to support education, youth and the environment by refurbishing technology

CFS and the Environment

CFS works hard to protect the environment from toxic electronic waste and accomplishes this with responsible materials management in-line with principals of sustainable development. CFS employs a balanced use of all three components of sound environmental practice: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

CFS reduces the number of new computers that need to be produced to meet the needs of the information age in the 21st century by providing good, used computers to our clients. Consider that each computer and CRT monitor has.

  • 13.8 lb. of Plastics (covered in a toxic fire retardant)
  • 3.81 lb of Lead, primarily in the CRT
  • .0063 lb. of Cadmium
  • .0038 lb. Chromium, and
  • .00127 lb of Mercury… which significantly increases with the use of LDC over CRT monitors
And further consider that the production of each new computer will require 240 kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500 kg of water, ensuring a reduction in manufacturing is vital for environmental sustainability and protection of people and our earth.

See “Toxins in Your Computer”

CFS' reuse program is regarded as a “best practise” for extending, and often doubling the life span of computer electronics, thus significantly eliminating e-waste in landfills. To date, CFS has delivered over 950,000 computers for reuse by schools and non-profit organizations across Canada.

In BC, we expect to distribute 10,000 computers during our 2009 fiscal year - the equivalent of
  • 73,700 barrels of oil saved
  • 3,420,600 gallons of gas saved
  • a reduction of 6,100 cars from the road per year
  • a reduction in CO2 emissions of 30,760 tons

The Computers for Schools Pledge

Our pledge is to operate transparently in an ethical manner at all times
  • Never exporting electronic waste or partnering with an exporter

  • Never using prison labour or a partner who uses prison labour

  • Never lies to donors or client groups about where our equipment goes

  • Always able to provide a verifiable list of both the school and npo recipients and e-waste vendors
All reuse organizations are NOT created equal – many groups pose as reuse not-for-profits, which are a front to collect materials for illegal export!

CFS works hard to safely recycle computers, that are unable to be reused in the most environmentally sound manner possible. To date, CFS has safely disposed of over 70 million pounds of e-waste from computers at the end of their life.

CFS-BC participates in the BC Stewardship plan which ensures that e-waste is dealt with in province, and is not exported overseas to countries like China. Administered through Electronic Products Stewardship Canada certain electronics equipment is delivered to Encorp and transported to one of 3 local smelters for closed-loop destruction.

The Basel Action Network lists approved e-stewards for re-use and recycling across North America as well as documenting actions of various countries in the effort to halt the illegal export and transport of e-waste to developing countries.

CBC’s The National aired a documentary on October 23, 2008 E-Waste Dumping Ground highlighting the negative effects e-waste has on the Chinese environment and the governments inability to halt the illegal export of electronics out of Vancouver (18 minutes).

Green Peace USA has also done some excellent work discovering Where does e-waste go? Looking at the toxic dumping occurring in Africa and Asia.

E-waste is not an issue that is only impacting other countries.
“We live in a country with legislation protecting us from direct contact with these substances. But of course, once toxic substances enter the biosphere, the sky's the limit.” ~Ifny Lachance, co-founder Free Geek Vancouver.

Toxins found in your computer

Lead: Many older TV and Computer monitors can contain up to 4-8 lbs of lead. It is also used in the soldering on the circuit boards. Exposure can cause brain damage, nervous damage, blood disorders, kidney damage, and developmental damage to fetus. Children are especially vulnerable. Acute exposure can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, or death.

Mercury: Light bulbs in flat panel displays, LCD screens, switches, & printed wiring boards all contain mercury. High levels of exposure contribute to brain & kidney damage, harm the developing fetus & can be passed down through breast milk and fish consumption. Exposure through ingestion or inhalation can cause central nervous system and kidney damage.

Plastics & Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Make up to 14 pounds (about 20%) of an average computer. Dioxin can be formed when PVC is burned. Combinations of plastics which are difficult to separate and recycle are used in printed circuit boards, in components such as connectors, plastic covers & cables.

Cadmium: SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors, older types of cathode ray tubes, and some plastics contain cadmium. It concentrates in the body & can cause kidney damage & harm to fragile bones.Long term exposure can cause kidney damage and damage to the bone stru cture. Cadmium is a known cancer causing substance

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): Used in plastic casings, released when electronics are dumped or incinerated. BFR’s likely endocrine disrupters, reduce levels of the hormone thyroxin in exposed animals and can potentially harm the developing fetus in pregnant women.

Barium: is used in the front panel of the CRT to protect users from radiation. Short-term exposure to barium can cause brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the heart, liver and spleen.

Beryllium: is found on motherboards and connectors and is a human carcinogen.

Hexavalent Chromium: Used for corrosion protection of untreated & galvanized steel plates & hardener for steel housing. It can cause DNA damage & asthmatic bronchitis.

Dioxins and Furans: Used in the plastic casings, released when electronics are incinerated or thrown in a landfill.

Borrowed with thanks from Free Geek Vancouver.