By Randy Tuchtenhagen, Solid waste officer

Each year hundreds of thousands of computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, printers, televisions and other electronic items become “obsolete” and have created a problem for landfills and the environment.

Computers are the number one technology in the waste stream.

For every three new computers now built, two old computers become obsolete.

By the end of next year, the ratio will be one to one, leaving 150 million personal computers in need of disposal.

Some components of electronic equipment can be reused or recycled. This includes metals, plastic and glass.

But not in our household recycling. The recyclable components have specialized markets and often have to be shipped long distances to their recycling market destination.

Most electronic components cannot be re-used by a friend or neighbor because technology is advancing at such a fast pace the components become obsolete, newer software will not operate, it is too slow for Internet use, or is inefficient at producing needed information or long term storage.

For these reasons there are very few programs that try to re-build or upgrade old units. Try taking your old television in and having it upgraded. Computers are no different.

Electronics may contain hazardous materials such as lead, silver, cadmium, mercury and chromium. The main culprits are computer monitors, television cathode ray tubes (CRTs), circuit boards and batteries.

A television or computer monitor may contain up to four to eight pounds of lead.

If not properly handled, these toxic materials could enter the environment.

A few years ago, the Minnesota legislature banned electronics from the commercial and industrial business waste stream. In 2005 this law will extend to the residential waste stream as well.

County governments and waste professionals are scrambling to establish collection programs for waste and finding ways to fund the cost of those collections and disposal.

One method being suggested is a recycling fee collected at the point of sale and also encouraging manufacturers to use less hazardous products such as LCD panels and plasma screens.

When purchasing a computer or television, take the time to learn what systems will best benefit your specific needs. Purchase Energy Star compliant computers and monitors and consider a modular, upgradeable design. Purchasing the least expensive system that does not meet all your needs means you will be upgrading sooner than later.

In the past three years, the Environmental Services Department has held electronics collections for businesses.

We have also allowed residential customers to bring their electronic items to us for disposal at those collections.

We are currently planning electronic collections for 2005.

The collection dates and locations will be listed on the Household Hazardous Waste schedule.

We expect to mail these schedules to every household in the county in March.

The electronic collections are held with the Chamber and Waste Management as partners and the units we collected are taken to the twin cities for disassembly and recycling.

Up to this point, we have charged a fee for disposal of these electronic devices and will most likely continue to do so until another system has been designed by free enterprise or a state agency that will better fund our collection program.

Watch near the end of March for the brightly colored collection schedules in your mailbox.

(Randy Tuchtenhagen is the Freeborn County Solid Waste Officer.)