Old Computer Disposals – Remanufactured Computers - Practical Uses for old Computers

With the adoption of the WEEE directives by the EU, the disposal of redundant IT and computer equipment has become an issue for all businesses in the UK.

However this is good news to some as it means that more attention is now being given to practical uses for old computers which in turn means that some third world countries are now benefiting from the use of these old computers. In these instances the disposal of old computers has led to benefits to more than the environment, which was of course the reason for the WEEE directive. Remanufactured computers offer a way into relatively new technology for people and organisation's that would otherwise not be able to afford even this basic entry level of computing, and thus makes this the best of ways to dispose of your old computers.

The list of equipment (old computer disposal / recycling is only one area) that must be properly disposed of is quite extensive and thus, as with many other areas of business, it is best to get an expert agency to assist and ensure compliance with the WEEE directive (and thus the avoidance of any fines).

Enviro, benefiting from the experience of Recycleit4U, can:-

• Advise on the best ways to dispose of old computers
• Remanufacture computers
• Securely Dispose all Electronic Data on your computers

Details of the "Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment" (WEEE) Directive:-

The Commission of the European Communities proposed a Directive (in June 2000) on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) that is designed to protect soil, water and air from pollution caused by management of WEEE, to avoid the generation of waste and to reduce the harmfulness of WEEE. Further objectives are to preserve resources, especially energy and to create harmonisation of national measures across member states.

The main devices which are identified, as potentially dangerous, in electrical and electronic equipment include printed circuit boards, cables, wires, plastics containing flame retardants, mercury switches, displays (eg cathode ray tubes), batteries, data storage media, light generators (eg lamps), capacitors, resistors, relays, sensors and connectors (mobile phones contain many of the above components). The substances within these devices which cause most concern environmentally are the heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium, halogenated substances (eg CFCs), polychlorinated biphenyls ( aka PCBs, not to be confused with printed circuit boards), PVC and brominated flame retardants (which can give rise to extremely toxic dioxins such as PBDDs and furans such as PBDFs when incinerated). Other components which are mentioned are arsenic, asbestos, nickel and even copper (which can act as a catalyst to increase the formation of dioxins during incineration).