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Computer Comapanies Begin Computer Recycling Program
Aired July 12, 2003 - 15:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SCHAFFLER: Well, they certainly don't look dangerous, but all those laptops, desktops, printers, and servers in your office and in your bedroom have toxic parts. 250 million computers are expected to become obsolete in the next two years alone. This could be a nightmare for landfills and companies trying to deal with the no longer useful parts. Today some residents, here in the Atlanta area, dropped off computer equipment at Georgia Tech University. Computer giant dell will refurbish some of the machines and donate them to charity. Most will be dismantled and components like glass and plastic recycled. Most folks just didn't realize how much high-tech stuff their families accumulate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We knew we just couldn't throw them away, so -- you know, we kept them. So it was accumulating. This is a real good opportunity. ,
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had them on tables down in the basement. I thought, "gee, I need some more room." And, so finally our -- we have a little website and saw the recycling information and we said, "let's take it down."
PAT NATHAN, DELL COMPUTERS: Awareness is a big part of what we're doing today -- is trying to figure out how to get the message out to people that it isn't something that you should throw in your trash cans and I think most consumers are aware of that, it's pretty bulky to begin with, but they don't know what to do with it. So, building awareness, getting them to go to websites, take a look, we'll take anybody's brands, most of us will, and it is important that they learn to do that and for all of their electronics, not just computer hardware.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHAFFLER: Joining us now, to talk more about computer end-of life issues is Stephanie Busch, she deals with pollution issues for the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thanks so much for coming in on this Saturday afternoon, appreciate it.
STEPHANIE BUSCH, P2AD: Thank you.
SCHAFFLER: You know what's so interesting about this particular story, for those of us who have old computers and have tried to donate them, many times our out of luck, so you're stuck way computer, you want to get rid of it, you might not be aware that you should be recycling. What's the awareness, do you find, at this point about the necessity to recycle, and if you want to do it, are the options there?
BUSCH: Well, the options are there, but as we learned from the event today here in Atlanta, that many people were not aware until they heard this week on television or radio that they had options, and so we're thankful for Dell to hosting the event to make people more aware. So, I think as consumers, now that they're aware, they can share for with their friends about the options that are available, and there are websites and phone numbers that people across the country can call to find the nearest recycler closest to them.
SCHAFFLER: And it's important to do this because of that toxic material, which you don't normally think of when you're looking at a computer here, but it's a serious issue.
BUSCH: Right. Computers contain between four to five pounds of lead in an average monitor, so it's important that these computers are properly managed, diverted from the land fill and sent to a recycler where they can reclaim that lead and reuse it.
SCHAFFLER: Yeah, how much does get reused, after all?
BUSCH: Only about 11 percent of consumer electronics are recycled in the United States, and we hope to see that number grow in the next couple of years.
SCHAFFLER: We know that Dell did this event here, in Atlanta today. Hewlett-Packard also involved with some projects here that company is in the process of leasing equipment, so when it becomes obsolete it can get upgraded, here. Tell us a little bit what the industry should be doing.
BUSCH: That's a tremendous thing that Hewlett-Packard is doing and many other consumer -- manufacturers also have similar programs where they're taking stewardship and responsibility of their products from cradle to grave and you'll see leasing as an option available from many major manufacturers and that's a great option for consumers to do because they no longer have to manage it, they can send it back to the manufacturer.
SCHAFFLER: We also, of course, many of us have laptops now, so that probably helps the problem, there's less waste there and a lot of people who have laptops aren't in a hurry to upgrade that, I guess.
BUSCH: They -- you're right, they do and it is less waste. That's another option that you can consider, because a monitor and a computer weighs about 50 pounds, so it's a lot less weight if you're purchasing a laptop. Also, consumers should consider buying equipment that's upgradeable.
SCHAFFLER: Yeah, that does seem to be at least a positive way to think about it, here. How are we, as far as educating the public on some of these issues? Where would you rate that process? BUSCH: I think we're doing a great job. I think events like today really have helped the consumers become more aware of where they can take their computers. I think, obviously, we can improve, and we're looking to manufacturers, as well as, other agencies like our agency, here in Georgia, that are out there educating consumers and citizens in our state about the options available.
SCHAFFLER: And you've done a great service as well, helping to educate. Stephanie Busch, thanks so much for being here.
BUSCH: Thank you.
