What is the Best Way to Manage Computer Wastes?

Dumping is definitely out. Computer equipments contains a large amount of toxic, heavy metals that might leach to the soil and cause underground water contamination. Burning or incineration is also out since they emit dangerously toxic fumes and persistent chemicals that cause rapid depletion to the ozone layer.

Since discarded computer equipment contains mostly recoverable or reusable components, the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) of solid waste management applies. In many progressive cities, computer service centers and capable recyclers abound. They offer services to effect optimum use for the computers. Vancouver in Canada for instance, has set up depots in strategic places for pick-up of discarded computer equipment from homes and business establishments. Each recyclable component is sent to corresponding recyclers for processing. Serviceable units are either donated to charity or sold in behalf of the owners. In effect, very minimal amount of waste, bereft of hazardous components, is subjected to the landfill.

However, this is not the scenario in poor places like most third-world countries. Discarded computer equipments and other e-waste go hand-in-hand with other domestic and community wastes thrown into dumpsites or else they are left to rot in backyards or forgotten in some storage rooms. Scavengers who have interest only in the precious metals inlaid in some computer parts would immerse them in acid to recover the gold and burn wires and cables for copper. Since they lack the means and the technology to recycle and the various methods necessary to render the discarded equipments reusable again, these poor places have the option to obligate computer manufacturers and brand owners to provide for them. It will also be beneficial if they educate the people on the negative effects of these wastes on health , safety and the environment and of the proper ways for handling them.

It is crucial that everybody act while remedial measures can still be done or else further damage to the environment and health of the people may grow to irreparable proportion which will further cause a big blow to the economy of these poor countries.