19 Jan
2012
19 Jan
'12
8 p.m.
On 19 Jan 2012 at 18:53, William Donzelli wrote:
I think it depends on the age of the equipment. I can find an
occasional use for a 20MHz 80386 system (ISA slots), but much of the
old stuff I have just sits in a pile.
I started out running my local server (DNS masquerade, radio and
email) on a P1/100 MHz system using an early RedHat release. Now,
the same function is served by a thin client with a solid-state disk
that consumes a fraction of the power. No floppy, CD-ROM or fan--
perhaps 15W conumption. I feel a little silly having it hooked to a
1400VA UPS. I suspect that the UPS consumes more than the thin
client.
So which is more efficient? Wouldn't we all be better off using the
old machine to make cans for Nalley's Chili and reclaim whatever
metals the rest of the machine has?
In our local case, the disassembly is used to train developmentally
disabled folks. The recycler also runs a storefront and donates a
lot of usable gear to people down on their luck. My Beige G3 came
The most
efficient form of recycling is reuse for another purpose.
Yes, I agree, but there is pretty much always far more supply than
demand for the repurposed equipment. Except for the
county landfill, every place I know locally that
recycles computers first examines them to see if they can be
reasonably put to some sort of reuse.
It is a good business model. But, what do you do with the excess?
Grind it. from them, with monitor, keyboard and mouse and USB
card all set to
go. 6 years ago, it set me back $30. Knowing what they do, I
happily forked the money over to them. At the same time, they had a
bunch of NIB Farallon 10-port 100BaseT routers for $5 each. I bought
a couple and have been using them ever since as network hubs.
They're a legit non-profit that relies on a small staff and many
volunteers.
--Chuck