 Discarded computers and other consumer electronics
(so called e-waste) are the fastest growing portion
of our waste stream. Less than 10% of discarded computers
are currently recycled. Most of them are either stored
or improperly thrown into the garbage. As for the
e-waste that is collected for recycling in the US,
it is estimated that 50% to 80% is actually being
sent to developing countries such as China, India
and Pakistan, where it may be dumped in fields or
crudely dismantled for precious metals, poisoning
the people, land, air, and water.
Your personal computer may contain up to 1,000 toxins
including brominated fire retardants, lead, mercury,
cadmium and other heavy metals that are known to
cause damage to the nervous system, the brain, the
kidneys, and can cause birth defects and cancer.
A typical computer monitor alone contains 4- 8pounds
of lead. This adds up to a real problem when you
consider that an estimated 315 million desktop and
laptop computers in the U.S. will be obsolete and
discarded by the year 2004.
At present, the cost of managing discarded e-waste
falls on taxpayers and local governments. The good
news is that electronics recyclers are beginning
to take it upon themselves to uphold rigorous environmental
and social criteria for recycling e-waste, and local
and state governments are creating legislation that
will ensure the responsible disposal of e-waste.
In Santa Cruz County, the Community Partners program
provides opportunities for donating your outdated,
working computer to a local community group or business
in need.
Visit the Community Partners
Program to view a full list of participating businesses
providing e-waste reuse and recycling opportunities.
Santa Cruz County residents may also recycle their
e-waste at any of their three Household Hazardous
Waste facilities.
 Community
Partners Program
List
of E-waste haulers for businesses and agencies
List
of Manufacturer Recycling Programs.
Community Partners Program
Support Reuse
First - If your equipment
is working or not too old, please patronize our Community
Partners. These local non-profits and businesses
will pass on your products to organizations in need
in our community. Please respect their acceptance
rules and drop off items only during open hours.
Recycling
Of Househould Electronics - Household Electronic
Products include: televisions, computers, monitors,
printers, peripherals, fax machines, VCRs, radios & stereos,
telephones, video games, wiring, and all products
designed for use in a home environment that contain
electronic circuitry and wiring and are often housed
in a plastic casing. Does not include mostly metal
appliances such as microwaves, toasters, or copy
machines.
*The businesses recycling e-waste collected at
these sites pledge environmentally sound processing
in the US and Canada.
California Grey Bears
2710 Chanticleer Av., Live Oak 9-10 a.m., M-F
Accepts working computers and peripherals.
Contact: Will Horne, (831) 479-1055
Goodwill Industries
Donation stations throughout Santa Cruz County 8:30-5
daily
Accepts working TVs under 25", color monitors,
and 486 and newer computers for resale.
Contact: 423-8611, www.scgoodwill.org
Call for pickup: (800) 894-8440
M C Squared
5376 Soquel Dr., Soquel 10-5 daily
Accepts working or repairable Apple/Mac and PC computer
products and peripherals.
Contact: Timothy Marshall, (831) 464-7262, tmarsh@mcsquared.org,
www.mcsquared.org
Dave's Computers
181 Walnut St., Santa Cruz 9-6 M-F & 10:30-2
Sat
Accepts working or repairable computers and peripherals.
Contact: (831) 458-1131
Guenther Computer
312 Locust St., Santa Cruz 10-5:30 M-F, 10-3 Sat
Accepts working or repairable computers and peripherals.
Contact: (831) 458-9404, www.gcomputer.com
The Spot
1100-A Main St., Watsonville
Provides low cost computers & training for students
of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
Accepts tax-deductible donations of working PCs with
Pentium II or better chip, peripherals, and 15" or
larger monitors.
Contact: John Cirillo, (831) 768-1825, info@thespotinc.com
Sea Breeze Computers
242 Melody Lane, Watsonville 9-6 M-F & 1-6 Sat
Accepts working or repairable computers and peripherals.
Contact: (831) 768-9999, www.seabreezecomputers.com
Val's TV, VCR & Radio
Service
8 Porter Dr., Pajaro 10-5 M-Sat
Accepts working TVs, VCRs & stereo equipment.
Contact: (831) 724-3418
George's Television – Sanderson
Satellite
9 Casserly Rd., Watsonville
Accepts working TVs and satellite equipment.
Contact: Russell Sanderson, (831) 724-3734
Verizon Wireless
1440 41st Ave., Capitola M-F 9-7; Sat 10-6; Sun 11-5
Accepts all brands of cell phones, batteries and
chargers, regardless of condition, for Hopeline program
to benefit victims of domestic violence.
