8 Jun
2002
8 Jun
'02
4:46 a.m.
At 04:57 AM 6/8/02 -0500, you wrote:
On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Joe wrote:
Better metals!?!?! You MUST be kidding! The metal in 99% computers is about one level
above slag. There might be some decent metal in some OLD computers but for every old
computer (with or without decent metal) there will be 500 modern (ie made of plastic and
tin foil) PCs. I foresee a big boost in the amount of recycled plastic that will be
available. The recyclers that I know are currently piling up the steel since it costs
more to haul it to a recycling center than it's worth.
Most of the *old* systems were made with high grade
At 05:42 PM 6/7/02 -0500, you wrote:
I guess US companies will have to start dealing with scrap in better ways
now. Of course, it does also mean we might have a better chance to grab
the better parts and systems before they are scrapped. It also seems that
it would be more profitable for companies to sell (or even give away) such
old systems to folks that will give them a home (possibly with a signed
agreement transferring the responsibility for recycling to the new owner)
rather than deal with the scrapping and recycling of it.
If China's ban works, the better metals will also quit finding their way
out of the US. Didn't see anyone else mention this story,
though it isn't exactly
front-page news...
China bans toxic American computer junk:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,725756,00.html
Maybe this will help save just a few systems...
Yes, but I fear we'll soon be swimming in computer scrap. The amount
of scrap that we've been exporting is tremendous. aluminum and steel. It appears those are some of the
materials (as well as
lots and lots of plastics and lead...) that are piling up in places like
China. The only metals that seem to be of immediate value to the scrappers
are gold, silver, and to a limited degree, copper.
And aluminium if it's clean and in decent size pieces. However modern PCs have
just about zero metal in them and virtually no gold silver or copper. I realize that some
edge connectors have gold and there is copper
on the circuit boards but the amounts are miniscule and certainly not worth the labor and
chemicals to extract it.
But seriously, I was talking to Gary and he said that he's thinking of starting a
computer recycling center. I'm thinking that that might not be a bad idea for some of
us that are interested in old systems. Since the US will no longer be able to dump the
stuff overseas, there should be a big demand for people/places that will accept computers
and recycle them. In addition, we would have our pick of anything interesting.
Joe
-Toth