While most recycling does involve the scrapping of raw materials we have to stop and think about the energy requirements of recycling versus re-use.

The cost of recycling includes:

Item collection

Item dismantling and sorting

Raw material transport and containerization

Raw material smelting

Transport of smelted material to producer

Reproduction into new useful item

New item transport and containerization back to us

Compare that process to re-use which usually only involves:

Item collection

Item testing / refurbishing

Transport to final recipient

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that re-using the original item as opposed to recycling it uses a lot less energy (making it more environmentally friendly) and offers a more economical outcome to the final user. This doesn't just apply to computers, but to most items that we currently recycle. So why isn't there more re-use? Why is there such a push towards recycling but silence when it comes to re-using? Shouldn't we be trying to encourage people to re-use rather than just recycle?

In the computer field the answers to these questions come down to marketing and hype from manufacturers. People who do not know much about computers and use their computer for basic word processing feel compelled to go out and upgrade their computer to the latest buzz word machine even though doing so doesn't really offer them any actual benefit. Software manufacturers are also to blame, Vista was released among many complaints that it offers little but requires new hardware to run it. (As a quick aside, consider this. 95% of desktop applications in use today are written to only use one processor at a time, so the purchase of a eight core system doesn't actually do anything for the individual program you are running. Developers are being urged to change their software to utilize multiple processors at the same time, but this requires more development which will probably result in higher software prices.)

The printer manufacturers are an interesting case study when it comes to recycling. While on one hand they are to be applauded for having setup the industry wide takeback program with Planet Ark on the other they keep producing printers that cost as much as the cartridge to replace. Printer cartridges can be remanufactured or refilled and kept working at a lower cost than their new counterparts. Most cartridge remanufacturers also include a 12 month warranty on their remanufactured stock. So why is it that the printer industry is trying to crush the remanufacture industry in general? At the end of the day it comes down to profitability. It is less profitable for them to collect empty cartridges, inspect each cartridge and then remanufacture accordingly.

We are consumers and it's through consumerism that innovation is funded and driven. If we were all happy with what we had we wouldn't have iPods, Flat Screen TVs, desktop computers and so many things that we take for granted these days. But there are many people against waste and making people spend money for no real reason is just wrong. Before throwing something out next time, or releasing it for scrapping, see if anyone could actually use it. Consider calling a local charitable organisation or other initiatives that keep the items functioning and alive.