Do the Right Thing: Recycle your Computer Wisely By Ifny Lachance, FreeGeek In IT, innovation makes all the difference. It's often change or die. Organisations like Free Geek Vancouver use innovation to change lives, while giving the public new, more sustainable options. E-waste: The Dirty Little Secret You're upgrading. Time to give the old Tandy the heave ho. But your choice of recycler could have serious implications for you, your business, and even the planet. Computer components play host to some of the most persistent pollutants found in the biosphere; once there, the sky's the limit, right down to your local Vancouver toystore. Electronic trash is now considered the most heavily traded toxic waste in the world. Unfortunately, at present about 80% of North American hardware is brokered and sold, often illegally, directly offshore to poorer countries. Unscrupulous exporters and brokers conceal the contents of shipments, referring to toxic waste as "recyclables" or "plastic waste." More cynically, they pretend that shipments are bound for repair or charitable re-use abroad. About 75% of computers sent to cities like Lagos, Nigeria for this purpose are irredeemable junk on arrival. Often, drives are not wiped and company stickers are still affixed to systems. There, "recycling" generally consists of haphazard dumping, burning, and picking through by unprotected workers. Circuit boards are held one-by-one over coal fires to melt off the lead solder. Hydrochloric acid solutions in open vats are sloshed over chips and cards to remove the gold, and poured into the nearest water supply or onto the ground. Piles of wires are burned. Monitors tubes are smashed with hammers to recover the copper yoke, exposing workers to phosphor compounds. Leftover leaded glass and plastic junk is dumped in irrigation canals or fields. You to the Rescue! Reduce, Re-use, Recycle! Ten years ago, the average life span of a computer was six years. Now it's two. Canadians generate 70,000 tons of computer waste annually; that's about 2,800,000 computers. According to the UN, 50 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year globally. n the midst of a huge surplus of unwanted computers, people who cannot afford one continue to left behind, unable to compete in an economy where computers skills are essential. To avoid contributing to e-waste abuses, or being liable for data found floating around the global village, research recyclers carefully. Look for one who is transparent in its practices, and cooperative with your questions. Beware big promises of data security and complete destruction. Believe it when you see it. In addition, your choice of computer recycler offers a great opportunity to connect with the community and publicise your company's civic spirit, if you choose an organisation dedicated to re-use. Employees can be encouraged to get in on the event by bringing their old hardware to the office as well. Re-use is considered by many to be the highest form of recycling, as it reduces consumption and prevents waste, while conserving resources required to manufacture new goods. When choosing a re-use organisation, again, do your research; some organisations claim to donate to the needy, but actually broker their donations offshore. Use a reputable re-use organisation like Computers for Schools http://www.cfsbc.ca/ or Free Geek Community Technology Centre http://freegeekvancouver.org. Before you give up your hardware to anyone, ask the hard questions. What is a company's environmental/business record like? Where do they send their materials? What do they do with your data? Can you visit their facility if so desired? How transparent are they? Do they ship overseas? Where? Beware that materials can pass through many hands, and they may be unaware, or mislead you intentionally. Use Google and watchdog organisations like the Better Business Bureau and Basel Action Network as informative resources. http://www.ban.org Also, when upgrading, consider buying refurbished systems from reputable organisations instead of new, and repairing or replacing parts rather than entire systems whenever possible. --- The Free Geek Community Technology Centre started in Portland, OR in 2000; it has since expanded to seven other North American cities. In November 2007, Vancouverites took the Free Geek blueprint in hand and opened their own non-profit recycling, remanufacturing and volunteer/education centre. Free Geek accepts all donated computer equipment, working or not. Free refurbished computers and education are given to volunteers, while its Hardware Foundation grants free equipment to non-profits. Non-reusable hardware is dismantled and ethically recycled as locally as possible. Their facility also features a computer thrift shop, data quarantine, public computer lab, computer museum, and ongoing free and open source workshops and events.