Recycling Your Hazardous Computer
by Karen Gardiner

If we want to preserve the beauty of the Hudson Valley, we ought to properly dispose of our old, outdated computers and electronics in an ecologically responsible way. The least responsible option is to throw the electronics into the garbage. Identity thieves have an opportunity to learn a lot about a person from the broken home computers placed at the curb for disposal. Electronics can also leak harmful chemicals. Computer monitors and televisions, for example, have cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and contain about 5 pounds of lead and other harmful chemicals like phosphorous, cadmium, and mercury. These chemicals will seep out once the CRT is broken, eventually finding their way into a public water supply. Because of this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the landfill dumping of CRTs in 1992.

If you have replaced your old computer with a new one and want to rid your basement of attic of the old one, you have several good options. One is to take part in one of the electronics recycling days sponsored by Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency around the area to make recycling simple and accessible. On June 2, 2007, for example, the Red Hook Recycling Center will accept your old computer monitors, CPUs, fax machines, printers as well as telephones and TVs. Residents can register and prepay $5 by the Wednesday before the event by calling 463-6020 or visit the website dcrra.org. Collections will also take place in other areas of Dutchess County. In Poughkeepsie there will be events on April 7, May 5, July 7, August 4, October 6, and November 3. The Cornell Cooperative Extension in Millbrook will accept items on September 1. Collection days are open to all Dutchess residents and begin at 7:30 am.

Students at Bard College are learning the benefits of recycling with the Universal Waste and Computer Recycling Program. The students and faculty collect all outdated computers and electronics that are owned by the college and the students and pays Advanced Recovery, a computer recycler that makes new products out of the recycle items, to pick them up. "Last year we recycled 3200 pounds of computers and computer parts," reports Laurie Husted, Environmental Resources Auditor for Bard College.

If your old computer is reasonably up to date, you may also consider donating it to charity. On the Freecycle website (www.freecycle.org) you can leave a posting of items you are giving away free and read other local postings of items being offered for free as well. The National Cristina Foundation (NCF) also accepts donations of used computer equipment. NCF directs the equipment to non profit organizations, schools, and public agencies that use the equipment for training, job development, educational programs and other related projects to improve the lives of people with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged people. Check out the details at www.cristina.org. According to the EPA, computer donations are also accepted by the following organizations: Computers for Schools (www.pcsforschools.org), Computers for Learning (www.computers.fed.gov), CompuMentor (www.compumentor.org), and Recycling and Reuse Network (www.recycles.org).

Karen Gardiner is a freelance writer and Hudson Valley native who is raising two daughters in Wappingers Falls. She advocates for the homeless and hungry and in 2004, founded The Birthday Booth, within People's Place in Kingston, to provide birthday party items to children in need.