While computers today play an involved role in modern society, they've been around longer then you may imagine. From the design of the computer mouse by Douglas Engelbart in 1963, to the popularity of the Apple II and the Commodore in the ’70s and ’80s, these machines have quickly transitioned from multi-room machines to units that easily fit in a backpack or on our desks.

As more companies, organizations, and individuals find grounds to upgrade their computers, the issue of how to safely dispose used equipment continues to expand. The ramifications of this phenomenon are widespread:

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Plug in to eCycling program, just 15% to 20% of inactive PCs, TVs, cell phones and other electronic devices are being recycled in the United States (latest statistics are from 2007). Every computer dumped into a landfill symbolizes a missed opportunity to supply Information-Age tools to people and organizations everywhere.

Disposal isn't the solution; computers and other electronics should be properly treated by a recycling company instead of being directed to a waste disposal company. Eliminating outdated high-tech gear isn’t as simple as laying it out for the trash collection. Old TVs, monitors and computers are laden with Earth-unfriendly metals and chemicals. In most cases, garbage collection firms refuse to take such items. Even if you could get away with leaving items like these at the curb, it’s not a redeeming idea. They’ll wind up in dumps and could poison the Earth. For years, developed countries have been exporting loads of electronic waste material for cheap, labor-intensive recycling and disposal, mostly to China. It's been illegal to import e-waste into China for dirty recycling and dumping since 2000, but smuggling, subversion and China's appetite for waste keep it flowing.

If you have a computer that's less than 5 years old, it can likely be put to good use by someone else! Let Falcor Systems take these old machines and find suitable homes and uses for them rather than letting them waste away in storage rooms or in landfills throughout the world. Give us a call or send us an e-mail to learn more.