Frustration is...

[davywavy]

...running a mile one lousy bleedin' second slower than your personal best. Darnit.

Speaking of frustrating things, about six months ago my monitor picked up a rather irritating tic. Every so often the screen would flicker and then the display would turn into a single white line accross the screen. Somewhat irritating when a horde of martians are bearing down on me with ray guns and it necessitated a certain amount of quick-fingered game pausing.
However, initially mild percussive maintenance was sufficient - a sharp tap on the casing brought the picture back, good as new. Over time, the casing-taps grew in both regularity and required vigour until finally I had to administer the Dim Mak with such force in order to get the picture back that there is now a half inch deep dent in the plasterwork behind my computer desk.
Anyway, last night I adminstered the Death Touch to my monitor for the last time as I belted it and it replied with a fizzing, popping noise before dying entirely. Not a big problem as I've got a spare 14"* monitor; the big problem is what to do with the dead monitor? Does anyone know of any recycling options I'm a bit of a green on the quiet and I'm reluctant to dump it in the landfull where the damn thing will spend the next 5,000 years failing to biodegrade.
Any suggestions?

<sup>* It isn't ever day I get the opportunity to say "I've got a spare fourteen inches"**, and I make the most of it whenever I can.

**Except when it comes to my waistline.</sup>

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I believe the EU 'end of life' directive compels the manufacturer to recyle it. Check their website (smile, wasn't it?) for starters.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Doesn't come into force until Jan 2006. I suppose I could sit on the dead monitor until then. It'd make a rather attractive paperweight.

A WEEE resource, ahem

[applez.livejournal.com]

http://www.weeedirective.co.uk/

[scarletdemon.livejournal.com]

My monitor does that occasionally. Ugh.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I recommend percussive maintenance, which to date has only failed me once.

[(Anonymous)]

ecochip.co.uk

[applez.livejournal.com]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/legislation/hwra/

Contact your local council and ask them is my best suggestion at this point. At least it'll end up in a haz waste landfill, with proper lining, instead of the general municipal tip.

Also, if it can be refurbished at all...

[applez.livejournal.com]

http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/ComputerRecyclersRefurbishers.htm

But usually dead monitors are literally deadweight for refurbishers - worth ringing them up first to save both of you time & effort.

Generally speaking, for old computers - do try the refurbishing route ... there are huge environmental gains for keeping an 'obsolete' piece of equipment in use for even one year longer than cycle. So many non-profits and schools can benefit.

Re: Also, if it can be refurbished at all...

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

The monitor is indeed dead, dead, dead. it is an ex Monitor. It has ceased to be. Recycling or enviro-friendly disposal is the only way to go.

No it isn't!

[applez.livejournal.com]

It's pining for the fjords...or somesuch. ;-)

Re: No it isn't!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Pining for the photons, more like.

Re: No it isn't!

[applez.livejournal.com]

or the Taiwanese silica factory more like.

What's "Mummy!" in binary?