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Junked audio components - hazardous waste...

Hi,
I was wondering whether any of you have thought of the fact that all these audio toys we're trading back and forth here will eventually die, and once dead, will have to be discarded.
I was motivated by an online story about cellphones having a short shelf/use life for most people, and then many just throw them away in the trash. Meanwhile their components contain chemicals that are toxic when processed in any way, either burned or crushed and left to leak into landfills.
Almost all audio components have this potential problem as well: capacitors, transformers, etc. galore, all contain highly toxic materials if introduced into the ground/water/air.
With an average useful life of around 20 years, by now there must be millions of old hi-fis in landfills now, with more and more on the way!
Any ideas for an audio junkyard we could start?
tacs

Showing 1 response by micheal

micheal's avatar
micheal
29 posts
 
Hallo?
The best solution with old electronic's is to disassemble the device and reuse the parts.
One of the worst are computer monitors lots of caps, rare earth elements, evacuated glass envelope (CRT) cathode ray tube with glass about 1 to 3 inches thick. High cost, short life and hard to recycle. Many of the caps and misc components are very useful for audio electronics.
ALL Tube type audio electronics are renewable and reusable.
There is a common misconception that all caps are HIGHLY toxic.
PCB (poly chloronated byphenel's) (AN ENDOCRINE TOXIN) capacitors are mainly Very high voltage and about pre-1970 most newer caps say "NO PCB'S" on the label these are typically 1,000 volts to 10,000 volts.
Hope this helps.

Thanks

mike

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