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Net Nerds
Computer Junk by Susan Ives, Alamo PC |
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Net Nerds
Computer Junk by Susan Ives, Alamo PC |
| I went printer shopping
the other day, looking for an inexpensive but reliable printer to put in
the new peaceCENTER library. Cheap was main criteria, and the first printer
that waggled it’s cartridges at me in Office Max was the Apollo P-2200.
I stared open-mouthed at the price tag -- $10. That’s right ten bucks.
The sales clerk caught me drooling in his aisle and asked if he could help.
“Is this for real?” I asked. “Well,” he replied, “It uses Hewlett-Packard technology and print cartridges. That’s good. But it’s a low volume printer. How many copies do you think you’ll do a month?” I poured out my life story. Believe me, I was tempted. That $10 price tag translated to $40 with a $30 mail in rebate, but still -- $10. Ten dollars! I wanted that printer. I wanted two of them, a house full, a different printer for every day of the week. The clerk talked trash to me. He told me that people were coming in after two or three months and buying another one. The printer comes loaded with full-size ink cartridges. A full-size HP51649A color cartridge sells at Office Max for $31.99. A HP 20 Black cartridge sells for $29.99. Do the math. Replacing the ink would cost $61.98. Buying a new printer costs $10. It’s cheaper to trash the printer and buy a new one with full tanks. This disturbs me. We’re talking a couple of pounds of plastic and metal, padded with a big wad of foam, nestled in a cardboard box the size of a Doberman, all destined for the dumpster in two months. This way of thinking might be easy on the pocketbook but is devastating for the environment. It’s akin to sending your car to the junkyard when the gas tank is empty – cheaper to buy a new one than to fill ‘er up. The National Recycling Coalition reports that old electronic equipment comprises only about 1-2 percent of municipal waste, but this number is poised to spike. Between now and 2007, the Coalition reports, 500 million personal computers will become obsolete. Printed circuit boards, in addition to plastic and copper, contain small amounts of chromium, lead solder, nickel, and zinc. All are toxic substances. Printers aren’t the worst offenders. Cathode Ray Tubes, CRTs found in monitors and television sets, have an average of 5-8 pounds of lead per unit. California has already banned CRTs from its landfills and treats them as hazardous waste. I didn’t buy the Apollo. And although it’s tempting — darn tempting — I urge you to think of the long-term effects of buying disposable electronics. The shelf life of household electronics is short enough as it is. I bet every one of us an obsolete computer, busted printer, wonky television or fritzed-out VCR sitting in the garage or wedged into a corner of a closet. You’re not alone. Three-quarters of obsolete computers and parts are just hanging around because people are clueless about how to get rid of them. The situation is ugly enough now without adding a new line of flimsy, disposable, wasteful junk that eats up natural resources and pollutes the land. The best description of this growing problem is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Make sure to read their backgrounder, Just Say No to E-Waste. It sure opened my eyes. If you have computers or parts, there are alternatives to taking them to the landfill or setting them on the curb for trash collection. CRECER recycles old computers and parts. Most machines go to non-profit organizations, mostly schools, but some are sold at cost to low-income students with good report cards. CRECER accepts only 486, or better, working systems. They also accept IDE hard drives, VGA color monitors, printers, PS2 keyboards and "mouses", CD ROM drives and 28800 (or faster) modems. Donors may drop off their equipment on Saturday morning work days held at their workshop at St. Martin de Porres Church, 1730 Dahlgreen Ave. between 9 a.m. and noon. For more information contact Luis Orozco.or Gene Rodriguez Luis can also be reached at (210) 675-1810. Another local alternative is Share the Technology is a national nonprofit that uses its Web site to link donors with organizations seeking used computer equipment. If you have equipment to donate you can list it here. Nonprofit organizations, public and private schools and people with disabilities can post their requests. On the day I checked, there were several requests from San Antonio organizations and schools. Although it’s a small thing, consider recycling your toner cartridges.
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