New Electronic Product Management Directory

by Christina Armor

You know the time has long passed for you to get rid of all those obsolete computers piling up in the storage room. Or worse yet, those that are beginning to take up residence in the break room.

Unfortunately for you, that old excuse of "But I don't know where I can I take them" is no longer valid. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) wants to help you get past this procrastination once and for all.

The CIWMB is pleased to introduce its new Electronic Product Management Directory, accessible through its Web site. The directory is designed to help the public and businesses locate organizations in their area that accept electronic equipment for reuse and recycling. The directory consists mostly of organizations located throughout California, though it also lists a few out-of-state groups.

The directory currently lists more than 100 organizations, and that number is growing all the time. Users may conduct a search of the directory by region or search for a facility that accepts a particular electronic material. You can custom-search the directory for material type including computer CPUs, computer monitors, copy machines, cell phones, and televisions, to name a few. Or, if you are one step ahead in your research, you may search for a specific facility by name.

Once you have located an organization in your area, the directory's information table will apprise you of restrictions or requirements on the materials accepted. Some organizations only accept working electronic products so that they may reuse the items directly. Other organizations will refurbish or recycle the materials that are not functional.

Along with general information on a specific facility, directory users will find information regarding an organization's collection method. The directory indicates which customer groups an organization generally serves, along with any important notes. The information tables give instructions on how to contact an organization or facility. Some facilities prefer e-mails, rather than the old-fashioned phone call, before patrons drop off materials. Most—but not all—of the facilities accept materials from the general public.

If you have a question that cannot be answered in the directory's information table, an organization contact name and phone number is provided to help you with any special requests you may have regarding your surplus electronic materials.

While the organizations listed in the directory do not provide identical services—they each offer a slightly different service for the electronic materials they handle—they all try to emphasize the same objective to their customers. Cal Molina, e-waste development manager at HMR, summarizes the message this way: "All electronics received at our facility are kept out of the landfills."

Jeff Holleran, president of Auction BDI, says that all non-marketable monitors and televisions his organization receives are completely recycled in the United States. Holleran was responding to concerns that some have raised over the exporting of electronic wastes.

Below is a peek at a few of the organizations listed in the Electronic Product Management Directory:

Auction BDI, located in San Jose, holds a weekly auction online where you can sell your unwanted computer or electronic related products. All of their non-marketable electronics are recycled. For computer monitor recycling service there is a fee of $20 per unit.

California Electronic Asset Recovery buys, sells, and recycles any electronic products, components, and computer-related equipment. The Sacramento-based company will donate any computer equipment it can refurbish to local school districts.

HMR in Los Angeles collects all electronic materials, including household electronics. They either remanufacture or demanufacture all electronic materials. HMR strongly emphasizes that all electronic materials are kept out of the landfills.

Rapid Micro Distribution (RMD) accepts working and nonworking computer systems and monitors. Computer accessories, printers, and fax machines that can be refurbished are donated to charities and schools in San Diego. All other electronic materials are demanufactured and the components are reused or recycled.

Clayton Ward Recycling, located in Redding, is part of Waste Management, Inc. They accept electronic scrap and offer full service buyback. The organization also offers customized collection programs to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. They will work with you to develop environmentally cost-effective and reliable recycling solutions for your business.

Please note: The California Integrated Waste Management Board is dedicated to providing timely and accurate information to its constituents so that solid wastes can be managed in accordance with all applicable laws and policies. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of laws and policies pertaining to the management of electronic product discards, the CIWMB cannot guarantee that organizations listed as resources within its Web site are in full compliance with applicable rules. The CIWMB conducts ongoing efforts to determine the scope of these organizations' activities; however, these may change without the knowledge of CIWMB. The inclusion or exclusion of an organization from these lists does not constitute an endorsement of that organization's regulatory status or environmental performance. It is important that generators of discarded equipment determine which options are appropriate for particular equipment, and they should check references to evaluate past performance of service providers.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008