At 04:57 AM 6/8/02 -0500, you wrote:
>On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Joe wrote:
>> At 05:42 PM 6/7/02 -0500, you wrote:
>>
>> > Didn't see anyone else mention this story, though it isn't exactly
>> > front-page news...
>> >
>> > China bans toxic American computer junk:
>> > http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,725756,00.html
>> >
>> > Maybe this will help save just a few systems...
>>
>> Yes, but I fear we'll soon be swimming in computer scrap. The amount
>> of scrap that we've been exporting is tremendous.
>
>I guess US companies will have to start dealing with scrap in better ways
>now. Of course, it does also mean we might have a better chance to grab
>the better parts and systems before they are scrapped. It also seems that
>it would be more profitable for companies to sell (or even give away) such
>old systems to folks that will give them a home (possibly with a signed
>agreement transferring the responsibility for recycling to the new owner)
>rather than deal with the scrapping and recycling of it.
>
>If China's ban works, the better metals will also quit finding their way
>out of the US.
Better metals!?!?! You MUST be kidding! The metal in 99% computers is about one level above slag. There might be some decent metal in some OLD computers but for every old computer (with or without decent metal) there will be 500 modern (ie made of plastic and tin foil) PCs. I foresee a big boost in the amount of recycled plastic that will be available. The recyclers that I know are currently piling up the steel since it costs more to haul it to a recycling center than it's worth.
Most of the *old* systems were made with high grade
>aluminum and steel. It appears those are some of the materials (as well as
>lots and lots of plastics and lead...) that are piling up in places like
>China. The only metals that seem to be of immediate value to the scrappers
>are gold, silver, and to a limited degree, copper.
And aluminium if it's clean and in decent size pieces. However modern PCs have just about zero metal in them and virtually no gold silver or copper. I realize that some edge connectors have gold and there is copper
on the circuit boards but the amounts are miniscule and certainly not worth the labor and chemicals to extract it.
But seriously, I was talking to Gary and he said that he's thinking of starting a computer recycling center. I'm thinking that that might not be a bad idea for some of us that are interested in old systems. Since the US will no longer be able to dump the stuff overseas, there should be a big demand for people/places that will accept computers and recycle them. In addition, we would have our pick of anything interesting.
Joe
>
>-Toth
>
>
Received on Sat Jun 08 2002 - 11:46:12 BST