COMPUTER WASTE?
The environmental impact of a swiftly advancing technology:

Today, two computers become obsolete for every three purchased. By 2005, the ratio will be 1 to 1, which means that we should be able to recycle computers as fast as we make them. For this reason, recycling must be treated like any regular manufacturing task." [D. Navin- Chandra, Carnegie-Mellon University, Fortune Magazine, February 6, 1995.

"In the year 2000, the National Recycling Coalition, and industry group, conducted the first large-scale survey of America's electronic recycling efforts. The results were staggering. Between now and 2007, the survey found 500 million personal computers will become obsolete.  In 1998 alone, 20 million computers were taken out of service, only 2.3 million were recycled." [H. Schuessler, New York Times, November 23, 2000] 

Out of 175 million computers comes a laundry list of toxins including 650 million pounds of lead, 987,000 pounds of cadmium and 231,000 pounds of mercury. Each CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) contains four to six pounds of lead. (New York Times, November 23, 2000) According to University of Florida tests, color monitors contain enough lead to contaminate ground water if deposited in landfills. "Those monitors would f ail the legal standards of leaching lead," These computers also contain 2 billion pounds of plastic.

IS IT LEGAL?

Beginning on April 1, 2000, the Department of Environmental Protection (Florida) will prohibit the disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from television and computer monitors at all Florida solid waste disposal facilities (310-CMR 19.017). The Federal government and the computer industry are closely watching developments in Europe, which is finalizing a directive that puts the responsibility for computer recycling squarely on producers' shoulders.

ARE WE DOING ALL WE CAN?

Over 95% of the landfilled materials are reusable, from the disk drive and memory to gold and silver used in the circuit board wiring.

CRTs (Monitors) are the second largest source of lead in Florida's municipal solid waste streams, behind lead acid batteries.

HOW HAZARDOUS IS THE WASTE?

385,000 tons of leaded glass (8%)*

2,767,187 tons of ferrous metals (57.5%)*

1,135,750 tons of non-ferrous metals (23.6%)*

288,750 tons of precious metals (6%)*

211,750 tons of mixed plastic (4.4%)*

14,437 tons of hazardous waste (.3%)*

 How can you help?

DONATE YOUR WASTE.

WHY DONATE?

The most comprehensive and honest people are those in charitable organizations who are using your waste to help those less fortunate and the down and out of our society. The US government is now partnering with FAITH based organizations to run most of the social programs because these people have a HEART for our society and environment. No one can rehabilitate men and women from drug abuse, crime, social ills and poverty like these organizations. Your contributions and donations are the foundation and guarantee of their success. In a time of economic crisis monetary donations are very difficult to obtain, so through the industry of recycling all benefit.

Thank you again for your HELP ..

Rev Seby Matacena

Senior pastor

Our Fathers Place