Computers and Printers, Business Waste

Evolving from tabulation machines used to handle growing volumes of information in the early 20th century, computers became integral to the function of businesses large and small by the 21st century. Beginning in the 1950s, gigantic mainframe computers—primarily manufactured by International Business Machines (IBM)—handled information at large corporations; a decade later, advances in microprocessor technology allowed smaller businesses to purchase microcomputers or even desktop models to handle records. Today, businesses in both [Page 142]developed and developing nations rely on mass-produced computers to handle their needs. Though increasingly large volumes of computers and printers are disposed of annually, they do not necessarily follow a linear trajectory from consumption to disposal and waste. Instead, business disposal practices increasingly involve further rounds of consumption through reuse and refurbishment prior to eventual disposal. Like other forms of cast-off electronics, the consumption and wasting of computers and printers used in business environments is a culturally distinctive practice that varies from place to place.