Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing ~60 lbs.
KEY: A=Content (% of total weight) B=Weight of material in computer (lbs.) C=Recycling Efficiency (current recyclability) D=Use/Location
Name A B C C . Plastics 22.9907 13.8 20% includes organics, oxides other than silica Lead 6.2988 3.8 5% metal joining, radiation shield/CRT, PWB Aluminum 14.1723 8.5 80% structural, conductivity/housing, CRT, PWB, connectors Germanium 0.0016 <0.1 0% Semiconductor/PWB Gallium 0.0013 <0.1 0% Semiconductor/PWB Iron 20.4712 12.3 80% structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB Tin 1.0078 0.6 70% metal joining/PWB, CRT Copper 6.9287 4.2 90% Conductivity/CRT, PWB, connectors Barium 0.0315 <0.1 0% in vacuum tube/CRT Nickel 0.8503 0.51 80% structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB Zinc 2.2046 1.32 60% battery, phosphor emitter/PWB, CRT Tantalum 0.0157 <0.1 0% Capacitors/PWB, power supply Indium 0.0016 <0.1 60% transistor, rectifiers/PWB Vanadium 0.0002 <0.1 0% red phosphor emitter/CRT Terbium 0 0 0% green phosphor activator, dopant/CRT, PWB Beryllium 0.0157 <0.1 0% thermal conductivity/PWB, connectors Gold 0.0016 <0.1 99% Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors Europium 0.0002 <0.1 0% phosphor activator/PWB Titanium 0.0157 <0.1 0% pigment, alloying agent/(aluminum) housing Ruthenium 0.0016 <0.1 80% resistive circuit/PWB Cobalt 0.0157 <0.1 85% structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB Palladium 0.0003 <0.1 95% Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors Manganese 0.0315 <0.1 0% structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB Silver 0.0189 <0.1 98% Conductivity/PWB, connectors Antinomy 0.0094 <0.1 0% diodes/housing, PWB, CRT Bismuth 0.0063 <0.1 0% wetting agent in thick film/PWB Chromium 0.0063 <0.1 0% Decorative, hardener/(steel) housing Cadmium 0.0094 <0.1 0% battery, glu-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT Selenium 0.0016 0.00096 70% rectifiers/PWB Niobium 0.0002 <0.1 0% welding allow/housing Yttrium 0.0002 <0.1 0% red phosphor emitter/CRT Rhodium 0 50% thick film conductor/PWB Platinum 0 95% thick film conductor/PWB Mercury 0.0022 <0.1 0% batteries, switches/housing, PWB Arsenic 0.0013 <0.1 0% doping agents in transistors/PWB Silica 24.8803 15 0% glass, solid state devices/CRT,PWB
Note: plastics contain polybrominated flame retardants, and hundreds of additives and stabilizers not listed separately.
Source: Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996.
Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX: MCC.
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