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By Ben Gilbert, The Daily Astorian

OREGON, USA, 23 August 2001 --The cost of recycling computers in Astoria may have everything to do with the price of tea in China.

Starting Sunday, the Cornelius-based recycling company Computer Drive Connections will collect old electronics from the Astoria transfer station on Williamsport Road, drive them to Portland and sort, repair, scrap, strip down, recycle, resell and ship the hardware to China.

CDC operates for profit, so the service is free as long as the market exists. "It comes down to how much CDC can handle, which comes down to demand in China," said Laura Leebrick, operations manager for Sunset Refuse and Recycling.

"Like every other kind of recyclable material, the programs are only as strong as the available market. If it costs too much to transport, or if they become tight and don't want much equipment, we may be faced with having to pay."

But for now, Leebrick and other recycling enthusiasts are optimistic about the pilot program, an offshoot of the successful one-day recycling event put on by the Astoria 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Committee for Earth Day in April. That event gathered 37,000 pounds of electronics that filled two semi-truck trailers, and won praise from the Association of Oregon Recyclers. "It's a huge problem that people are throwing away their computers because they're upgrading constantly," said Susan Schroeder, the 3R member who discovered CDC after researching the impacts of computers on landfills. As people upgrade or replace their old machines, landfills see a huge increase in the quantities dumped. Several states are considering banning computers and monitors from disposal sites because of the heavy metals and toxic materials many of these units contain.

The Oregon Legislature has kicked around ideas ranging from charging deposits for electronics to making the manufacturers partially responsible for the cost of recycling, but these face heavy opposition. Schroeder said she'd seen the same battles with other recycling problems like used oil and tires, which now cost money to properly dispose of.

"It gives us a good feeling to know that we're ahead of the game when that legislation passes in Oregon," said Dave Larmouth, recycling education and promotion coordinator for Sunset. "Our goal is to continue to exceed the expectations of our customers and add new recycling services as markets become available."

The transfer station will provide a drop off point for old computers, monitors, keyboards, computer parts and accessories, VCRs, stereo equipment, cellular phones and their batteries, CD players, telephones and telephone equipment, and most other home electronics. TVs, microwaves and home appliances like toasters, blenders and waffle irons will not be accepted. Larmouth recommends donating working equipment to a local school or charitable organization. The Sunset program is meant to divert machines that otherwise would have made it to the landfill.

Businesses, schools and larger volume customers need to make an appointment by calling Sunset Refuse and Recycling at (503) 738-5717. David E.B. Nightingale Environmental Engineer WA. Dept. of Ecology Solid Waste & Financial Assistance Program (360) 407-6392 Fax: (360) 407-6305