Select an Issue or Program --------------- Sprawl & Transportation Public Lands & Open Space Marine & Coastal Habitat --------------- Conservation Legislative Political

Select a Region or Group -------------------- Sierra Club Headquarters -------------------- Inner City Outings (ICO) -------------------- Greater Boston Group Pioneer Valley Group Essex County Group Cape Cod Group Start a Sierra Club Group

Computer Disposal
Did you know that computers and other electronic equipment are a great threat to the environment? Approximately 60 million new PCs enter the market each year, while another 12 million are disposed of. The National Safety Council estimates that somewhere between 315 million and 680 million computers will become obsolete in the next few years in the US alone. Comprising this massive amount of waste will be 4 billion pounds of plastic, 1 billion pounds of lead, 1.9 million pounds of cadmium, 1.2 million pounds of chromium, and 400,000 pounds of mercury. One teaspoon of mercury is enough to contaminate a pond-imagine how great of a threat 400,000 pounds of mercury is. Due to the massive amount of dangerous chemicals that leach out of computers into groundwater as these machines deteriorate, dumping computers is illegal in Massachusetts. So what can you do with your old machine?

• TecsChange is a Roxbury-based non-profit that teaches youth how to build and repair computers. Contact them first to see if they can use your old machine at (617) 442-4456 or email at tecschange@tecschange.org v YouthBuild Boston is another group. They will take Pentium II or better computers and monitors. Call (617) 445-8887 for more information.
• In Western Massachusetts, a partnership of organizations has formed the "Recycle Electronics of Charity" initiative. You can take used items to one of the participating Goodwill locations on this list.
• From July 18 to September 6, 2004, Hewlett Packard will recycle any computer, monitor, digital camera, fax machine, cell phone, or other electronic device dropped off at any Office Depot store. One item per person per day. HP has said that their limited-time offer will probably be continued in some way.
• Dell will send a truck to your home to pick up your old computer-if you buy a new Dell PC. This offer is open-ended.
• In addition, you could contact one of the computer manufacturers, which will take various pieces of equipment for a fee- http://www.dell.com/recycle or http://www.recycleapc.com/Apple.