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Title: Recycling Old Electronics Could Save Money

Source: http://www.kolr10.com/news

Cash in on your old computer equipment. It could be good for your health. Recycling old office equipment could put more money in your wallet come tax time and protect your health. U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.) has introduced legislation designed to reduce hazardous toxins and give people tax incentives to recycle electronic waste. "This is a common sense idea that will help protect our land, air and water from toxins such as lead, mercury and other hazardous materials contained in electronics," Talent said of the bill he has co-sponsored with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Environmental experts estimate Americans dumped more than 150-million tons of e-waste in 2004. "It`s one of the largest things that are being thrown away," Jonathan Stevens said. He`s the general manager at the Computer Recycling Center in Springfield. It takes in about 1,000 computers each month. "It`s the fastest growing item that`s entering the landfill." Each monitor carries up to five-pounds of lead that`s not environmentally safe, experts say, for landfills. "You figure once you get a high concentration of lead contained in the landfill, then the ground water or rain water goes through it or goes over the top of it," Stevens said. That opens the door for harmful waste material to enter the water supply, experts say. It could contaminate drinking water. "Lead is something that if it gets into your system, it can really cause some major health problems, organ failure, certainly brain damage," said Springfield Materials Recovery and Education Coordinator Barbara Lucks. The Wyden-Talent e-waste recycling bill seeks to prevent such problems. As an incentive, the bill would give businesses an $8 per unit tax credit provided the company recycles at least 5,000 display screens or computer system units each year. Individual consumers could write off $15 for recycling old computers and televisions as long as they used qualified recyclers.