Recycles.Org  BETA Nonprofit Materials Exchange Network Computer & Office Electronics Recycling & Reuse

Date: Tuesday, 3 May 2005

Title: Fund would pay for computer recycling statewide

Source: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/

Remarks: None

Swing open the door to the Chesapeake PC Users Group's computer refurbishing center and enter a techie Santa's workshop, where keyboards, mice and monitors are stacked, sometimes almost to the ceiling. Since its launch in 1999, the group has refurbished 1,038 broken or discarded computers for local schools, senior centers and people who could not otherwise afford a computer. "It's a phoenix operation," said Jerry Moskowitz, who heads up the group's refurbishing program. "Here, we bring them to life." The operation is one of many in the patchwork computer recycling network. By the summer, their efforts could get a boost from a new law designed to establish a statewide program. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is expected to sign HB 575, which requires computer manufacturers who make 1,000 computers over the previous three years to pay $5,000 into a state fund to pay for local recycling programs. The companies may cut back their payments to an annual $500 by setting up their own computer "take back" programs after the first year. Otherwise, they have to pay $5,000 each year. The pilot program will run from July 1 until Dec. 31 of 2010. "Some of them are new programs, some counties have permanent collections or regular electronic collection programs," said Hilary Miller, the administrator of the recylcing and operations program at MDE. "If counties have specifically explained their computer recycling and collection programs in their county recycling plan, then they are eligle for grants from the statewide recycling trust fund, which is where the fees go." People replace their computers an average of every three to five years, so it's no surprise that the county collected 37 tons of electronics during its 2004 "e-cycling day." "We like to keep anything we can out of the landfill," said Tracie Reynolds, county recycling program manager. If residents can't wait until the county's annual "e-cycling day," she encourages looking into year-round programs that will take the equipment, like Mr. Moskowitz' group. The volunteers will accept PC equipment with at least Pentium 350 MHz during its daytime workshop hours on Wednesday and Thursday. But since it will not take printers, scanners, fax machines or nonworking monitors or giant outdated machines. The difficulty in recycling computers was an inspiration for Elizabeth Wilmot. In February, the Severna Park woman launched Turtle Wings, which picks up computers and other electronics, for a fee. She deletes any sensitive information and carts the machines to recycler CDM eCycling in Baltimore. Ms. Wilmot accepts all electronics, excluding televisions. The genesis of her idea began when she had an "early '90s" computer that she did not want to throw into the landfill. "I couldn't figure out what to do with it," she said. Her services start at $21.93, and each client receives a certificate of recycling and good citizenship. Residential customers receive a slight discount, she said. There are 40 million electronic pieces that become obsolete every year, Ms. Wilmot said. "We believe strongly in keeping electronics out of landfills," she said, pointing out that chemicals like lead, barium and mercury can exist inside of the machines. Around 70 percent of her clients have been businesses, she said, which include Hardesty and Hanover and TeleCommunication Systems, both in Annapolis. TCS Technology Support Manager Theresa Cox said her company recently upgraded its computers, and was looking for an option other than sending the old ones to the landfill. "Eww," she said when asked about the option of tossing the outdated ones in the landfill. "They'll let you do that, but if someone will recycle them instead, that's better." The dump For those who do head for the county landfill, 90 percent of the materials collected during last year's annual computer drop off day were recycled, Ms. Reynolds said. When the next date rolls around on Nov. 19, she expects the total to easily surpass last year's 37 ton mark. The uses a Baltimore company to recycle circuit boards and drives, or cannibalizing others components for parts. "People want the latest and greatest," she said of the reasons for dumping. "It's surprising what people get rid of." Mr. Moskowitz agreed, and said the eight to 10 volunteers often receive solid computers that just need a little tender loving care, like blowing out dust or cleaning off a hard drive. "Why it's so important - so many people can't afford to buy," he said. "The digital divide is people growing up without access," which impedes job skills later in life, he said. While the group believes in its mission, volunteer Dave Brashears of Edgewater said he has also gained technical knowledge. A retired PepCo employee, he said he has learned more in the workshop than during a "book learnin" course at Towson University. "They're all broken and they're all fixed when we leave," he said. "We put it in A-1 shape."