Cashing in on electronic trash

One person’s waste is another person’s opportunity

By FRITZ MAYER

PORT JERVIS, NY — As officials in the region and the country crack down on the disposal of computers, monitors and televisions in landfills, new companies are stepping up to handle the electronic cast-offs. One such company is Advanced Recovery Industries (ARI) at 47 Mechanic Street in Port Jervis.

On a recent morning at the company’s warehouse, it was clear that ARI did not suffer from a shortage of raw materials. The place was packed to the rafters with discarded computers, televisions, radios, printers-thousands of pieces of technology that were no longer needed or wanted by their former owners.

“These are Pentium Fours,” said marketing director Bob Travers, pointing to a stack of computer towers that looked almost new, “only about a year and a half old. There’s probably nothing wrong with them.”

Asked why anyone would get rid of computers that are still functioning, he answered, “Businesses like to be on the cutting edge. Especially businesses that need a lot of computer speed, like those that handle graphics.”

Those particular computers may not be taken apart by ARI’s employees and recycled. If an item is relatively new and easily repaired, technicians refurbish it, and it goes into a section of the warehouse that is reserved for equipment that is offered for resale directly to the public.

But the vast majority of the equipment that winds up at ARI is broken down and the parts shipped out.

One of the most toxic elements in the electronic waste stream is the cathode ray tube (CRT) that comes in computer monitors and televisions. “The CRTs are coated with lead,” said Travers. ARI employees separate the tubes from the rest of the set, and they are shipped off to a company in Ohio, which recycles the glass to be used in future CRT. “The glass can’t really be used for other purposes, because you can’t entirely separate the glass from the lead,” Travers said. The flat screens that have become popular, and that are common in laptop computers, have no lead. But they have something worse-mercury. They, too, require careful handling.

The most profitable parts of the electronic waste stream are circuit boards. “Circuits boards from central processing units (CPUs) are the most valuable because they have the most gold and copper. You have to separate those from the television circuit boards, which are less valuable.” These are shipped to companies that specialize in recovering metal.

This summer, ARI signed a contract to handle all the electronic recycling that comes into the landfill and transfer stations in Sullivan County. The company also contracts with nearby counties such Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester. ARI also serves municipalities with one-day collection events.

Among the most interesting of these, said Travers, was at Union Station in New York City. He said residents “bring stuff in baby carriages, shopping carts…. Jackie Chan, the movie star, showed up in a limousine; he had a big screen TV he wanted to get rid of. We collected 500,000 pounds of electronic recycling waste in one day in New York City.”

That’s more than enough to keep the ARI employees busy. In fact, the company, which opened in this location in November 2005, had planned by this point to have more than the 14 employees now on the books. It’s not that easy to find new hires to take apart computers and move around pallets full of parts. “The work is almost all manual labor,” said Travers.

Travers had an almost philosophical air as he talked about the stuff the people throw out. “We get a lot of printers. They’re now sold as low as $79 new, with an ink cartridge included. When the customer goes to buy a new cartridge, he discovers that it’s going to cost $50. He figures, ‘what the heck, I’ll just go ahead and buy a new printer.’”

The old printer goes out the door to the landfill. And if that landfill is in Sullivan, the printer will find its way to ARI.

Electronic recycling in the region

Sullivan County, NY

Computers and televisions can be dropped off at the landfill and at all transfer stations during all operating hours, except for the Western Sullivan Transfer Station, which does not accept electronic recycling.

The cost is $10 per computer or television. For more information call 845/794-4466.

Wayne County, PA

The Wayne County Solid Waste Department is holding a one-time electronic recycling collection from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, located on Route 191 in Dyberry Township.

Computers, fax machines and televisions under 27 inches cost $5 per item. Larger televisions will cost $10.

The collection is only open to residents of Wayne County. For more information call 570/253-9727.

Pike County, PA

The Pike County Recycling Department held a one-day recycling event in June. They are planning for another collection day in June 2007. If all goes as planned, there will be no cost to dispose of all electronic recycling, including towers and televisions. For more information call 570/296-3434.