News
Trash
Talk:
Computer Recycling
By Gray
Solid Waste Committee
These days just about every home has at least one
computer, and unfortunately computers, like most other
things in this world, don't last forever. In fact,
as we all know, most computer hardware becomes virtually
obsolete in a few years. The Maine DEP, in a report
to the legislature in January 2004 (http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/index.htm),
estimates there are currently between 57,000 and110,000
computer monitor units potentially recoverable from
the solid waste stream.
The
one component that has been deemed the most environmentally
problematic when disposed of is the monitor, which
is typically a device called a "cathode ray tube"
or CRT. Television screens are also CRTs. CRTs contain
significant amounts of leaded glass, enough so that
waste CRTs generated by businesses are considered
by U.S. EPA and Maine DEP to be hazardous waste. In
fact, it has been estimated that they comprise approximately
80% of the lead in the municipal solid waste stream
that can be mobilized in a landfill environment.
At
the present time, however, waste CRTS generated by
homeowners are not considered to be hazardous waste
and can still be disposed of in landfills and incinerators.
But this will soon change. In 2003 the 121st Maine
Legislature passed LD 743, "An Act To Develop
A Plan For Cathode Ray Tube Disposal". This legislation
specifies "After January 1, 2006, a person may
not dispose of a cathode ray tube in a solid waste
disposal facility."
Well,
what are we to do about this problem. A number of
Maine communities have started programs to collect
CRTs for recycle. The collected CRTs are generally
taken to a facility where usable components are recovered
for reuse or resale or they are dismantled into their
constituent materials, metal, plastic, and glass.
Several of the computer companies also provide a recycling
service (http://www.hp.com/recycle , http://www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/pcrservice.shtml),
or you can donate your computer, if it is still in
working condition, to Ruth's Resources in Scarborough
(http://www.regionalwaste.com/recyclecomputers.html
), where it will be cleaned up and become available
for use in a school.
But
recycling is not free. Unless you can donate your
computer to someone like Ruth's Resources, recycling
a CRT costs between $12.00 to $32.00 per TV and $8.40
to $17.70 per monitor according to DEP's report to
the legislature. One of the primary questions that
this report considers is how to pay for computer recycling.
Should the cost be borne directly by the municipalities
and their constituents, or should the manufacturers
be required to take back these products, in which
case they would probably add this cost to the purchase
price. What do you think? Let us, your town leaders
or legislators know.
You
are welcome to attend our monthly meetings (the second
Wednesday of each month at 5:30 in Stimson Hall) or
contact us with any questions or comments.
Contact the Gray Solid Waste & Recycling Committee
care of
pthoits2@maine.rr.com or call Solid Waste Director
Randy Cookson at
657-2343.
