Why recycle?
Old or obsolete computers, monitors and dead batteries can contain quantities
of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Thrown into the dumpster, these items end up in a landfill, where heavy metals leach out into water tables and reservoirs, back into our drinking water and food supply. Or components end up in an incinerator, where dioxins and other combustion products of plastics enter the air.
Lead, cadmium, and mercury poisoning are known causes of a variety of serious ailments, including brain damage, weakening of the immune system, and sterility. These metals are also taken into the food chain, with equally nasty effects on wild plants and animals.
Publications such as Wired, Salon.com and Infoworld have featured reports on this growing problem of what to do with discarded computers.
This document details resources available in Pennsylvania and around the country for reclaiming and reusing the dangerous parts of these components.
Computers, monitors, printers and keyboards
If the equipment is still functional, the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Community Partnerships operates a reclamation program that donates equipment to West Philadelphia schools. Browse the line or contact either Isabel Sampson-Mapp or Cory Bowman at +1 215 898.2020 for more information.
If the items are broken, Penn's EHRS (Environmental Health and Radiation Safety) group recommends Elemental, Inc., a EPA-registered company that will pick up and process old equipment for a very small fee. More information on this option is located on this EHRS page.
The University of Pennsylvania also maintains a general information page on computer recycling and disposal options, which has this and other information on recycling, as well as precautions you should take before donating your computer. For example, it is recommended that you wipe clean the contents of the hard drive of any computer you are considering donating or recycling, if the hard drive contains sensitive information (financial records, personal files, etc.).
Batteries (laptop, camera, UPS, etc.)
Lithium-ion (Li), nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and lead-acid (Pb) rechargeable batteries should be recycled for reuse or for proper disposal. In general, mercury-free alkaline batteries (Energizer, Duracell, and other brands clearly labeled as such) can be discarded with normal, dry household waste.
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) recycles the following portable rechargeable battery chemistries weighing less than 2 lbs / 1 kg:
- Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
- Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
- Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
- Small Sealed Lead (Pb)*
RBRC can help you recycle your portable rechargeable batteries. These batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys:
There is a Radio Shack on campus at 212 S. 40th St. (+1 215 262.5949) which participates in the RBRC project; call first to determine availability of their drop-off container.
If you have lead-acid (Pb) batteries from an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), for example, the Philadelphia Department of Streets recommends you to take these batteries to car repair shops for processing. It is recommended that you call the facility first to ensure they can process your battery.
Lead-acid batteries from some UPS units can also be reclaimed by the UPS manufacturer. American Power Conversion (APC) is one such example. If you don't use an APC supply, visit the web site of the manufacturer of your UPS to be sure.
