Recycling

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Why Recycle Computers ?

Quoted from http://www.computertakeback.com/the_problem/index.cfm :

"Discarded computers and electronics are toxic hazardous waste. The 315 million or more computers that have or will become obsolete contain a total of more than 1.2 billion pounds of lead. About 40% of the heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, in landfills come from electronic equipment discards. The health effects of lead are well known; just 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury can contaminate 20 acres of a lake, making the fish unfit to eat."

Computers and computer hardware contain the following toxins:

  • Beryllium: Can damage bones, cause cancer
  • Cadmium: can cause kidney, liver, bone, and blood damage
  • Hexavalent chromium: can damage liver, kidney, nerve tissues
  • Lead: can cause vascular and kidney disease, brain disorders in young children

How FreeGeek Columbus Recycles

Any computer equipment, working or not, can be donated to FreeGeek Columbus; we will repair and reuse what computers we can. Non-functioning computers and scrap will be recycled responsibly. Computers that are deemed obsolete or broken are demanufactured and separated into their basic components. FreeGeek Columbus then works with local industrial recyclers to process the materials.

FreeGeek Columbus works with companies that we are confident are handling the materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

A special note about hard drives:
We will never boot from a hard drive before it has been wiped of data. Hard drives we are going to keep are wiped using Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). DBAN writes over the contents of the drive with random information several times, rendering the previous data unreadable for all practical purposes. If we are not going to reuse a hard drive, it is physically destroyed. Drives do not leave our possession before one of these methods is implemented. Data on donated hard drives is safe.

If you still have concerns, feel free to wipe the drive yourself with DBAN or a similar tool prior to bringing it in.

How You Can Help

  • Donate equipment!
  • Identify and sort donated materials.
  • Disassemble donated computers systems.
  • Help transport materials to our recyclers.

Recyclers We Have Used Before

Sierra Metals

Contact Information

  • Address: 224 Cedar Hill Rd, Lancaster, OH 43130 (Google Map)
  • Phone: (740) 653-8765

Joyce Iron and Metal

Contact Information

  • Address: 1283 Joyce Ave, Columbus, OH 43219 (Google Map)
  • Phone: (614) 299-4175

Siam Reclaimtech

Contact Information

About Recycling Computers in Ohio

According to the Ohio EPA

if you should decide to dispose of computers and monitors, you could be
considered a generator of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA requires generators of solid wastes
containing toxic constituents (such as lead and barium) to determine
whether or not the waste is hazardous by using generator knowledge or by
testing representative samples of that waste. If you do not test used
computers and monitors and prove them non-hazardous, you must assume they
are hazardous waste and dispose of them at a permitted hazardous waste
facility or recycle them.

Sounds scary! Not really, if you (or we) do the right thing and recycle
either though FreeGeek Columbus or via a local recycle program you are safe.