'Hi-tech junk can be good business'

State-of-the-art electronic goods, including computers, television sets, DVD/VCD players and cell phones have become more affordable, with old models discarded for brand new ones. But, little thought is given to what happens to high-tech junk -- which may be harmful to humans and the environment -- if it is not disposed of properly. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their opinion on the issue.

Sri Hartati, 35, is a housewife who lives with her husband and daughter in Tebet, South Jakarta:

I think almost everybody takes their electronic appliances to the repair shop first, if anything happens to them -- that's what we usually do.

But, then it depends on the repair cost. If it's too expensive, you are better off buying a brand new one instead -- then we usually sell it to scavengers or to the repair shop itself. Sometimes we look around for a trade-in, which is a more common solution nowadays.

Even if it's repairable, if there are any replaced spare parts, we usually give them away to scavengers as well.

It's better that way, rather than having a heap of junk you don't know what to do with lying around the house.

But I don't know what the people who collect the junk do with it. Maybe they sell it to the flea market, or salvage any parts that are still usable, or just dump it again somewhere else.

Aditya, 29, is an employee of an engineering consultancy firm on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. He lives with his family in Depok, south of Jakarta:

It really depends on how one views and treats all this so called "technological junk".

If they have the know-how and like to tinker with hardware, they can try to repair it, or salvage usable parts -- even if it's only nuts and bolts -- and use it for other stuff.

An artist, meanwhile, can probably turn the junk into a work of art.

I like to look around for old computers -- sold or discarded by their owners because they have upgraded to newer ones -- and turn them into cheap Linux consoles.

One could even turn what they've done with the junk into a business. That's what many recycling and refurbished goods companies actually do.

It's good to know that many producers have started to make their products as recyclable as possible, although some recycling techniques are questionable.

To my knowledge, some recycling companies melt down electronic boards to salvage the precious gold, silver and copper metals, but simply dump the toxic components into a landfill.

Others export them to developing countries hoping for revenue -- but make them the junkyards of hazardous material as well.

--The Jakarta Post