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All articles by Vince Nitti -
The rapid evolution of information technology is a double-edged
sword. While constant improvements allow us to keep doing more in
less time, the downside is that electronic equipment quickly
becomes obsolete and needs to be replaced by newer, faster models.
One obvious drawback of improving technology is the cost of
replacing older models, but what happens to the old equipment? Many
computer components are highly toxic to the environment, and
virtually all electronic equipment utilizes some form of computer
technology. What do we do with the computer we're replacing? The
group Local Self-Reliance estimates that about 75% of obsolete
computers and other IT equipment is being stored, creating a time
bomb waiting to go off. It will be a dark day for the environment
when we all finally decide to dispose of this clutter.
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