Exotic Materials from Old Computers May Be Key to Green Technology: Or Why the Mac Museum May Have to Go

Your old computer is valuable, and ought to be recycled. That's the thrust of an excellent article by Le Devoir's environmental reporter, Louis-Gilles Francoeur. Many of the materials--like lithium, neodyme, gallium and pallaldium--found in old computers are extremely valuable, and are growing more expensive as demand increases. Reclaiming them from old equipment uses far less energy than refining them from raw materials, as well as producing smaller quantities of greenhouse gases, he writes.

What is more, many of these materials are key elements in developing green technology, says a report released yesterday by the United Nations Enviornmental Program, which appears to have been the starting point for Francoeur's story. "Moving the global economy towards environmentally-friendly, clean technologies will increasingly hinge on rapid improvements in the recycling rates of so called "high-tech" specialty metals like lithium, neodymium and gallium," the UNEP says.

"Such metals, needed to make key components for wind turbines and photovoltaics to the battery packs of hybrid cars, fuel cells and energy efficient lighting systems, exist in nature in relatively small supplies or in discreet geographical locations.

"Yet despite concern among the clean tech industry over scarcity and high prices, only around one per cent of these crucial high-tech metals are recycled, with the rest discarded and thrown away at the end of a product's life."

In the Montreal area, at least one small business is agressively pursuing this niche market. Webuycomputers.ca buys old computer equipment, and guarantees that the material will be properly recycled. Several computers stores are participating in the endeavor, and will pay you for your old stuff, plus give you a $25 gift certificate for use in the store.

Definitely worth looking into. We've got a small museum of Macs dating back to our first 512 in 1985 that might be ripe for recycling, now that I think of it.