Group items tagged

7/15/09. Article on Trash Track, a project of the MIT SENSEable City lab that uses microprocessors to track the movement of various types of waste through an urban waste stream for the analysis of patterns and assessment of disposal costs. Seattle, WA and NYC are pilot projects in the U.S.; tracking will also occur in London, England in the U.K.

IT professionals have become good environmental and privacy stewards during the past 10 years -- on paper. Corporate policy now generally reflects the fundamental tenets of good electronics stewardship. Yet, how is it possible that a majority of e-waste still is being exported to developing countries, according to most estimates? Article by Robert Houghton (of Redemtech), GreenBiz.com, 6/18/09. Includes a list of five steps to follow for "responsibly recycling e-waste."

A new report from the Basel Action Network calling out an electronic waste recycler for misleading practices highlights how complicated and potentially risky the e-waste collection issue can be for companies and other groups. Article by Matthew Wheeland, 5/27/09 edition of GreenerComputing.

Basel Action Network (BAN) Toxic Trade News, 6/10/09. "The Environmental Protection Agency filed a legal Complaint and Compliance Order late last week against EarthEcycle, the electronic waste handler for several charity e-waste collection events held in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in recent days. Basel Action Network (BAN) tracked 7 sea-going containers of the collected toxic e-waste to Hong Kong and South Africa after assurances were made by EarthEcycle owner, Mr. Jeffrey Nixon, that the wastes would be recycled locally. The EPA complaint cites 7 violation counts for illegal management and exportation of 'Cathode Ray Tubes' - the picture tube of old computer monitors and TVs. The counts include 'unauthorized export of hazardous waste' and 'failure to prepare a hazardous waste manifest.'" Article also reports on the decision of certain charities to continue their fundraising relationships with EarthECycle despite allegations of illegal exportation of waste.

Article by June Ng, 6/12/09 edition of HK Magazine. "Every year Hong Kong produces more and more harmful electronic waste, but we only have a voluntary e-waste recycling scheme." Discusses e-waste problem from Hong Kong's perspective; includes some statistics specific for Hong Kong on electronic device use, as well as e-waste generation, recycling and fate.

From 6/9/09 edition of Waste & Recycling News. More press coverage of EarthECycle own Jeff Nixon's response to the recent expose by BAN and ETBC. According to this article, Nixon further challenges "e-Steward companies, as well as all other U.S. electronics recyclers, to a national fundraiser to use the proceeds to clean up all electronic waste sites."

One of the thorniest problems with Green IT is what to do with all the computers, monitors, hardware, and other electronics your company no longer needs. You may think that you've solved the problem by choosing a responsible recycler or asset management firm. But according to a recent 60 Minutes segment, that e-waste may end up in unregulated toxic waste dumps in China that foul the land, water, and air, cause cancers and miscarriages, and endanger children. Includes video of a 60 minutes segment following the illegal trail of e-waste from a recycler in Colorado to China. Article by Preston Gralla, Greener Computing, 11/19/08.

Text of the pending Wisconsin e-waste law. This bill passed the WI Senate and arrived in the Assembly Tuesday, 6/16/09. Would require manufacturers of select consumer electronics (computers, printers and video display devices, such as TVs or monitors) to collect and recycle 80 percent of the weight of sold devices beginning in September. Beginning in February 2010, retailers can't sell electronics made by manufacturers that are not registered with WDNR. Manufacturers failing to meet their targets would be subject to a shortfall fee after 2010. Those who exceed their goals may be eligible for recycling credits. (Summary of bill taken from related article in GreenerComputing, 6/16/09.)

Beijing Review article by Ding Wenlei, 7/9/09. "In the eight years after Guiyu became a collection point for electronic waste, Greenpeace China and other green organizations have not stopped urging major waste exporters to cease shipping their detritus to China. At the same time, they have been lobbying the Chinese Government to crack down more effectively on illegal electronic waste recycling. China finally has its own regulation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)-the Regulation on the Administration of the Recovery and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products. Announced on February 25, the regulation will hold producers liable for the costs of managing their products at the end of their lifecycles as of January 1, 2011. According to the regulation, China will license large qualified recycling plants and develop a recycling economy to better safeguard the environment and human health. Yet, for environmental organizations, the Chinese Government and licensed recycling plants, it remains an uphill battle to smash the business chain of the illegal recycling of electronic waste."

Working with the motivation of expanding the business, many businesses end up investing heavily in their IT infrastructure. There is a need for optimising this investment so that a company can achieve same goals with reduced investments. Refurbished electronics play a vital role in achieving this target. Following article describes some quick tips to ensure that you get the best possible value out of your investment.

Refurbishment is an intrend topic for every segment of society both socially and commercially. The curiosity and demand of refurbished gadgets has evolved as an ever increasing trend in past few years. This is a small informative piece of article over the steps involved in the process of refurbishment. We have also made an effort to answer a few queries like Is refurbished good to use? Where to buy refurbished gadgets?

Millions of laptops, computers, and mobile phones are discarded in UAE each year. The most active involvement regarding proper e-waste disposal in the middle east region is found in UAE. Currently, the country is working on developing e-waste regulations and legislation for sound e-waste management. Find out more in this article.

THE first electronic waste facility in southern Tasmania will be developed by the Hobart City Council.

Starting Sept. 5, the city is launching an electronics recycling program that will part of a statewide effort to keep electronics out of landfills. The city will set up mobile WIRED, or Westminster Initiative to Recycle E-Waste Drop-off, centers around the community over the next several months. The Sept. 5 debut location will be at Tahoma Farm Boulder Park, off Tahoma Farm Road. Future locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sony is introducing a new scrappage scheme which will hand out up to a maximum of £150 to those who purchase a new television set from the consumer electronics giant. The recycling scheme, which will involve handing back you old TV set, will start on the 21st of August; 26-inch Bravia purchases will attract a £50 cashback whereas purchasers of a 46-incher like the KDL-46WE5 will get the full £150 discount.

The high-tech industry is starting to fight back against what it calls onerous e-waste recycling bills.

MONTICELLO - The way counties dispose of electronic waste is expected to change soon.

The world needs global standards for the reuse and recycling of electronic goods to curb growing e-waste exports to developing countries, a recent meeting in the Netherlands heard.