Contact: www.verizonwireless.com
Staples
2460 17th Ave., Santa Cruz M-F 7am-9pm, Sat 10-7,
Sun 11-6 (831) 477-9002
1445 Main St., Watsonville M-F 7am-8pm, Sat 9-7,
Sun 10-6 (831) 763-1943
Accepts cell phones, pagers, palm pilots, toner & ink
jet cartridges for recycling.
Disposal Sites:
County of Santa Cruz Household Hazardous
Waste Facilities
Buena Vista Landfill (South County near Watsonville)
daily, 7:30-3:30
Ben Lomond Transfer Station (Newell Creek Rd, San
Lorenzo Valley) daily, 7:30-3:30
Accepts all household electronic products.
Fees: TVs and monitors - $10 ea. for screen 21" and
under, $15 ea. for screen over 21".
Fee waived for up to 2 TVs or monitors daily. Call
for a voucher for larger quantities: (831) 454-2373.
All other E-waste - no charge.
Haulers pledge environmentally sound processing in
the US and Canada.
City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility (formerly
Municipal Landfill)
Dimeo Lane off north coast Highway 1 7:30-3:30 daily
Accepts TVs and computer monitors at $7 each, limit
1 per residential customer per day. No business generated
CRTs accepted. Working computer components are placed
in flea market area. All other e-waste is landfilled.
Contact: (831) 420-5220
City of Watsonville
Waste & Recycling
Drop-Off
320 Harvest Drive, Watsonville 9-12 & 12:30-3:30
daily
Accepts household electronic products from City of
Watsonville residents and business ONLY.
Fees: Businesses charged $3 per TV or computer monitor.
All other E-waste - no charge.
Contact: (831) 728-6133
E-WASTE HAULERS FOR BUSINESSES AND AGENCIES
Generators of larger quantities of E-wastes may
want to contract directly with haulers. Any transportation
or processing fees depend on the quantity and quality
of material handled. These haulers and processors
state that they process E-wastes in the US in an
environmentally sound manner.
United Datatech Distributors
705 Reed Street, Santa Clara 95050
Picks up computer scrap. Pay or charge depending
on quality. Secure destruction available.
Contact: Tom Hogye, (408) 998-0700 tomh@uniteddatatech.com,
www.uniteddatatech.com
Zak Enterprises
3250-B Victor St., Santa Clara 95054
Picks up computer scrap. Pay or charge depending
on quality.
Contact: Kurt Schenk, (408) 330-0200, kurt@zakenterprises.com,
www.zakenterprises.com
HMR
435 23rd St., San Francisco 94107
Picks up larger quantity of electronic scrap for
a fee.
Contact: Dan Schimenti, (415) 647-6071, dan@hmrusa.com,
www.hmrusa.com
EBAY EXCHANGE FOR USED ELECTRONICS
San Jose based Ebay Inc. hosts a website for the
Rethink Initiative, a partnership of industry,
government and environmental organizations to find
users for old computers. On this site you can find
information, tools and solutions that make it easy
to buy, sell, and donate idle computers and electronics,
and responsibly recycle unwanted products.
http://pages.ebay.com/rethink/index.html
MANUFACTURER RECYCLING
PROGRAMS
NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics
Total Trade program offered to business customers
upgrading CRT & LCD displays. Company rep provides
customized quote for customer. Used displays are
resold and customer credited within 30 days.
Dell Exchange
Any brand of desktop or notebook computer, monitor
or printer picked up at consumer's home. No charge
for donation of working Pentium and newer equipment.
Otherwise, $15 for 50 pound box. Customer responsible
for packing. As of November '03 Dell is advertising
this service for $7.50 (half off the $15 charge).
Old Dell printers accepted free for recycling with
purchase of new Dell printer.
www.dell.com/recycling
(800) 915-3355
IBM PC Recycling Service
Any brand of personal computer, including monitor,
printer and peripherals, accepted at IBM designated
recycling center. $30 price includes pre-paid UPS
shipping label. Customer provides shipping box.
(888) SHOP-IBM (746-7426)
www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/pcrservice.shtml
HP Product Recycling
Any piece of computer hardware from any manufacturer
accepted. Cost, which includes shipping, ranges
from $13 to $34 per item, depending upon the type
and quantity of hardware to be shipped. Order on-line.
www.hp.com/hpinfo/community/environment/recycle/index.htm
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Recycling
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