Domestically, progress is slower. In November of 1996, Dell Computer Corp. announced conversion of its OptiPlex PC line to OptiFrame chasses, which are 100 percent recyclable. Sadly, virtually no recycling concerns have penetrated the clone market. Some of this is undoubtedly owing to the decentralized and hypercompetitive nature of the channel. For one corporation to make an environmental move from the top down is simplicity itself compared to the coordination of dozens of smaller, independent companies spread across the globe all agreeing to integrate a new standard while still lowering prices to accommodate customer demands.
Most states require a surcharge to be applied at the point of sale, refundable upon return.
We may grumble about paying an extra five cents for a Coke, but everyone understands that the aim is to keep garbage off the streets and raw materials in circulation. There s no reason why the same process can t be applied to PCs. Each component is stamped with a refund value just like a can. And as with cans, the product dealer is compensated by the recycling center when the materials are picked up at regular intervals. Blah blah, woof woof.