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In Canada, a group of environmental techies has taken recycling to a whole new level.

Concerned about toxic chemicals that leach from old computers when they are discarded in landfills, and aware that many low-income community members lack the resources and skills to set up their own computer systems, the Community Environment Alliance of Peel (CEA) created a program called ShareIT that addresses both of these problems.

The group takes used computer equipment that would otherwise be discarded and refurbishes it, then donates it to people with limited incomes, along with training in IT skills. Microsoft donates operating systems for the computers.

The result? Local landfills are 8.9 million tons freer of electronic waste since the program’s inception in 2004. Computer equipment contains such toxins as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, all of which are potentially harmful to human health when they leach into soil and groundwater.

And, the group expects to distribute about 1,500 refurbished computers by the end of this year. The computers go to immigrants, low-income students, qualified self-employed individuals, charities, and other nonprofit organizations in need of the technology and the training to use it.

To learn more about this program, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org

www.ourstolenfuture.org

www.healthandenvironment.org.