Facts About Motherboards

Motherboards are a component in every computer and are necessary for the function of a desktop or laptop computer. But this product contains harmful components and should be recycled properly.

One component is a substance called beryllium, which is a very strong and light metal used to create strings and connections. However, beryllium is considered a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Millions of computers make it into landfills annually. By 2004, it was estimated that about 315 million computers were landfilled. These computers (including all components) equate to about 1.2 billion pounds of lead, 2 million pounds of cadmium and 400,000 pounds of mercury. These harmful substances can easily contaminate groundwater or air through incineration.

On average, people upgrade their computer systems every two years but fail to trade-in or recycle their old unit. This is how many of them make it into the waste stream, thus posing danger to animals and humans alike from the toxins they contain.