8A-Solving The Problem

The opportunity: The disposal of old computers through a computer specific recycling program that ensures that no part of the intended recycled computer ends up in a third world country.
Also, some computer recycling programs already exist. Computer recycling programs can either be found at a local retail store such as Best Buy or an electronic recycling center. These have been notable unreliable system and non-existent in rural areas.
Many news stories have reported seeing e-waste (electronic waste) in poverty-stricken areas of China and undeveloped nations. When electronics are given to areas of poverty to take apart toxins end up in the soil or rivers because the methods being used to separate the valuable metals (burning or acid-bath techniques).
In addition, there is a large amount of “sham recyclers”. These are companies that offer to take old computers and disassemble them for free. However, they end up selling the hard drives to people who want sensitive information.
The service (3 versions):
1.A rural computer recycling program that offers a pick-up service for free. The computers would then be dropped off at the main disassembly shop. This would be the area the location the hard drivers would be cleared. The valuable metals would be sold to companies that would choose to buy. The plastic could also be given or sold to an organization that can repurpose them.

2.A computer recycling program that focuses on large company contracts. Since many companies already pay to have a large number of their computers disposed of properly this would be an easy way to propose a cheaper alternative to them. Have free pick-up and give constant updates about where the materials are going. This will provide the trust with the organization and also give the company a way to promote themselves as being good to the environment. The metals would eventually be melted down and sold by weight to companies in need of the metals.

3. Have a computer recycling program that does both pick-up and drop off services for little or no fee for the general public. They have a tracking number be put on each computer that a customer wants to keep track off as the computer goes through the recycling process. There are two opportunities that the barcodes can be placed on the computers. Either when the computer arrives in the hands of the recycling program or the program can contract with a major computer manufacturer and have the barcodes placed on each individual part.

I am choosing to go with the 3rd version. I wanted to create a service easily accessible to the public. Right now there are very little options outside of the programs that are plagued with problems. This version severs the most people and covers the majority of the problems the other computer recycling programs have. This, in turn, could be given to computer manufacturing companies as a proposition to create an environment-friendly image for them.