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Can anyone advise on the most environmentally friendly way to get rid of computer equipment (printers, scanners, modems,etc) that are no longer working? We have tried offering them on freecycle etc, but not surprisingly no ones really that interested in things that don't work. We have always prided ourselves in making do with the things we have and only replacing if absolutely neccessary (the scanner is almost 10 years old!). But we now have a few things that have completely packed it in and despite our best efforts, we can not make them work. We thought we could keep plugs and transformers and maybe re-use them. But what to do we the rest of it? Are there other bits we should be trying to re-use? If not, does it all simply go in the bin? Any advice much appreciated.

Tara

Hi Tara,
Wish I had a universal answer for this one, but I just don't. My old monitor is still sitting on the floor acting as a shelf for me pile other bits of junk on in my office.

I do not and will not send my hard-drives to public landfill, and that is a security issue more so than an environmental one, to be honest. In many moons from now, archeoligists will have a field day recreating my life from their adventures around my farm though.

There is no real solution, other than extending the lives of them as long as possible, and reusing whatever you can for as long as you can, I think. They really are an enviro menace.

Hi :
Here in US there are companys that buy discarded computers and moniters . The scrap yard where I used to sell scrap metals would buy all computers . I was told that they were crushed and rentered for their copper , silver , gold , metal , plastic , and other materials .
I have no where you folks can dispose your computers where you are but I know they are out there .
Back then I was paid Ten cents a pound . Wasn't much but still free money . Working computers I sold at the flea market . They also bought discarded vinyle siding but only in large quanities .
Mike

You could give them another offer on Freecycle - sometimes the traffic on the groups (certainly the two I am familiar with) is so heavy it is easy for things to get missed.

Also, here's an idea for secure hard drive disposal / reuse. Take the hard drive out and open it up. Inside, you'll find the disk platters; the ones I've seen before are made of metal and smaller and thicker than a CD. They make much better drinks coasters than old CDs and we could probably come up with 100 other uses for them as well.

The rest of the disk drive would be scrap (jewellery components?) but the chances of anyone ever being able to get back to the data again become minimal.

Wulf

Come to think of I have seen some pretty cool looking computer junk ,Jewerly and it was rather pricey . Maybe you could take all the parts out , arrange them on a board and cover with many coats of clear pollyurathane . Weird coffee table or end table . Just an idea . I might try it myself as a freind has many junk computers . The shiny green boards would look cool with all those tiny what nots in many colors . The metal frame and case can be recycled ( the scrap man ) .

Mike

It takes 5 minutes to dismantle an old hard disk, usually. bend the disk itself & thats it done. Keep the magnets on the head arm actuator. They are fantasic for building permanent magnet alternators, donate them to the alternative energy forum, or me !

Watch out though, they are extra strong

You could try having a look here

http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources ... ishers.htm

Or if the people at your local tip are any good they might be able to advise - some are fantastic - but I know some aren't! I know that they can be recycled because I sell the recycled end product!

I was going to suggest pulling it apart and seeing what is in there that you can use.... surely you will eventually find a use for screws, wires, bulbs, etc.... ?? You might be surprised about what is actually in there!

green-girl

i second the jewellery idea!

Also, have a look at cyberdog at some of their clothing and models made with circuit boards and wires. An aspiring sculptor could enjoy your old computer!

Sorry haven't replied for a while. Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I particularly found the wasteonline website quite useful. I have emailed a couple of links found on that site, so hopefully someone will be interested.

Tara