Computer recycling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Computer recycling is the practice of salvaging usable components from obsolete electronic devices. The term is also used to refer to the practice of safely disposing of electronic devices, which often contain toxic materials and therefore must be handled in a different manner than normal waste. Computer recycling may also be about when people rebuild old computers or laptops and then sell them, they often find computers that are obsolete, that don't have any monitors, Hard Drives, motherboards, etc., when people re-build computers is often called refurbishing, people have probably been doing this since the 1980s when the Personal Computer era started.
Most major Computer manufacturers offer some form of recycling, often as a free replacement service when purchasing a new PC. At the user's request they may mail in their old computer, or arrange for pickup from the manufacturer.
[edit] The Secondary Computer Industry
The computer hardware market is a fast paced, changing and competitive marketplace in which rapid technological obsolescence is a significant challenge for manufacturers, resellers and customers. The reseller market segment is known as a competitive, low-margin subset of the market. The primary computer market consists of the sale of the new equipment from OEM directly and indirectly through the reseller channel. The secondary reseller market consists of companies reselling new, end-of-line, discontinued and used/refurbished product.
End-of-line, discontinued and factory refurbished products are sold to the secondary market by the OEMs such as IBM, Compaq/HP. Purchases of this type of product require some form of reseller authorization. With the rapid rates of technology introduction and steep depreciation curves, manufacturers require a secure channel for selling end-of-line and discontinued product. This product has manufacturer warranty and is often factory sealed product.
Used/refurbished product are sold too or disposed of, in the secondary market by leasing companies and large corporate end users. Managing the lease returns and end-of-life assets for these companies is a significant task that has economic, environmental, and security / privacy implications. To serve this market segment different types of companies exist including many “Fee for service” facilities that test, report, and warehouse for third parties.
In the UK, there is a growing market for companies (Reiterate UK) who will collect, and then re-use or recycle unwanted computer equipment. Such companies usually provide a service to recover, then refurbish usable equipment, or arrange environmentally friendly disposal of non-working equipment. The recent introductions of the WEEE and ROHS directives in Europe has caused these companies to be in greater demand. In 2006, Sir Alan Sugar of Amstrad Computers appointed "The Apprentice" winner, Michelle Dewberry, as MD of his new company aimed at meeting the demands of this market - Xenon Green.
