Sitting on an old computer?
by Jason Lee, Southern Illinoisan
Sunday, November 12, 2006

As technology continues to advance at warp speed, the stockpile of used and obsolete computers, cell phones, printers and other electronic devices grows.

Eventually, many of these items reach landfills with the potential to release hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium into the environment.

However, a Carbondale-based nonprofit organization is hoping to reverse the trend by striving to become the electronic recycling hub of Southern Illinois.

Launched a year ago by Charlie San, Kevin Clark and Argus Tong, Community Electronics Technology Interface (CETI) collects used computers and other electronic devices from individuals, schools and businesses to be refurbished or properly dismantled and recycled for use in new products.

San, Clark and Tong are business graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and developed CETI as a way to give back to the community, San said.

"Nowadays technology is advancing so fast that more and more obsolete technology is ending up in the landfills," San said. "So we decided that we needed to do something to try and help this situation in our own communities in Southern Illinois."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average personal computer now has a two-year life span, and the National Safety Council projects that nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years.

CETI exercises a "no landfill" policy for all items it receives, and offers pick-up service for businesses and other organizations, San said. They also accept typewriters, radios, scanners, stereos, TVs, cameras, DVD players and other items.

Computers refurbished by CETI are often donated or sold at low cost to low-income individuals or small businesses, San said.

The organization also partners with SIUC to give local students some hands-on work.

"SIU had interest in working with us, so this project has helped many students gain community service and hands-on experience restoring computers," San said.

Another big part of the operation is eliminating sensitive personal information from old computers to avoid the danger of identity theft.

"We always make sure all of the computer data is wiped out, and that is one of the most important things to make sure people don't retrieve information," he said.

jason.lee@thesouthern.com

(618) 351-5031

Why it's important to recycle electronics



Electronic equipment contains materials that can be hazardous to human health and the environment if they are not properly managed. Here are some of the most common materials that accumulate in landfills:

Cadmium: Found in microchips, infrared detectors and semiconductors, cadmium is a toxic material that can negatively impact the kidneys through respiration or ingestion from contaminated food.

Lead: Found in glass panels of computer monitors and circuit boards, lead can accumulate in the environment and cause damage to the central nervous system, blood systems and kidneys as well as children's brains. Consumer electronics make up about 40 percent of lead found in landfills.

Mercury: Used to make thermostats and batteries, mercury has been known to contaminate water systems and food, causing brain damage in living organisms.

- SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

What: Community Electronics Technology Interface

Where: 300 W. Chestnut St. in Carbondale

When: Items can be dropped off from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m .to 1 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment.

For more information: (618) 203-9443 or www.cetiorg.org.