With the adoption of the WEEE directives by the EU, the
disposal of
redundant IT and computer equipment has become an issue for all businesses
in the UK.
However this is good news to some as it means that more attention is now being
given to practical uses for old computers which in turn means that some third
world countries are now benefiting from the use of these old computers. In
these instances the
disposal of old computers has led to benefits to
more than the environment, which was of course the reason for the WEEE directive.
Remanufactured computers offer a way into relatively new technology
for people and organisation's that would otherwise not be able to afford even
this basic entry level of computing, and thus makes this the
best of ways
to dispose of your old computers.
The list of equipment (old computer disposal / recycling is only one area) that must be
properly disposed of is quite
extensive and thus, as with many other areas of business, it is best to get
an expert agency to assist and ensure compliance with the WEEE directive (and thus
the avoidance of any fines).
Using our vast experience, Recycle IT 4U can:-
- Advise on the best ways to dispose of old computers
- Remanufacture computers
- Securely Dispose all Electronic Data on your computers
Details of the "Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment" (WEEE) Directive:-
The Commission of the European Communities proposed a Directive
(in June 2000) on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
that is designed to protect soil, water and air from pollution caused
by management of WEEE, to avoid the generation of waste and to reduce
the harmfulness of WEEE. Further objectives are to preserve resources,
especially energy and to create harmonisation of national measures across
member states.
The main devices which are identified, as potentially dangerous, in electrical
and electronic equipment include printed circuit boards, cables, wires,
plastics containing flame retardants, mercury switches, displays (e.g. cathode
ray tubes), batteries, data storage media, light generators (e.g. lamps),
capacitors, resistors, relays, sensors and connectors (mobile phones contain
many of the above components). The substances within these devices which
cause most concern environmentally are the heavy metals such as lead,
mercury, cadmium and chromium, halogenated substances (e.g. CFCs), polychlorinated
biphenyls ( aka PCBs, not to be confused with printed circuit boards),
PVC and brominated flame retardants (which can give rise to extremely
toxic dioxins such as PBDDs and furans such as PBDFs when incinerated).
Other components which are mentioned are arsenic, asbestos, nickel and
even copper (which can act as a catalyst to increase the formation of
dioxins during incineration).