Virtual Scavengers

[Heartland]

I just took two old computers and parts to this organization. They gave me a tour, and told me they are getting ready to ship 500 computers to African schoolchildren. They are environmentally-friendly, disposing of nothing, and they will take anything you've got -- free of charge. Other recycling firms I looked into charge up to $15 per monitor.

I found out that each computer monitor contains approximately 7 lbs. of lead, a toxic waste. Other computer components also can be toxic. With the millions of computers being disposed of, it's creating a toxic nightmare. Much of this waste is shipped to China and other countries, who are paid to pollute their own soil with it.

I encourage everyone to see if there is an organization like this in your area. Virtual Scavengers has models available for any size community.

http://vscavengers.org/about.htm

[bluekazoo]

Very cool, Sandy ...

I'm gonna tell DH about this ... maybe then he won't feel the need to adopt every computer he finds at yard sales and thrifts ... he keeps bringing them home, like strays ...

:1cryhard:

[Powerhouse]

I found out that each computer monitor contains approximately 7 lbs. of lead, a toxic waste.

Just a note that this ONLY refers to 'cathode-ray-tube' monitors - not the LCD monitors.

[Heartland]

Thanks Mike. I've always had CRTs, so I know almost nothing about LCDs.

Our regular trash pickup won't take any kind of computer or monitor, and neither will our tox-drop sites. I called around to four different recycling places before I found Virtual Scavengers. The others were all for-profit, and still charged a fee.

BTW, that church mentioned in the article is where I went to elementary school (not in the church, they had a school, too). The church itself is a historic landmark now.