Computers: Passing Grades

U.S. consumers are being cheated out of the chance to buy the greenest possible computers, according to the latest Report Card of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) . Looking at 28 companies' practices regarding hazardous materials, worker health and safety, and responsibility for taking back their used products, SVTC found that fewer green computers are offered in the U.S. than in countries with stronger environmental regulations. California and Massachusetts have banned land-filling cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and TVs because of their lead content, and California will add a recycling fee to the cost of new computers and televisions starting July 2004. So far, though, state laws have not required corporate responsibility for eliminating hazardous materials or instituting take-back programs as do the European Union and Japan.

Computer toxins include lead, brominated fire retardants (see PBDEs in "Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses"), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the heavy metals cadmium, chromium and mercury. Manufacturing workers have received hazardous exposures to some of these substances, including ethylene glycol ethers, which were removed from use in 1995 because of links to miscarriages. Since 12 million PCs are landfilled annually in the U.S., such materials pose a threat to groundwater. To save money, many recyclers ship computers to China, India and Pakistan, where unprotected workers dismantle them.

How can the situation be changed? Ted Smith, president of SVTC, says, "We're working with Health Care Without Harm to come up with procurement guidelines [for hospitals]," and they are involved in similar projects with government and university officials. "I think that institutional purchasing guidelines are where a lot of the pressure for change is going to come from," he says. As for individuals, Smith recommends, "People should contact companies directly and ask them, 'Do you make machines that are lead-free, flame-retardant-free, mercury-free, PVC-free?' The more they hear from people the more they will respond."

Flat-panel screen monitors lacking the 5 to 8 pounds of lead found in conventional CRT monitors are an easy greener choice. Some U.S. brands are compliant with EU regulations or eco-labels such as Germany's Blue Angel, Norway's Nordic Swan or Sweden's TCO (for brands, see www.svtc.org/cleancc/greendesign). Look for Energy Star certified machines; they consume 70 percent less electricity than computers lacking power management. Also, ask about consumer take-back programs like the Electronics Recycling Shared Responsibility Program, which includes Panasonic, Sharp and Sony. This way, when you do dispose of your machine, it won't poison you or anybody else later.

Products

Nec's PowerMate ECO desktop, lead-free, PVC-free, mercury-free, cadmium-free, chromium-free, boron-free, flat-panel screen, recyclable plastic, Energy Star compliant (www.necsolutions-am.com). Low price, $600.

Panasonic's Toughbook R1 laptop, lead-free solder in most Toughbook models, recyclable magnesium alloy case, reduced flame retardants, consumer take-back programs, Energy Star compliant (www.Panasonic.com). Starts at $1,550.

Among the top-rated manufacturers in SVTC's 2002 Report Card, Fujitsu ranked number one, with the only "passing grade" given for its achievements in replacing lead solder and the environmental information on its website (eco.fujitsu.com/en). All others "need improvement." For list, seewww.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/2002report.htm.