Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

National PC Recycling Plan Proposed, Again

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the cleaning-up dept.

ThinSkin writes "Two U.S. Representatives have proposed a bill to resuscitate a national recycling program for electronic waste, following the successful launch of two state-run programs. The bill would create the National Computer Recycling Act, and if approved by Congress and signed into law, would tack on a $10 administrative fee to the sale price of computers and monitors to fund recycling efforts."

9 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. What's a computer? by Odo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    > The proposed NCRA legislation covers both monitors and computer chasses, as well as a "computer with a central processing unit and monitor integrated in a single device," or a laptop.

    Where (and how) do they draw the line? Desktop computer > laptop > palmtop > wristwatch > implant ... maybe it would be better to charge by mass or percentage value (a laptop != a Cray).

    I'm not criticising goal of this law, just curious how an arbitrary line is drawn. Arbitrarily is my guess.

    1. Re:What's a computer? by Pete+LaGrange · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Oil or no, recycling material is a good idea. It makes things cheaper by not having to mine for it.

      If it's cheaper let somebody collect it and sell it at a profit.
      Why involve yet another layer of gov't bureaucracy to screw things?

      --
      loyalty above all, save honor
    2. Re:What's a computer? by stupidfoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      we go through lots of hardware at my company (customer hardware breaks down after 6 years of being on constantly and we replace it)

      When we get rid of the broken stuff, we strip out the non-toxic pieces, and then we pay a secondary company by the pound to dispose of the bad stuff. They rip out what is useful and still worth something, and then pay to dispose the rest of it.

      This system works perfectly fine without any extra levels of existing government bureaucracy. This just seems to be another example of needing to enforce current codes and regulations, instead of creating new codes and regulations.

  2. Already here by pcmanjon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My Texas city has a program like this (HEB Hurst Euless Bedford city district) and the stores charge a 30 dollar fee for recycle efforts. I don't see where the extra charge comes in though, as nobody seems to actually -RECYCLE- the computers they buy.

    Where's this extra charge come in?

  3. Re:Some enterprising young man or woman... by Odo · · Score: 5, Informative
    > Computers are made up of meltable parts. By melting the computers down, would it not be possible to skim off various useful elements and compounds at certain depths?

    Four problems I can think of off the top of my head:

    1. Computers are not meltable. Circuit boards don't melt (at least not at any reasonable temperature). So there's going to be a lot of debris.
    2. Melting computers would require a lot of energy. Weigh the environmental costs of burning a ton of coal vs burrying a dozen computers.
    3. The resulting pools of liquid wouldn't be very pure. Not if one is relying on gravity to do the separation. To do a better job you'd need to use a centrifuge. Note that many chemicals of different densities like to bond to each other.
    4. Plastics and other low-temperature volatiles would vapourize before one melted steel. So you'd be venting toxic fumes. That means you'd need a big air-purification system.
    Just some thoughts. I'm sure others will think of others. But it's an interesting suggestion.
  4. Re:What's a computer?... According to the bill... by Fallen+Kell · · Score: 5, Informative
    (4) the term `computer' means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions, and may include both a central processing unit and a monitor, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand held calculator, or other similar device;

    Also note:
    (3) the term `central processing unit' includes a case and all of its contents, such as the primary printed circuit board and its components, additional printed circuit boards, one or more disc drives, a transformer, interior wire, and a power cord;

    And:
    (e) ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION- The Administrator may exempt from the requirement of a fee under this section any sale made under a contract or an arrangement that the Administrator determines is likely to result in the maximum reuse of significant components of the computer, monitor, or device, and the disposal of the remaining components--

    (1) in an environmentally sound and responsible manner;

    (2) without violation of any Federal or State law; and

    (3) without reliance on funding from State or local governments,

    when the computer, monitor, or device is no longer of use to the end-user.

    (f) DESIGNATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES- The Administrator may designate additional electronic devices to which the fee under subsection (a) shall apply if those electronic devices--

    (1) contain a significant amount of material that, when disposed of, would be hazardous waste; and

    (2) include one or more liquid crystal displays, cathode ray tubes, or circuit boards.

    So, basically right now, only full systems seem to be called "a computer" (i.e. your standard Dell/HP/Gateway, etc., pizza box/tower). But they reserve the right for parts to later be specified, basically anything with a circuit board or LCD.

    --
    We were all warned a long time ago that MS products sucked, remember the Magic 8 Ball said, "Outlook not so good"
  5. More taxes by bullterror · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Gas tax, property tax, federal income tax, state income tax, social security tax, sales tax, tarrifs on goods we purchase, capital gains tax, federal telephone fees, vehicle registration (buy a nice car and now I can't even afford the plates on it) and the thousand other taxes that I cannot afford to pay.

    I don't pay enough taxes. 50% of my income just isn't enough. Add it up folks. The government has $150 hammers to buy. Don't try and pawn the blame off on one political party, either. They're both guilty.

    Most people have no clue what they're paying in taxes. The pump thier gas and wonder why it's so expensive but don't even see the 50 cent a gallon tax. They pay their mortgage and don't see the thousands of dollars they're paying in property tax because it's rolled into the payment. Their taxes are deducted right out of thier paycheck. I'm self employed, wait until you have to write out all these checks, it works. Are they going to tax motherboards when I build computers? This will be really good for the struggling IT economy.

  6. Re:Some enterprising young man or woman... by James_G · · Score: 5, Informative
    Computers are made up of meltable parts. By melting the computers down, would it not be possible to skim off various useful elements and compounds at certain depths? This is how they separate kerosene jet fuel from high octane gasoline. It's all together in a vat, but sucked out from different depths.

    Close, but no cigar. Oil is seperated into different parts by Fractional distillation, which evaporates the oil and then condenses it at different temperature levels. In the case of metal, you can't just melt it down and skim off at different levels. It would never settle, due to the heat convection. You'd need to evaporate the metal and condense it, which would take a not insignificant amount of energy.. Nice idea though.

  7. freecycle! by lifegonehazy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Freecycling is a great way to get rid of an old computer that you don't want. Check out http://www.freecycle.org/ for a group in your area.