Why would someone collect old tube TVs, PCs, cell phones, etc. on Freecycle?

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

I Freecycled an old tube TV today, and afterward the guy emailed me and asked that I call him or refer people to him if they had old electronics to get rid of. Why would someone do that? Is there money in recycling the parts? I know some companies do that, but do individuals?

 

I'm so curious! I don't mind if that's what he was doing with them, since it saves me from having to coordinate getting to the monthly recycling day myself, and hopefully it's helping someone feed their family, but I'm wondering if there's any downside to giving these things to individuals rather than recycling corporations.

 

Thanks!

[Mabeline]

My dh had an acquaintances rom work do this. He collected broken computers, parts and printers. He would fix them and sell them.

[happi duck]

We know a guy who collects 'anything metal and anything with a cord'.

[Giraffe]

He could be a "maker". They collect all kinds of discards and remake them into something new. DH is part of a makerspace in the US and I'm always surprised and amused by the things people collect and remake.

[Tap]

Repair/resell what he can and scrap the rest for the metal.

 

Here is an article about metals in elecrtronics. (article is from 08 so the prices are not accurate)

[tomandlorih]

My dd's gym is doing this as a fundraiser.. Yes, there is money in it.. Not much.. LOL Thanks for reminding me about Freecycle.. I'm going to post a wanted right now=D

[celticmom]

I would say that it is probably better to give such items to an individual than to a recycling company. An individual will be more likely to separate the usable components safely. Electronics given to recycling companies could end up in China being broken down in a city where it is often done very unsafely. I do not have a link handy but I remember seeing a show about the city where alot of that sort of recycling takes place and virtually all the children had very high levels of lead and other toxins.

 

edited to correct typo.

[mom2scouts]

Two of the guys in my house would do this. DH collects stuff like this and pulls out all the metal to recylce. My son is an electrical engineer and he gets parts for projects his latest electronic project.