Disposing of computer hardware, peripherals and the like

[Piet Venter]

I could not find an answer to my simple question in a forum search - how does one dispose of old (i.e. scrap) computers, printers and similar electronic equipment in an environmentally responsible way?

I have a growing assortment of old PC's, monitors, fax machines, scanners and the like that have either died as a result of old age or have been disabled by lightning. Obviously I don't want to dump it in the trash can nor do I want to get someone to dispose of it on my behalf if I don't know where it ends up after I have paid for "responsible" disposal.

What do you guys do?

I would appreciate advice and even a contact name (via PM) if you don't mind - before I have to build a store room for all the electronic detritis I have built up over the years.

[Creeper]

Piet

I recall Johnny Clegg was supporting some kind of e-waste recycling company, but can recall its name.

But google helped:

http://www.computerscraprecycling.co.za/

http://www.virginearth.co.za/collect.asp

And drop off points can be found

http://www.e-waste.org.za/ewaste/col...gauteng?page=1

[Henk Coetzee]

Makro in Silver Lakes has an e-waste recycling bin. If you take old computer components to a municipal dump, the recyclable bits enter the informal recycling sector before they hit the ground when you dump them.

[Peet Schultz]

Makro @ Woodmead also has an electronics recycling bin.

[sammix]

You could also recycle. Take a look at http://www.freecycle.org. There's usually somebody who'll be interested in your junk.

[Roberto]

Make sure it runs and donate it! SPCA, Children Homes and the like... that's what we do at work!

[streak]

urc dot co dot za have a division specialising in the recycling of electronic scrap. You may even get some money back!!

I have been there when they had a mountain of scrapped photo copy machines.

[Blue Shirt]

Piet,

Try Desco (http://www.desco.co.za/home.htm) located in Kempton Park, a commercial recycler of electronic scrap. Get some money back for your old stuff.

[Nightzombie]

Hi guys

My name is Tyrone and I am the Desco webmaster. I saw the link to our site was not working for a week or two, I have taken care of the problem I was working on recontructing the web site. I had to remove the .home.htm from our site, but I have replaced it with a redirect page to get onto our main page.

Currently we are doing the recycling for Fujitsu computers and Makro with the Makro bin project, which is going well. We empty the containers frequently and have recieved a lot of old electronic waste which is all recycled.

On our website you will find all the information regarding Desco and electronic recycling. You will find a page for bin services. This will give you a list of the Makro bin locations and addresses.

We also have a Desco collection point in Cape Town (Please note it is only a collection point and materials are then brought to our main site in Kempton Park in JHB for processing).

visit our website www.desco.co.za to get more information.

[Martin]

You can also leave it on the pavement outside. It will find its own way to someones place

[cjenvironmental]

Within Electronic Scrap Refining Division, we process large amounts of electronic scrap from both the private and public sector in a highly efficient and environmentally safe way.

[N.M.]

Good to see these links (I have some old stuff too) :-)
Thanks.

[SoftDux-Rudi]

You can also leave it on the pavement outside. It will find its own way to someones place

I can concur, this works very well

BUT, as someone else said, if it can be used then donate it to a charity. I often place an add in the junkmail for stuff like this and normally someone collected within 2 or 3 days.

[mkoorts]

Hi Piet
Did you try any of the proposed suggestions and if what was the one u used?

[Piet Venter]

I disposed of all my electronic waste at Makro in Centurion - they have a e-waste recycle bin in the parking area.

[eco-pc]

Hi Guys

I own a company called Just Pc's based in Cape Town.
We accept any e-waste for safe disposal/recycling & refurbishment.

We also refurbish equipment for corporate companies on a national level to donate to charities.

All this at NO charge!

you can visit www.eco-pc.co.za / www.justpcs.co.za for more information.

[Peter Veitch]

I generally use the Makro waste bin for non working scrap or donate to SPCA, Hospice, etc for the rest.

Word of advice though .. any hard drive should be removed and physically destroyed (like with 14 pound hammer) if you want to be totally sure that no one will cause mischief with retrieved data and believe me this is possible even after a full format has been carried out on the drive.

No aspersions on any of the recyclers who may have posted. Just be sure that if you do sell to a recycler, that they have a safe disposal program for the non recyclables, especially considering the strong reactive chemicals they (or those they on-sell to) use to extract the metals of value.

[eco-pc]

Hi Peter

Those are a few very valid points that you make. Just a few add on's: Makro's in the Western Cape do not have containers for e-waste anymore, you also need to be sure that your recycler does not burn the plastics off the copper cables & dump the CRT tubes at a normal landfill.
We also ensure that donated equipment has a valid MS license & warranty when donating to NPO's.
Physically destroying the HDD might work to render your data non recoverable but then the PC is not worth much & you wont be able to donate it to a worthy cause. We offer many levels of Secure Data Sanitation / Destruction on equipment refurbished including the US Dpt of defense DoD5220.22-m standard.