Recycle your old computer...

[Calamity Jane]

(From an Ottawa Citizen article, 2006)

Useful Sites for Recycling Computers

- City of Ottawa Take-It-Back: www.ottawa.ca/gc/takeitback/index_en.shtml -- partnership with 300 retailers

- Computers for Schools: 1-888-636-9899 www.computersforschools -- government supported nonprofit -- drop off at 45 Sacre-Coeur Boul., Gatineau -- Pentium II or equivalent -- phone first

- Computer Recyclers Inc.: 723-3135 www.ComputerRecyclersOttawa.com -- private company -- drop off at 163 MacFarlane Rd., Ottawa (Nepean)-- any computer and peripherals, laptops, fax machines, cellphones, TVs, stereos

- Goodwill: 842-3553 -- charity -- will pick up -- Pentium II or equivalent in working order -- sold in stores

- HP Canada's Planet Partners: www.hp.ca/recycle -- $20-$50 fee per item -- any brand

- IBM PC Recycling Service: $49.95 fee (incl. shipping) -- discount of up to eight per cent on purchase of new IT equipment

- Ottawa Freecycle: ottawafreecycle@qmail.com -- list free

- ReBoot Canada: 234-7734 -- rebootottawa@compucorps.info -- charity -- 145 Spruce St. -- drop off -- phone first

- Salvation Army: 247-1348 -- charity -- will pick up -- sold in stores

- Used Ottawa.com: www.usedottawa.com -- buy and sell free

- World Computer Exchange: 851-4340 -- www.worldcomputerexchange.org -- charity -- refurbish and send to developing countries -- Pentium II or equivalent -- drop off --phone first

any one have any other leads?

[Blane]

- HP Canada's Planet Partners: www.hp.ca/recycle -- $20-$50 fee per item -- any brand

- IBM PC Recycling Service: $49.95 fee (incl. shipping) -- discount of up to eight per cent on purchase of new IT equipment

Oh the sweet irony that the two companies on the list actually responsible for distribution of ecologically hazardous products are asking for money from consumers to deal with the problem they've created. Really goes to show our society's unwillingness to demand that producers assume REAL responsibility for the impacts of their products througout their lifespan.

In Switzerland there is built in "recovery tax" on all electronic articles to cover the cost of adequately recycling or appropriately disposing of them. The cost is shared between producer and consumer, and is made mandatory by building it into the purchas price. We should seriously be looking at that here.

[timouse]

- HP Canada's Planet Partners: www.hp.ca/recycle -- $20-$50 fee per item -- any brand

- IBM PC Recycling Service: $49.95 fee (incl. shipping) -- discount of up to eight per cent on purchase of new IT equipment

Oh the sweet irony that the two companies on the list actually responsible for distribution of ecologically hazardous products are asking for money from consumers to deal with the problem they've created. Really goes to show our society's unwillingness to demand that producers assume REAL responsibility for the impacts of their products througout their lifespan.

In Switzerland there is built in "recovery tax" on all electronic articles to cover the cost of adequately recycling or appropriately disposing of them. The cost is shared between producer and consumer, and is made mandatory by building it into the purchas price. We should seriously be looking at that here.

i have had several HP printers that i have taken for (attempted) service, only to discover that the parts aren't available (standard line) or that it's simply not cost-effective to repair.

i have never paid a penny to have them take back their own stuff for disposal...