Recycling instructions

Here's how we recycle things.

First off, here's how Mothership does it: http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Recycle

With computers, when we determine during Evaluation that a machine is to be recycled rather than refurbished, it gets separated out from the refurbs, then

1. We disassemble the machine removing all potentially useful parts, sorting these and binning them for later reuse. Non-useful parts get separated out according to what's in them, i.e. rare earths and such need to be recycled differently than plain metal.
2. Next the case comes apart. Save the screws, they will come in handy later. There are a few different kinds of screws used in computer cases, so it's a good idea to separate them out and bin them separately. Also save the threaded metal stand-offs from underneath the motherboard, and plastic standoffs can sometimes be reused. Generally LRFs and similar plastic bits will get mangled when we remove them, so they will have to be recycled. Try to remove *all* the plastic bits from any metal parts before taking things to the recycler.

• We are saving CPU's from teardowns, as there is a particular company that we'd like to send them to for $$$. Please post instructions for that here.

So far we've been using Total Reclaim as our recycler, as I understand it. I've not been there yet. Is there anything special we need to know about them, account name or such like?

We have a separate area for instructions on recycling Cell phones, also a nice Cell phone recycling process chart and some nice links follow. All this information comes to us courtesy of the excellent and helpful Anna Knowlson. Thanks Anna!

Useful or interesting URLs – I haven't tested these, but they make interesting reading:

Lifehacker

http://lifehacker.com/5808280/what-should-i-do-with-my-phone-before-i-sell-it

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=1347

http://lifehacker.com/5563924/the-start-to-finish-guide-to-rooting-your-android-phone

http://lifehacker.com/5636975/how-to-upgrade-to-the-latest-iphone-for-free

iPhone planned obsolescence

http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/iphone-4s-disappoints-underscores-apples-planned-obsolescence-strategy.html

http://www.ifixit.com/blog/2011/01/20/apples-latest-innovation-is-turning-planned-obsolescence-into-planned-failure/

MicroSoft planned obsolescence

http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/12/2865727/planned-obsolescence-part-2-microsofts-shafts-windows-mobile-users

Cell phone planned obsolescence

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7817_102-529521/cell-phones-planned-obsolescence/