Computer Waste

Stop and think of how the old, discarded computers will be dealt with. Will they end up in landfills as technotrash, poisoning the earth with heavy metals? Will they squat around as antiquated, dumb machines when millions in the world who have scarce access to such technology can put them to good use? They will not. That is, if a group of volunteers at Zenith Training Institute (headquartered at Abu Dhabi, with branches in Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain) have their way.

Visit the Institute's premises in Sharjah and you will encounter rooms filled with bits and pieces of old PCs, and even complete systems that are deficient in one way or another. Most are outdated, disused personal computers supplied by companies (British Bank of the Middle East (BBME), Lotus Development Corporation and others). Under the guidance of Prabhat Mazumdar, head of hardware and network at Zenith Training Institute, student volunteers are dismantling defective machines. All their components - mother board, display card, random access memory (RAM) cards, power supply, floppy drive, hard disc drive, printer, monitor etc. - are being taken apart, tested, and faults located. Flaws are being corrected, or faulty parts simply substituted by working constituents from other machines. The old PCs are thus being given a fresh lease on life. Once tested and okayed, they are ready for use again, and found perfectly functional for word processing, correspondence, record keeping or even computer training purposes. The refurbished PCs will now be shipped to charitable organisations in different parts of the world. They could be given to local non-profit organisations as well, but these, by and large, face no paucity of funds so don't seem to need them.

This is how 'Share the Technology Computer Recycling Project' works. It is the brainchild of A.M. Abu Baker, executive director and principal of Zenith Training Institute, Abu Dhabi, who formed the Institute 10 years ago. He foresaw the problems of obsolete personal computers and growing piles of cyber junk in the U.A.E. Over the years, he had observed western nations grappling with the ever-lengthening trail of rubbish along the information superhighway. Mountains of discarded PCs - keyboards, circuit boards, monitors, hard discs and all - with no easy method of disposal. Abu Baker knew that this would be the scenario in the Emirates very soon; not only because of rapid technological changes and shortening life spans of computer systems, but also because of the furious rush to make them year 2000 compliant. In many cases, this would mean replacing old computers with new ones. This is happening. And Zenith, in a small but significant way, is providing a solution to the heaps of PCs cast aside.

Zenith Training Institute offers three-year B.Tech. Diploma courses in computer software and hardware engineering. Two years ago, it initiated the computer recycling project. ''This is a dynamic field where faster, more powerful machines develop so rapidly, that systems get outdated very quickly and need to be replaced. Upgrading of old systems is not possible after a point of time'' says Mazumdar who, apart from other responsibilities, heads Zenith's recycling project. ''But we know that even the old 386 and 486 machines that are considered extinct, can be used to learn a lot. Besides, with the year 2000 problem looming, we realised that there would be lots of defunct computer equipment sitting around collecting dust, when they could benefit so many across the world; those who have neither the resources nor access to machines for computer literacy training, '' he continues, explaining the spirit of 'Share the Technology computer recycling' drive of Zenith.

They started with 12 of their own, old and slow machines. Zenith students dismantled the PCs, started them working again, and continued using them for basic programming lessons. Since then, a hands-on approach to the teaching of hardware systems and

Zenith students Arif Asadi Shad (Dubai Police Department) and Waleed Hossan (Sharjah Labour Department) checking out a computer monitor

the working of circuitry, has become a highlight of Zenith courses. More importantly, it has evolved as a programme to recycle used computer systems while fostering computer literacy among economically disadvantaged groups. The computer equipment donated to Zenith by companies and individuals (including machines refurbished at the institute) are transferred to deserving communities around the world; and so, the technology is shared.

Offers of computers to Zenith are pouring in, starting with BBME that gave them some 70 machines at the start of the project and continues to supply more ever since. Lotus Corporation provided another 14. Standard Chartered Bank is willing to donate some 350 PCs, but Zenith can only handle 50 at a time. Dubai Islamic Bank wants to dispose about 200 machines.

Prabhat Mazumdar, head of hardware and network, Zenith Training Institute, examines a rack of used PCs. Mazumdar also heads Zenith's Share the Technology Project

Unfortunately, these are workstations (dumb terminals used to link up to a main server). They will need to be broken down for scrap and recycled. That is the kind of operation that Zenith does not handle.

So far, Zenith has sent 25 re-furbished computers to the Masjid Qiblatem Trust, which runs a primary school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Another 20 will be dispatched to Shree Sadhana Mahila Trust that runs an orphanage in Mumbai, India. And this is just the beginning.

Zenith is now looking for sponsors who can help in promoting the recycling project to facilitate its expansion. It also seeks assistance in the distribution of computers to recipient organisations around the world, say by a shipping or courier company. Furthermore, support in identifying deserving social service organisations to receive donations of re-furbished computers in other countries is being sought.

Don't let your computer suffer such a fate

'Share the Technology' is a non-profit project. Say Zenith, ''We don't charge anyone for any of our services. As a group of socially aware individuals, we're doing this work simply because we believe it is worthwhile to share technology with schools and no-profit organisations which can put them to work. We feel it's especially important to donate computers to groups that are helping others acquire computer skills.''

WHAT ON EARTH CAN WE DO? Become eco-minded computer owners. Upgrade our computers before we think of junking them. Learn something about computer functions so that we may be able to handle this ourselves. As companies, arrange to ship our old, but functional, computers to countries where these can be put to use. Keep track of computer recycling efforts in the UAE and find out how we can support these activities. Request our municipal authorities to encourage and provide incentives for computer recycling initiatives.

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