OT - PC/Electronic disposal?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, maybe somebody here will know more than I've been able to find out after 30 minutes of searching.

I know that landfills don't like electronic equipment much, to the degree that it's illegal to dump old PC's, monitors, etc. in several states. So I figure I'll try to do this right if I can find a reasonable solution.

I've got an old monitor that's ready for the scrap heap & just taking up space. When I say it's trash, I'm pretty sure it's trash -- last time it was turned on, sparks, flame, and smoke erupted from the top of it, so I'm thinking that's a pretty good sign it's time for it to go.

Problem is, darned if I can find much about what I'm actually "supposed to do" here in Georgia. The nearest consumer recycling center that accepts PC type equipment is more than an hour from me & realistically, that trip ain't gonna happen. And none of the brick-and-mortar retailers I can find seem to accept things for drop-off (even though I swear I've seen in-store signage at a few places indicating they do). The best I've found so far seems to be H-P's recycling program, which is a pack-and-ship service, that'll cost me something like $39 dollars for the monitor. I'm not exactly psyched about that option either, especially when I can't find anything that indicates that it's expressly illegal to just put this thing in my curbside & let it join all the other refuse.
And before anybody suggests calling our garbage collection people, I'll answer that by saying that they're already facing cancellation of their county/city contract because they won't even answer the phone for normal service questions much less something this esoteric - basically, they aren't an option unless I'm looking to spend the whole day on this (and I'm not).

So, any computer and/or enviromental experts around here have a great solution that's actually user-friendly?

[digamma]

I'd beat the hell out of it with a sledgehammer with "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta" playing in the background, but maybe that's just me.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by digamma

I'd beat the hell out of it with a sledgehammer with "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta" playing in the background, but maybe that's just me.

I did that to a car once (different soundtrack, same concept), it's actually a lot of fun.

[Desnudo]

I found a local computer shop that accepts old equipment for recycling. None of the big chains did. I actually had to pay a fee for the privilege.

Alternatively, you could just leave the monitor out in front of a CompUSA before they open.

[Passacaglia]

I thought this thread was going to be about those E.T. games.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Alternatively, you could just leave the monitor out in front of a CompUSA before they open.

Oooh, I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't thought of that.

[JeeberD]

Yardsale. People will buy anything...

[Buzzbee]

Take out the guts and turn it into a nice planter.

Or play David Letterman and drop it from the tallest building in Monticel...oh. Ne'ermind.

[Samdari]

You're in the South. Put it in your front yard next to the washing machines.

[Buzzbee]

Originally Posted by Samdari

You're in the South. Put it in your front yard next to the washing machines.

Actually, he should use it as a cinder block to prop up the '78 Cutlass Supreme.

[sterlingice]

In Topeka, there's a place that takes them for free but it took some research on the net about "PC Recycling".

Frankly, this seems like one of those things just begging for government subsidization- if you don't want it in the landfill, why do most companies wanting to do it charge for it. It's like a "stupid environmental hippie-turned-bobo tax" for people who are ultimately doing the right thing while everyone else just tries to find ways to ditch theirs in the East River, contaminating things further.

SI

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

In Topeka, there's a place that takes them for free but it took some research on the net about "PC Recycling".

Frankly, this seems like one of those things just begging for government subsidization- if you don't want it in the landfill, why do most companies wanting to do it charge for it. It's like a "stupid environmental hippie-turned-bobo tax" for people who are ultimately doing the right thing while everyone else just tries to find ways to ditch theirs in the East River, contaminating things further.

SI

I agree. It is one thing to ask people to do the right thing and not chuck these things in the trash. It is another thing to ask people to pay for doing the right thing. It's too much to expect of Joe Consumer. Jon has spent more time on this question than probably 95% of the people out there.

Instead of government subsidization, though, I would rather just forcing computer makers/retailers/etc. to accept the materials for recycling for free. They will then pass that cost onto the consumers of the hardware they produce--who seem like the most equitable parties to bear the cost--more equitable than a general governmental tax burden would be.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Instead of government subsidization, though, I would rather just forcing computer makers/retailers/etc. to accept the materials for recycling for free. They will then pass that cost onto the consumers of the hardware they produce--who seem like the most equitable parties to bear the cost--more equitable than a general governmental tax burden would be.

Sounds like an even better idea.

SI

[rkmsuf]

probably costs more to recycle the crap

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

probably costs more to recycle the crap

There is a company here in CA that buys the stuff by the ton, they then profitably extract the gold from the circuit boards.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

There is a company here in CA that buys the stuff by the ton, they then profitably extract the gold from the circuit boards.

I stand corrected.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

There is a company here in CA that buys the stuff by the ton, they then profitably extract the gold from the circuit boards.

I think "by the ton" might be a more important phrase than I originally expected.
Seems there were several places (in Georgia) willing to pay me for things like this junk monitor ... if I had more than a dozen of them. Otherwise, I pay them.

While we're on the general subject, there's another thing that came up in my search this morning -- location & access. Everyone of the locations that would take them, even for a fee, is at least an hour or more away. Now, living in Bumfuckegypt, that's not unusual ... until you realize that the official state listing of places who'll handle this sort of material didn't list anyone in cities like Savannah, Macon, or Columbus. Monticello total pc trash = not much. But those cities? Well, I imagine they'd have a reasonably substantial amount.

[Airhog]

look for recycling laws to get much tougher here in the U.S over the next 10 years. Europe has already enacted tough laws regarding the recycling of Electronic stuff. U.S. companies that sell to Europe have to follow these guidelines also. This should greatly reduce the amount of harmful stuff that is put into eletronic equipment.

California already has recycling laws, as do a handfull of other states. Europe will have subsidized recycling centers, and I wish the US would follow suit and do the right thing here.

[jackyl]

I know this sounds really bad, but when my old monitor died in January I went to an nearby apartment complex and threw it in their dumpster. I figured any place that has mattresses and broken entertainment centers leaning against a dumpster probably wouldn't mind a ten year old monitor.

[Rizon]

CA now charges you a "recycle" fee when you purchase computer equipment. I think it's $8 or something.

If you really, really tried to get the damn thing recycled, and there was no viable option, I'd just throw it in a garbage dumpster behind a grocery store. Yeah, it sucks and shouldn't be in landfills, but if the higherups really want to be serious about getting things recycled then they need to be more realistic with the rules.