Tom’s Computer Warehouse Provides Low Cost High-Tech Access To The Community, Sponsors Green Day To Recycle Hazardous Components In Unwanted Equipment.

EMERYVILLE, CA-Tom’s Computer Warehouse recently sponsored a “Green Day” at it’s Emeryville location at 4770 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D, to raise awareness about the hazardous materials contained in the unused computerized components residing in many people’s homes and offices.

Tom Appleton, owner of Tom’s Computer Warehouse said in an interview “many people have old, unused and unwanted equipment sitting around, or stacked up someplace. They don’t know the potential danger to the environment that this equipment represents. They also don’t know how to dispose of it properly. This is so important an issue, that the State Of California stepped in with laws to ensure any disposal or recycling of this equipment is done correctly.”

One such danger lies in the silicon circuit boards that have become a staple in the equipment now used in our society. Unwanted exposure to the environment is now being regulated by the state for the same reasons silicon is no longer being used in breast implants and asbestos is removed from building materials - it can make people VERY sick. These circuit boards are found everywhere: in our homes, in our workplace, in our schools, in our governments, in our cars and even in our leisure activities.

The problem is we see the items containing this material so much we take it for granted. As we replace our surroundings with new equipment we also amass a growing reserve of old, unused TV’s, computers, printers, etc., and just about everyone has this stuff collecting dust someplace. These include computers (including laptops and computers with built in monitors), TV’s (with plastic or wood cases of all sizes), telephones (including cellular phones), VCR’s. CD and DVD players, typewriters, cameras, stereo equipment, and even computer components such as keyboards, hard drives and mice!

Tom Appleton explains further: “people don’t know the hazards they can be exposed to, by even something as small as a keyboard or a mouse. These things, when broken open , contain materials known by the State Of California to be carcinogenic. Additionally, few people get rid of their old equipment properly. You can’t just throw this stuff into the trash anymore. The law states you have to recycle it properly, and we do.”

Appleton says the recycling fees are small, ranging from $5 for a computer, to $30 for a large wood console TV. Tom’s Computer Warehouse will come to your location to pick up recycled equipment if the amount of the equipment is $100 or more, depending on their fee schedule.

The “Green Day” Sponsored by Tom’s Computer Warehouse allows people to drop off their unwanted personal computers on that day for free. “We get an influx of inventory to go over,” Appleton says, “not everything we take in is junk.”

Some of the computer equipment can be repaired and reused. Tom’s Computer Warehouse makes the equipment that is still useable available to members of the community at nominal cost, such as 15” color monitors for less than $10, that he tests to make sure they work, ditto for printers. A fully functional computer system including monitor, CD/DVD player, keyboard and mouse, sells for under $100. This provides low income people the opportunity to own a computer without having to pay retail , or agree to an expensive financing plan just to get one. This is Appleton’s approach to “giving something back” to the community that he feels so much a part of, with his business located just across from Emery High School in Emeryville. Many businesses and community organizations take advantage of Tom’s warehouse prices to meet their computer and supply needs. “They have a lot of cool stuff, “ says Chris “Coach K” Kincey, Marketing Director for Youth In Crisis Outreach in Albany, “I come here all the time. Their help makes our budget go further, and they always seem to have any plug or peripheral we could possibly need.”

Appleton plans on holding another “Green day” soon. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said, “People get a lot of good information. It’s great for them to learn about a chronic situation hiding in all our closets, garages, cubby holes and backyards. This is something we can all quickly, easily, and affordably do something about.”

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To recycle your unwanted equipment call Tom’s Computer Warehouse at (510) 654-1080, go by 4770 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D, in Emeryville, or visit www.tomscomputerwarehouse.net.

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