Do all retired computers wind up in the waste stream?
No. National statistics indicate that at present less than 15% of retired computers are sent to landfills, usually without the benefit of proper disposal preparation. An additional 5 to 10 percent of retired computers are sent to secondary markets for resale or salvage, or to community-based organizations such as schools, non-profits, etc., for possible reuse. Unfortunately re-use is not feasible with many older computers due to software incompatibility. The remaining items, some 75 to 80 percent of all obsolete computers, fall into the ubiquitous stuff sitting around category. These items can be found in offices, homes, garages and warehouses where they may be quietly consuming physical and financial resources (e.g., insurance, space and inventory costs, etc.) that could otherwise be put to more productive use. Who is responsible for the safe disposal of computers and other E-waste? At present, local governments and individual consumers have primary responsibility for responding to th
