Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer System
Based on a typical desktop computer system including pc, monitor, and keyboard. Weighing approx. 60 lbs.

Name

Content 
(% of total weight)

Weight of material in computer (lbs.)

Recycling Efficiency
( current recyclability )

Use/Location

Plastics

22.9907

13.8

20%

includes organics, oxides other than silica

Lead

6.2988

3.8

5%

metal joining, radiation shield/CRT, PWB

Aluminum

14.1723

8.5

80%

structural, conductivity/housing, CRT, PWB, connectors

Germanium

0.0016

< 0.1

0%

Semiconductor/PWB

Gallium

0.0013

< 0.1

0%

Semiconductor/PWB

Iron

20.4712

12.3

80%

structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB

Tin

1.0078

0.6

70%

metal joining/PWB, CRT

Copper

6.9287

4.2

90%

Conductivity/CRT, PWB, connectors

Barium

0.0315

< 0.1

0%

in vacuum tube/CRT

Nickel

0.8503

0.51

80%

structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB

Zinc

2.2046

1.32

60%

battery, phosphor emitter/PWB, CRT

Tantalum

0.0157

< 0.1

0%

Capacitors/PWB, power supply

Indium

0.0016

< 0.1

60%

transistor, rectifiers/PWB

Vanadium

0.0002

< 0.1

0%

red phosphor emitter/CRT

Terbium

0

0

0%

green phosphor activator, dopant/CRT, PWB

Beryllium

0.0157

< 0.1

0%

thermal conductivity/PWB, connectors

Gold 

0.0016

< 0.1

99%

Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors

Europium

0.0002

< 0.1

0%

phosphor activator/PWB

Titanium

0.0157

< 0.1

0%

pigment, alloying agent/(aluminum) housing

Ruthenium

0.0016

< 0.1

80%

resistive circuit/PWB

Cobalt

0.0157

< 0.1

85%

structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB

Palladium

0.0003

< 0.1

95%

Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors

Manganese

0.0315

< 0.1

0%

structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB

Silver

0.0189

< 0.1

98%

Conductivity/PWB, connectors

Antinomy

0.0094

< 0.1

0%

diodes/housing, PWB, CRT

Bismuth

0.0063

< 0.1

0%

wetting agent in thick film/PWB

Chromium

0.0063

< 0.1

0%

Decorative, hardener/(steel) housing

Cadmium

0.0094

< 0.1

0%

battery, glu-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT

Selenium

0.0016

0.00096

70%

rectifiers/PWB

Niobium

0.0002

< 0.1

0%

welding allow/housing

Yttrium

0.0002

< 0.1

0%

red phosphor emitter/CRT

Rhodium

0

50%

thick film conductor/PWB

Platinum

0

95%

thick film conductor/PWB

Mercury

0.0022

< 0.1

0%

batteries, switches/housing, PWB

Arsenic

0.0013

< 0.1

0%

doping agents in transistors/PWB

Silica

24.8803

15

0%

glass, solid state devices/CRT,PWB