Options for Recycling and

1
Options for Recycling and  Re-Using computers
Sydney Region
2
Sydney Region
Background
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
are an integral part of our lives and our
schools. School communities have invested in
these technologies for many years and since 1996
the NSW government has provided computers to
schools under two central programs 1. The
Computers in Schools Program (CISP) 155,000 new
computers to NSW public schools between 1996 and
2004 2. Technology for Learning (T4L) 100,000
new computers to NSW public schools between 2005
and 2008 Some schools also received computers
as part of the Computer Technologies for Schools
project (CTFS second hand stuff) Moores
Law The observation made in 1965 by Gordon Moore,
co-founder of Intel, that the number of
transistors per square inch on integrated
circuits had doubled every year since the
integrated circuit was invented. In subsequent
years data density has doubled approximately
every 18 months, and this is the current
definition of Moore's Law.
3
Sydney Region
The environmental impact
The computer industry is one of the largest and
fastest growing industries in the world. It is
also an industry with rapid product obsolescence
and therefore, has become a primary source of
producing discarded electronics or (E-waste).
E-waste consists of a wide range of hazardous
materials including lead, cadmium and
mercury. Most old computers, if disposed of
under normal channels, will end up as landfill or
in incinerators. If E-waste is used as landfill
or incinerated, toxins will leach into the ground
water from landfill and incinerators will pollute
the air by emitting toxic chemicals when E-waste
is burnt.
4
Sydney Region
The environmental impact 2
Computer monitors consist of a picture tube or
cathode ray tube that converts electrical signals
to visual images. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
consist of large amounts of lead which protects
users from radiation. It is estimated that on
average a monitor contains about 2-4 kilograms of
lead. It has been found that CRTs are the largest
source of lead in municipal waste. Twenty two
percent of the worlds production of mercury is
now being used in the electronic industry and a
substantial proportion of this is used by the
computer industry. Mercury is found in switches,
flat panel monitors and circuit boards. The
largest source of cadmium in municipal waste
comes from rechargeable batteries which are
commonly used in computers. Cadmium is also used
in the manufacture of semiconductors and
resistors. Brominated flame retardants are used
in the manufacture of the plastic housing used in
computers and electronic circuit boards.
5
Sydney Region
The environmental impact 3
Hexavalent chromium is used for corrosion
protection of untreated galvanized plates in
computers. Beryllium is widely used in the
motherboards and the finger clips because of its
good heat and electrical conductivity and the
improvement in tensile strength. A considerable
part of computers is made up of plastics. On
average about 5.5 kilograms of plastic is used in
an ordinary desktop computer. The most commonly
used plastic has been poly-vinyl chloride (PVC)
and is mainly used in computer cabling and
housing. There is a growing trend to replace
CRT computer monitors with flat panel liquid
crystal displays (LCDs) which are generally used
in laptop computers. These displays use a
fluorescent tube that contains mercury to
illuminate the LC screen.
6
Sydney Region
The environmental impact 4
A considerable part of computers is made up of
plastics. On average about 5.5 kilograms of
plastic is used in an ordinary desktop computer.
The most commonly used plastic has been
poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) and is mainly used in
computer cabling and housing. There is a
growing trend to replace CRT computer monitors
with flat panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
which are generally used in laptop computers.
These displays use a fluorescent tube that
contains mercury to illuminate the LC screen.
7
Sydney Region
The environmental impact 5
Lead Found in circuit boards, monitors,
cathode-ray tubes Effects Harms the body by
disrupting enzyme systems delivered by other
metals important to the body such as iron,
calcium and zinc Mercury Found in circuit
boards, batteries, florescent lights, monitors,
computer thermostats Effects Exposure to high
levels can permanently damage the brain and
kidney and can harm a feotus Cadmium Found in
monitors, batteries Effects Breathing air with
high levels of cadmium over a long period of time
can cause kidney disease, lung damage and
increase the chances of lung cancer. Source
Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment A
South Australian Perspective, July 2000
8
Sydney Region
The environmental impact 6
Australian Landfill estimates In 2004, up to 15
000 tonnes of computer waste is sent to landfill
each year, according to the NSW Department Of
Environment and Conservation. A report for the
Federal Department of Environment and Heritage in
2001 concludes that in 2006 Australians will
send 1.8 million computers into storage and dump
1.6 million in landfill. www.sdeh.gov.au/ind
ustry/waste/electricals/computer-report/executives
ummary.html Sydney Morning Herald. ICON, 3-4
April 2004
9
Sydney Region
Options for Schools

• Alternative use of the computer
• Simple applications only, usually standalone
• OASIS terminal (Intel computer)
• Thin Client (Intel computer)
• 2. Re Use
• Decommissioning of the computer and donation to
  another school or an authorised agency
• 3. Recycling or Reprocessing end of life
  management options.
• Recycling
• A process by which computer equipment otherwise
  destined for landfill disposal is
• collected, reprocessed, or remanufactured and
  used to make a product.

10
Sydney Region
ReConnect Computer ReUse Program
The NSW Government has initiated a program that
will see unwanted working computers from
Government agencies refurbished and distributed
to disadvantaged educational institutions,
individuals and community groups. The six
vendors are CTC_at_NSW, Client Computers, Newtrain
Inc, Technical Aids for the Disabled, Wesley
Uniting Employment, Work Vending Connect. It is
estimated that over the next three years, more
than 29,000 computers will become redundant
inside NSW Government departments for placement
through the program.
11
Sydney Region
ReConnect Computer ReUse Program
The following minimum standards have been set in
consultation with the collaborative
organisations. Working CPU with a clock speed of
at least 233 MHz Minimum of 32MB RAM Minimum
of a 2GB Hard Drive Inclusion of all required
components in working order ie, Monitor (at least
800 x 600 resolution), Keyboard, Mouse, Floppy
Disk Drive, CD ROM and associated cables/plugs
Inclusion in the CPU of all component parts
including the Hard Drive, RAM, CD-ROM, and Sound
Cards and Modem (if applicable) Hard disk
drives must be cleaned. Donors are asked to
not Drill holes or otherwise damage the hard
drive 'Cannibalise' the CPU for the Hard Drive,
CD-ROM, RAM, Sounds Cards, Modem or other
components.
12
Sydney Region
ReConnect Computer ReUse Program in Sydney Region

• Process for schools
• Schools follow audit guidelines and remove
  computer equipment from their assets register.
  Equipment can be classified as either beyond
  economic repair or surplus to requirements
• Computer hard drives are decommissioned (wiped)
• Schools complete an inventory of decommissioned
  computers and IT equipment
• using the spreadsheet provided SRSurplusHW.xls
• Inventory can be viewed by other schools via
  Sydney Region website (intranet). Swaps/donations
  organised by schools. Schools to advise RO of
  changes to inventory
• Inventory is then adjusted and then made
  available to Reconnect
• Reconnect to collect suitable equipment
• Recyclers to collect equipment not wanted by
  ReConnect. There may be a fee involved in this
  collection.

13
Sydney Region
Reference sites
NSW Environmental Protection Authority www.epa.nsw
.gov.au Waste from electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) report www.environment.sa.gov.au/
epa/pdfs/weee.pdf www.computerbank.org.au www.re
cyclingnearyou.com.au www.cleanup.com.au www.dec
.nsw.gov.au www.planetark.com www.workventures.c
om.au The Basel convention an international
treaty forbids the export of toxic
waste. www.basel.int
14
Sydney Region
15
Sydney Region
16
Sydney Region
17
Sydney Region
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?