4 Solutions for Ensuring a Safe and Legal Way of Recycling Computers

The high-tech manufacturing industry produces millions of products that seek to offer various industries with greater efficiency, productivity and convenience. However, electronics including computers contain toxic materials, posing a threat to the environment particularly when improperly disposed.
Televisions, EKG monitors, lab analyzer, computers among other types of electronic equipment contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chlorinated plastics (PVC) and brominated flame retardants. The solutions for computer recycling to ensure safe and legal ways of disposing the redundant computer equipment include:
· Charity donation
The organization can consider donating the computers to a local school or charity. This can go a long way in generating greater benefits to the under privileged people. Making donations also serve as a good public relations for the organization. However, as a result of significant funding from the government the appetite for second-hand computers is on the decline. As a result, most organizations choose to export the donated equipment to Eastern Europe and Africa.
· Trickle Down Policy
In the trickle down policy, a computer that is redundant but still functions can be reused in a different department. This is a standard practice; as a result, many of the organizations are using the policy. The benefits of this policy include: maximum gains are derived from the possible life of working the computer; can get the ideal opportunity of reformatting the computer hard drive considering it is for internal use; and it is an environmentally friendly policy.
The disadvantages with the trickle down policy include: the data in the computer needs to be removed before redeploying the machine; the machine should be tested for safety once it is redeployed; the end-of-life and non-working equipment will need to be disposed; and the end-of-life machine will have no or little residual value.
· In-house staff sales
The IT department within the organization needs to run an informal retail outlet. This will give employees a simple way for purchasing PCs or laptops. The problem with in-house sales is the fact that several of the employees will want to buy the same desirable items.
Therefore, the IT department will be forced to show favoritism in selling the highly desirable item. The benefits of the in-house staff sales include: the employees are kept happy; income is generated on behalf of the organization; and the process requires little time and fewer resources.