Group items tagged

Whenever I hear "E-Cycling," I think of some amazing new technology that allows you to shoot your old trash and junk over to the recycling plant by means of e-mail. Of course, it isn't - "E-Cycling" is simply the term used for recycling and managing potentially hazardous electronic waste, and, thanks to a new state law passed in Washington , managing that waste is about to become a whole lot more pleasant.

For years, human rights advocates and environmentalists have sounded the alarm about the export of old computers and other electronic equipment to recyclers overseas.

The typical American home contains 24 consumer electronic products, the latest statistics show: Televisions, computers, cell phones, digital cameras, game consoles, plus all their beeping cousins. Holiday gift-giving doesn't just widen the stream of gadgets and gizmos. It makes orphans of the old stuff. Got a great deal on an LCD television for Christmas? Upgraded to a faster PC? Unwrapped a Blu-ray to replace that standard DVD player? Each item likely displaces another, leaving behind a heap of electro-rubble. Last year, Americans shoved aside an estimated 27 million outdated or unwanted televisions, and 205 million computers and chunks of related hardware (printers, mice, etc.), according to the Environmental Protection Agency. We crammed most of this e-waste inside a million basements, or stuffed it in the trash.

It's good for you and for the environment. A team of "Total Reclaim" soldiers glean what they can from old electronics, taking what's salvageable and safely processing the toxic materials within. "In particular, lead. Lead is found in the glass in televisions and monitors and it's also found in circuit boards in the solder," said Craig Lorch, Total Reclaim.

Oregon health officials are advising people to wait until a new law takes effect Jan. 1 to recycle electronic gear for free, but several local refuse collection services are accepting old TVs, computers and monitors now without charge.

Lewis County residents with old computers and TVs will be able to recycle them for free beginning in January, when a new "e-cycle" law goes into effect. A press release from the county said computer towers, laptops, computer monitors and televisions are eligible for the program. A collection center will be set up at the Centralia Goodwill store, at 519 Harrison Ave. Those interested can call the store at 736-3828 for collection center operating hours. Under the Washington Electronics Recycling Law, manufacturers will pay for the program, and it is open to all state residents, schools, small businesses, small governments, special-purpose districts and nonprofit groups

Millions of printed circuit boards from discarded electronics are tossed into landfills every year. In addition to the volume of waste, the material can leach chemicals into the soil. As an alternative, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China are finding various ways to reuse the panels, including as an additive in asphalt.

E-waste poses a serious challenge to public health and has put the environment at risk. To deal with this growing problem, it needs immediate attention at the corporate level. But what are the incentives for doing so, and why should businesses exert time into recycling their e-waste? To find out, Veracity World has listed out a few reasons why e-waste management should be a significant concern for the businesses and ways they can benefit from it.

Waste & Recycling News, 5/28/09. Texas Gov. Rick Perry will have on his desk a bill requiring television manufacturers to provide Texas residents with free and convenient recycling for their old units. Proponents of the bill say it will help keep the 4 to 8 pounds of lead in cathode-ray tube televisions and the mercury in flat-screen TVs out of the environment. Televisions also contain brominated fire retardants and other hazardous chemicals.

With the ever increasing issues related to E-Waste people around the globe are understanding the need of e-waste management. Considering the effective implementation of basic 3R techniques one can easily contribute towards conserving the environment. Veracity World, UAE is one such company that leads the market by offering effective E-Waste management services.