used in other products.

Options for End-of-Life Computers
First Choice: Reuse

Reuse is the environmentally preferable option for managing older electronic equipment. Extending the life of old products minimizes the pollution and resource consumption associated with making new products. Reuse also gives people who cannot afford new products access to electronic equipment at reduced or no cost. Some states exempt electronic equipment earmarked for reuse from hazardous waste regulations which apply to transportation and handling. Massachusetts, for instance, has relaxed its hazardous waste transportation regulations for computer monitors and televisions that are to be reused or recycled. In Minnesota and Florida, electronic equipment generated by businesses and consolidated from household collections are managed under streamlined special hazardous waste requirements. Some states are working to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste requirements for these materials.

Many nonprofit and charitable organizations are able to accept working electronic equipment, particularly computers, and offer them to schools, community organizations, and needy individuals. Throughout the country, these organizations help match equipment donors with recipients, and provide computers, training services, and access to the Internet. Many local charitable organizations such as Goodwill and Salvation Army accept, resell, or donate older electronic equipment. These and other nonprofit organizations may be able to provide documentation of your donation, so that it may be applied toward your federal income tax return. Large companies, in particular, can take advantage of the 21st Century Classrooms Act for Private Technology Investment. Under this legislation, corporations can deduct from the full purchase price of computers if the equipment is no more than two years old. Corporations can utilize annual depreciation deductions; in essence, companies can receive double tax benefits.

Some reuse operations, particularly charitable organizations, do not have the technical staff on hand to assist with system assembly, repair and upgrading. Thus, it is important that when exploring a reuse option for your used electronics, you do not donate non-working equipment working or pieces of equipment that are part of a larger system, unless you have checked with the reuse organization and they have the capability to accept equipment in such forms. For instance, many reuse organizations only accept computers of a certain processor speed. Some schools and organizations, however, accept any type of working computer because they use software specifically designed to increase the utility of older computers.

Sidebar: For a list of quality organizations to donate your computers, visit the NRC web site at http://www.nrc-recycle.org/default.htm

Second Choice: Recycle

If electronic equipment is too old to be reused or is broken beyond repair, you may send it to one of the many companies that specialize in disassembling electronics, salvaging parts, and selling reclaimed materials. Many types of electronic equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers, and scanners, contain materials suitable for reclamation and use in new products. These materials include plastic, glass, steel, aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and other metals. Since electronics recycling operations typically require a mix of automated processing and manual labor, both of which have costs, there may be a charge associated with recycling your computer. Before choosing a recycler, check to make sure that the firm meets all applicable state and local regulatory requirements and that it properly manages the recovered materials. To find out more about the regulations that apply in your state, you should contact the environmental agency in your state. You can find the appropriate person in your state by visiting NRC's website at (insert web address) and looking for the contact in your state that will be able to help you answer questions about transporting and recycling electronic equipment. ITRenew is licensed by the State of California and a registered ISO 14001 company.

Some communities have ongoing programs to collect electronic equipment from their residents, while other communities sponsor collection events during the year. Depending on the collection, some communities will accept materials from both households and businesses. Visit the NRC website to find out if an electronics recycling collection event is scheduled in your community.

Find a Recycler in Your Area

NRC maintains a database of electronics recyclers and local municipal/residential programs in the United States. The database is available on the NRC website and may be searched by state. Go to http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/electronics/search/getlisting.php to access the database. ITRenew is the premier e-Waste and asset management/recycling company in the greater San Jose area.

Sidebar: If you own a computer, ask the manufacturer or the retailer that you purchased the computer from to take the computer back. A small, but increasing number of computer manufacturers are providing this service for households. Take back and asset management services are already available for large purchasers of computer equipment.

Questions to Consider

Whether you are an individual with a single item or a small business with many different types of electronics, you should ask a reuse organization or a recycler questions about what will happen to your electronic equipment. The following are some questions to consider when selecting an electronics reuse or recycling organization:

• What does the organization do with the electronic equipment it receives? Does it refurbish the equipment and sell it to another user? Does it dismantle the equipment and sell the disk drives, memory chips, and other components? Does it send materials to a metals reclamation plant or smelter? Does it process the plastic, metal, and glass for shipment to other companies that use the materials to produce recycled products?
• How much of the equipment does the organization send to disposal (landfill or incinerator)? If some material is sent to disposal, who is responsible for paying related transportation and disposal costs?
• If donated, does the organization provide you with documentation of your donation, so that you may apply it toward your federal tax return?
• Does the organization have the necessary state and local permits or otherwise meets the relevant state and federal requirements for transporting and handling hazardous materials and end-of-life electronic equipment?
• For small businesses: Does the organization provide you with a complete inventory of the equipment you are sending to be recycled, including property tags? Does the organization provide a certificate that indicates how much material was received and how it was processed? This information is important for your tax records and to contest any future liability claims.
• Does the recycler have a documented hazardous waste disposal plan?
• Does the company offer data security?
• Does the company offer environmental liability protection?
• Does the organization export or broker for export used electronic equipment? If so, consider the following information:

Some U.S. electronics recycling companies export end-of-life electronic equipment to less-developed foreign countries. Scrap materials are often exported because the recipient country has lower processing costs. Lower processing costs are often attributable to lower labor costs. However, the recipient country may also have less protective environmental standards.

Because some electronic products contain hazardous constituents, firms that export equipment or scrap materials to less developed countries may need to comply with applicable international laws and agreements on the export of hazardous substances. Equipment that is sent to foreign countries to be reused for its original purpose is subject to less stringent standards than scrap materials. If a recycler plans to export materials, you should ask if the recycler plans to meet notice and consent procedures specified under international laws and bilateral agreements.

Making Electronic Product Recycling Easier in the Future

One way to make recycling electronic products easier is to make wise purchasing decisions. Instead of buying new electronic products, consider repairing or upgrading your current system. If you decide to buy new equipment, ask the equipment manufacturer about reuse and recycling options such as product takeback programs. To promote the use of reused and recycled products, purchase equipment designed for easy repair and upgrade. Consider installing software that runs on older systems, which will enable the next user to make maximum use of an older computer. You may also consider leasing equipment that can be returned to the manufacturer when it is no longer needed.