iness of selling used equipment.Used IT equipment that retains some useful value will likely be resold into thesecondary computer market under the following scenarios:- When businesses sell or auction IT equipment into the secondary market forresale through retail outlets as used computers or for computer parts andcomponents (e.g., hard drives, motors/fans, CPU’s etc.), and- End-of-lease IT equipment that is returned to the leasing company at the end ofa two or three year lease is typically sold or auctioned by the leasing companyto secondary computer companies and brokers. A smaller percentage of used business IT equipment is often sold to employees for personal use. With the rapid development of computer technology, this option isdiminishing. Computer equipment and dismantled components can be reused and resold through a variety of outlets, including:- Cascading or informal distribution of a computer within a company or within afamily;- Through private resale companies that purchase used equipment in order torefurbish and resell computer equipment for a profit in local or foreign markets;- The sale of component parts that have been dismantled by primary recyclers;- The redistribution of donated equipment (nationally or internationally) throughnonprofit organizations, sometimes in partnership with other companies that canrefurbish equipment.Recycling: The recycling infrastructure for computer equipment includes a mix ofprimary and secondary recyclers and metal smelting facilities. Typically, primaryrecyclers refurbish equipment for resale where possible and dismantle and sort theremaining equipment into component parts, such as circuit boards, CRT’s (cathode raytubes), plastic housing and wires. Sorted materials are then sold to secondaryrecyclers or smelters for further processing, or are sent to disposal outlets. Primaryrecyclers rely mainly on manual labor for refurbishing and dismantling, although somemechanical and aut...
