Just like the title- have computer boards I’ve been hanging onto forever because I didn’t have the time to find out how to NOT make them end-up in some hole in the ground. Any Earth-friendly suggestions?
Shut yo’ mouth!
Actually I’m wondering this too – I have around 3 computers that I haven’t gotten rid of, mainly because I not sure if I need data off of them but when I get rid of them I’m wondering if there is an environfriendly way to dispose of them.
Some electronics distributers around here recycle electronic scrap, or if they don’t they know who does.
Some charitable groups, such as Good Will, also take it.
And your trash collection company will probably either take it or will know who does in your area.
Earth Day is coming up in a month (March 20) Chances are pretty good that your local government will have a free pickup of e-waste and other household haz-mat stuff.
Goodwill in this town doesn’t take oild computers. They would never take a junk motherboard either. It passes the propblem onto Goodwill, who has to pay for disposal.
Different terms defined and links. Look for End-of-Life Issues for Computer Accessories on the page.
Seeing as how the motherboard had to come from a hole in the ground in the first place…
Ah, forget it. Some people are set in their ways. Let them be.
What the heck is this supposed to mean?
You do realize that circuit boards are loaded with all sorts of heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, etc.? Just because these elements were originally mined from the earth doesn’t mean we should just dump them back in their purified state under a layer of top soil where they can cause soil contamination or leach into the ground water.
In NJ, our local county recycling centers will take old computer equipment for recycling. I usually store the junk for a while and bring old PC, Terminals, monitors, printers, and UPS batteries in. I ensure no hard drive goes however.
Jim
Places like Staples and Office Depot occasionally sponsor recycling days. Motherboards and small electronics are free, and monitors will usually be a small charge ($15-$25 or so).
Nope. Earth Day is April 22.
Let’s split the difference and make it April 20 
I thought this thread was " How do I dispose of Bad Mother-In-Laws"
I have issues with mine. 
I am quite sure that we are capable of digging a hole in the ground close to where we got the mercury and cadmium from in the first place.
That is what I am saying.
It would be theoretically possible to restore everything to it’s original position after we used it, but that would cost just as much money as the production of the product itself cost.
If you want to start paying double for everything you buy, then sure. But until then you’re better off to figure out ways to recycle the stuff or cheaply isolate it from doing bad stuff.
Light dawns on Marblehead.
So goes “recycling”.
Yes indeed, it involves a lot of the same labor to recycle an object as to process it’s components from raw, unrefined materials. And? If you have an option between restoring your waste to it’s original condition or reusing it again, either way you’re better off to reuse it. Reselling it takes off some amount of the pricetag to recycle.
What does that have to do with where one can find a place that can handle computer components and see to it that they are disposed of in a way that’s safe?
Mine are usually “donated” to my local LAN party group. I assure you, no matter what piece of tech hardware junk you have, some 15 year old gamer just learning how to fiddle with computers would love to have it.
Heck, I used to use old ones for soldering practice, I assume they are doing the same.
And you have a problem with the hole in the ground?
I did some Googling but was unable to come up with much in the way of confirmation of this. Mercury is found in various forms of lamps, none of which would be found on a motherboard. Cadmium would be found in a NiCd backup battery, which should certainly be removed before a board is disposed of. Beyond that, it doesn’t appear as if “loaded with all sorts of heavy metals” is applicable to motherboards.
But my Googling isn’t always of the best - perhaps there is other info on this.