Options for Recycling and  Re-Using computers:

Sydney Region

Sydney Region

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)

Moore’s LawThe 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.

Background

Sydney Region

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.

The environmental impact

Sydney Region

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 world’s 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.

The environmental impact #2

Sydney Region

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.

The environmental impact #3

Sydney Region

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.

The environmental impact #4

Sydney Region

LeadFound in: circuit boards, monitors, cathode-ray tubesEffects: Harms the body by disrupting enzyme systems delivered by other metals important to the body such as iron, calcium and zinc

MercuryFound in: circuit boards, batteries, florescent lights, monitors, computer thermostatsEffects: Exposure to high levels can permanently damage the brain and kidney and can harm a feotus

CadmiumFound in: monitors, batteriesEffects: 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

The environmental impact #5

Sydney Region

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/industry/waste/electricals/computer-report/executivesummary.html

Sydney Morning Herald. ICON, 3-4 April 2004

The environmental impact #6

Sydney Region

1. Alternative use of the computerSimple applications only, usually standaloneOASIS terminal (Intel computer)Thin Client (Intel computer)

2. Re UseDecommissioning of the computer and donation to another school or an

authorised agency

3. Recycling or Reprocessing “end of life “ management options.

RecyclingA process by which computer equipment otherwise destined for landfill

disposal is collected, reprocessed, or remanufactured and used to make a product.

Options for Schools

Sydney Region

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@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.

ReConnect Computer ReUse Program

Sydney Region

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.

ReConnect Computer ReUse Program

Sydney Region

Process for schoolsSchools 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.

ReConnect Computer ReUse Program in Sydney Region

Sydney Region

NSW Environmental Protection Authoritywww.epa.nsw.gov.au

Waste from electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) reportwww.environment.sa.gov.au/epa/pdfs/weee.pdf

www.computerbank.org.au

www.recyclingnearyou.com.au

www.cleanup.com.au

www.dec.nsw.gov.au

www.planetark.com

www.workventures.com.au

The Basel convention: an international treaty forbids the export of toxic waste.www.basel.int

Reference sites

Sydney Region

Sydney Region

Sydney Region

Sydney Region

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