On 12/21/08, Dan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> At 8:37 PM -0800 12/20/2008, Mullin9 wrote:
>>Ways to clean up old Macs, environmentally.
>>1 way to clean up an old Mac is to recycle a CRT monitor, and buy an
>>LCD, especially a LED backed LCD.
>>another way to do it is to upgrade to new/newer environmentally clean Macs.
>
> This makes sense IFF the hardware has died.
>
> If the hardware is functional then adding it to the trash stream is
> simply NOT an environmentally friendly thing to do! I don't care if
> "trash stream" is actual trash or a recycling program -- WORKING
> hardware should NEVER be scrapped. As long as its kept as-is, the
> hazardous materials are locked in and we aren't spending the energy
> or resources (water etc) to process them!
I have numerous older CRT monitors I have been given or have found
that still work fine. I don't see tossing them until they have died.
The Sony VAIO monitor (a nice Trinitron) I am using now has USB ports
on it. First monitor I have owned that has them. If the CRT dies I
might still keep the thing around if the USB ports still work as it
would be a shame to toss them out.
>
> Ok, I can see trying to justify things because the newer hardware
> might use less electricity IF its power supply is lower wattage and
> more efficient. From the consumer point of view, the electric
> savings is nice. But from the environmental POV - again, that CRT
> didn't need to be recycled YET.
True! Plus, most places I know (scrap yards) won't take the whole
monitor. In my case I need to take out the CRT and the only part of it
they will take is the end with all that copper. The plastic either
needs to be taken to a plastic recycler or trashed (I have a local
place that takes plastic). The cord (to the computer) can also be
recycled but alone it ain't worth squat.
>
> I see this like this whole Compact Florescent effort that we've
> bought into. The mercury in them makes them one of the worst
> technologies we've ever used. If you break one at home, technically,
> you're supposed to report it to your local poison control center so
> they can initiate the necessary environmental cleanup! Beyond that,
> their light is awful, and they DONT last the n years they're supposed
> to. The only way CF lights are a good deal is if you're a stock
> holder in the companies that make them. The same as for buying new
> computer hardware just to replace perfectly good working hardware...
>
-> They last longer if kept on longer than the old indascents. Turning
them on and off is not good for their longevity (so the experts say).
Also, they have gotten better in the light quality aspect (again, this
is from the experts who test these things for places like Consumer
Reports).
But you are right on the whole mercury thing (the companies say they
are working on this) and when they do burn out you are NOT supposed to
toss them in the trash (Hazardous Waste Disposal is the stream theya
re supposed to go in).
--
Steve Conrad
Henrietta, MO 64036
"The time has come for mankind to grow up and leave its cradle behind;
to go forth and claim our place in outer space."
- Capt. Henry Gloval
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Help Bunny Take Over The World!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a
group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on
Power Macs.
The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette
guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en
Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
