However, programs like this only address part of the problem, according to MRI's Le Messurier, who believes a tougher regulatory approach is required.
"Unfortunately the government hasn't regulated in this country to ensure there is a compulsory diversion from landfill, so we're still getting low recycling rates because the Australian consumer doesn't like the concept of paying for their recycling fees at the end of the product's lifecycle -- they want to pay it up front."
According to IT body the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA)'s Byteback representative Josh Millen, greater regulation is exactly what's needed. Achieving a system which ensures PCs do not end up in landfill will require the involvement of Australian Customs, in conjunction with state and local governments. In effect, a national approach to the problem of e-waste.
Millen told ZDNet Australia that Byteback -- which is planned to end this year -- would like to see a national registry established, with hardware imports recorded by Customs so that PC manufacturers exporting goods to Australia can be tracked, in turn supporting the efforts of programs such as Byteback.
"Our main goal is developing appropriate safety net legislations and looking at a model for Customs to establish a national register and how Byteback would work under that," said Millen.
Salvaging the wreck
PCs lose value in storage because the most valuable item to take-back schemes is a working PC. After this come parts, such as CRT or LCD monitors, and salvageable materials such as steel or gold.
MRI staff slice open CRT screens to salvage parts.
Credit: Liam Tung, ZDNet Australia
Today MRI receives AU$10 for every CRT screen it exports, representing a windfall of AU$200,000 per year but soon this window will close on the company, said Le Messurier.
The increasing availability of better quality consumer technology in MRI's export markets, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, China and some African countries, have caused consumers to turn away from these inferior goods.
"That gate will close over the next few months because our Asian neighbours are getting more discerning in their use of technology," he said.
After assessing the reusability of PCs, components containing metals are sorted and sent to South Korea. A low value circuit board, which contains steel and "a bit of gold", according to Le Messurier, attracts a price of AU$1,000 per tonne.
Staff use the board to separate low and high value items.
Credit: Liam Tung, ZDNet Australia
"If you clean it up you could get more, but labour costs more than it's worth so we'd rather send it to a circuit board recycler in Korea," he said.
Australia also lacks the facilities to recycle certain toxic materials. Under Byteback, lead from CRTs is sent to the Netherlands, heavy metals from batteries are sent to France, printed circuit boards are sent to Canada, and LCD screens are sent to the US.
Although sending materials offshore for processing has been criticised due to the harmful effect that transport can have on benefits from recycling, Byteback claims that none of its non-recyclable materials are sent to developing countries with less stringent environmental regulations than Australia.
But to its credit, Byteback does divulge what materials need to be processed offshore, which company does the work and why -- an action that Dell, which claims the title "the greenest IT company in the world", is yet to take. And if UTS's Garlin is correct -- in saying that people will become more receptive to recycling PCs when they understand the impact of their decisions -- perhaps this type of transparency, along with government intervention, consumers will see the sense in waking up from the hoarding slumber to subscribe to the new mantra: reuse, recycle and reduce.
I have lots - and they all work - and are doing things in my network - from an ancient 2650 system, through a Z80, 8080 (v20 version) 286, 386, DX4/100 - all just pottering away doing their tasks - reliably - in dos and linux.
I dont need to follow the endless upgrade path - these do what I want, when I want.
Sure - one day they will fail - but some have been running flawlessly now for 25 years - so I suspect they will out see my life.
When that happens - I will be happy to will them to the recyclers.