SCHAFFLER: Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 12, 2003 - 15:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SCHAFFLER: Well, they certainly don't look dangerous, but all those laptops, desktops, printers, and servers in your office and in your bedroom have toxic parts. 250 million computers are expected to become obsolete in the next two years alone. This could be a nightmare for landfills and companies trying to deal with the no longer useful parts. Today some residents, here in the Atlanta area, dropped off computer equipment at Georgia Tech University. Computer giant dell will refurbish some of the machines and donate them to charity. Most will be dismantled and components like glass and plastic recycled. Most folks just didn't realize how much high-tech stuff their families accumulate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We knew we just couldn't throw them away, so -- you know, we kept them. So it was accumulating. This is a real good opportunity. ,
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had them on tables down in the basement. I thought, "gee, I need some more room." And, so finally our -- we have a little website and saw the recycling information and we said, "let's take it down."
PAT NATHAN, DELL COMPUTERS: Awareness is a big part of what we're doing today -- is trying to figure out how to get the message out to people that it isn't something that you should throw in your trash cans and I think most consumers are aware of that, it's pretty bulky to begin with, but they don't know what to do with it. So, building awareness, getting them to go to websites, take a look, we'll take anybody's brands, most of us will, and it is important that they learn to do that and for all of their electronics, not just computer hardware.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHAFFLER: Joining us now, to talk more about computer end-of life issues is Stephanie Busch, she deals with pollution issues for the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thanks so much for coming in on this Saturday afternoon, appreciate it.
STEPHANIE BUSCH, P2AD: Thank you.
SCHAFFLER: You know what's so interesting about this particular story, for those of us who have old computers and have tried to donate them, many times our out of luck, so you're stuck way computer, you want to get rid of it, you might not be aware that you should be recycling. What's the awareness, do you find, at this point about the necessity to recycle, and if you want to do it, are the options there?
BUSCH: Well, the options are there, but as we learned from the event today here in Atlanta, that many people were not aware until they heard this week on television or radio that they had options, and so we're thankful for Dell to hosting the event to make people more aware. So, I think as consumers, now that they're aware, they can share for with their friends about the options that are available, and there are websites and phone numbers that people across the country can call to find the nearest recycler closest to them.
SCHAFFLER: And it's important to do this because of that toxic material, which you don't normally think of when you're looking at a computer here, but it's a serious issue.
BUSCH: Right. Computers contain between four to five pounds of lead in an average monitor, so it's important that these computers are properly managed, diverted from the land fill and sent to a recycler where they can reclaim that lead and reuse it.
SCHAFFLER: Yeah, how much does get reused, after all?
BUSCH: Only about 11 percent of consumer electronics are recycled in the United States, and we hope to see that number grow in the next couple of years.
SCHAFFLER: We know that Dell did this event here, in Atlanta today. Hewlett-Packard also involved with some projects here that company is in the process of leasing equipment, so when it becomes obsolete it can get upgraded, here. Tell us a little bit what the industry should be doing.
BUSCH: That's a tremendous thing that Hewlett-Packard is doing and many other consumer -- manufacturers also have similar programs where they're taking stewardship and responsibility of their products from cradle to grave and you'll see leasing as an option available from many major manufacturers and that's a great option for consumers to do because they no longer have to manage it, they can send it back to the manufacturer.
SCHAFFLER: We also, of course, many of us have laptops now, so that probably helps the problem, there's less waste there and a lot of people who have laptops aren't in a hurry to upgrade that, I guess.
BUSCH: They -- you're right, they do and it is less waste. That's another option that you can consider, because a monitor and a computer weighs about 50 pounds, so it's a lot less weight if you're purchasing a laptop. Also, consumers should consider buying equipment that's upgradeable.
SCHAFFLER: Yeah, that does seem to be at least a positive way to think about it, here. How are we, as far as educating the public on some of these issues? Where would you rate that process? BUSCH: I think we're doing a great job. I think events like today really have helped the consumers become more aware of where they can take their computers. I think, obviously, we can improve, and we're looking to manufacturers, as well as, other agencies like our agency, here in Georgia, that are out there educating consumers and citizens in our state about the options available.
SCHAFFLER: And you've done a great service as well, helping to educate. Stephanie Busch, thanks so much for being here.
BUSCH: Thank you.
SCHAFFLER: Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
