Many computers may end up in the trash. Others may be taken home by workers or given to friends or schools. There are several dozen computer recycling programs throughout the U.S., with numerous others sprouting up to serve social service community organizations. Keyboards, circuit boards, monitors and other computer components and accessories can become obsolete just with the advent of new processing chips. It has been estimated that 50 to 70 million computers alone will have been disposed of between 1992 and 1996.
Computers contain numerous heavy metals.
The CRT comprises about two-thirds of the weight of a typical computer workstation. It seems that many of the computer reclamation projects are directly associated with schools, which both donate and receive computers. Collecting a sufficient volume of computers is critical, in order to offset handling and transportation costs. Various specific computer recycling technical programs have been developed to train individuals in how to reuse the computer and its components. Many electronic recycling programs focus on computers because they have a very high recycle value.