Recycling Electronic Boards

Unless your prints really contain "gold" and "silver", I do not see a way how someone can turn recycling old computer boards into a profitable business. Expect to pay instead of getting paid.

There are several places that take the boards and recycle the silver and gold. They do pay for the boards. I was trying to get help deciding which one to send them to.

I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually Pay for those boards. I know around here you typically have to pay to get rid of them if you have any kind of quantity. there are a couple places that will accept recycling drop-offs a few times a month at no charge to the public, but business owners, and people with large quantities are not welcome to drop off for free, they all have to pay a fee to dispose of their "hazardous waste".

The boards will probably end up in some third world country to be stripped.

From the documentaries I've seen the kids doing the work have no protection what so ever.

Thanks

Occasionally, school groups sponsor computer scrap drives that collect all the old devices and boards and they find recyclers to buy the scrap. The proceeds go to the school band, sports team, etc. Chances are it will cost you time, effort, gas and be a headache before you are done. See if you can find someplace to donate it.

Hi DG,

Not exactly in the tradition of what we normally think of as recycling, I have was introduced to some folks who are buying old PCBAs and using them to make jewelry, artwork, etc. While it doesn't re-claim the base materials, it is preventing at least one generation of material going to the landfills.

Let me know if you're interested, and I will see if I can find any of these contacts ... it has been a while.

Kind regards ....

Hi there. Is this still an issue? The company I work for uses recyclers regularly. Where are you located? -Dave Rayburn <email removed>

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Check out the Basel Action Network. This organization certifies e-Stewards/e-Recyclers in the US and around the world. They work in effort to prevent third world electronic dumping. The website is www.ban.org. I'll let their website tell their story. They are a very impressive agency.

Here in Washington State our state-level electronic recycling is only deposited with BAN certified agencies.