Did you know that when computers and other electronic equipment are disposed of improperly, they release ozone-depleting gases into the environment? Or that computer and television displays contain between four and eight pounds of lead that can pollute our drinking water? According to the EPA, only 11 percent of electronics were recycled in 2001. The National Safety Council projects that in 2007, about 500 million computers will be replaced. So what is a concerned citizen to do?

You can help to ensure that you make environmentally-friendly decisions by disposing of your used or unwanted electronic equipment properly. Computers, for instance, contain plastic, lead, glass, and cadmium. Each of these parts can be recycled and reused in new computer equipment, creating a cheaper and more environmentally sound method of obtaining these materials necessary for building new electronic equipment. Salvaging the precious metals from used computers also reduces the need to obtain them from mining.

The Office of Information Technology is committed to keeping our environment healthy today to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. Last fall, OIT and Apple Computers, Inc. held an Electronics Recycling Event to which campus and local community members were able to bring their unwanted electronic equipment. More than 30,000 pounds of electronic equipment were collected, and nothing went into a landfill! This is a significant step towards keeping our environment waste-free, and it is our hope that this annual event will continue to raise awareness about the importance of recycling electronic equipment and protecting our environment. The next computer recycling event will be held in May or June. Please note that university-owned computers and electronics cannot be recycled at this event, and must be processed through Terrapin Trader. For more information, please visit www.oit.umd.edu/computerrecycling.