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What is R2? The EPA has recently released a new voluntary standard for recyclers of electronic waste, called "R2." R2 stands for "responsible recycling." Unfortunately, it falls well short of "responsible", when it comes to the toxic materials. In fact, the standard is so weak in key areas that the only two participating environmental groups (the Basel Action Network and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition) both withdrew in protest from the multi‐stakeholder process in the final stages. What's Wrong with R2? R2 fails to adequately address the four biggest problems in the electronics recycling industry.What is R2? The EPA has recently released a new voluntary standard for recyclers of electronic waste, called "R2." R2 stands for "responsible recycling." Unfortunately, it falls well short of "responsible", when it comes to the toxic materials. In fact, the standard is so weak in key areas that the only two participating environmental groups (the Basel Action Network and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition) both withdrew in protest from the multi‐stakeholder process in the final stages. What's Wrong with R2? R2 fails to adequately address the four biggest problems in the electronics recycling industry.

Everyone wants to reduce waste, but computing equipment lifecycles are shrinking, and discarded electronics represent the fastest-growing waste category. Many states and municipalities are passing or consideration legislation to make manufacturers responsible for taking back obsolete products and recycling them, and companies can help by insisting on responsible recycling practices, buying equipment that meets environmental standards, and pressuring suppliers to get greener. Everyone wants to reduce waste, but computing equipment lifecycles are shrinking, and discarded electronics represent the fastest-growing waste category. Many states and municipalities are passing or consideration legislation to make manufacturers responsible for taking back obsolete products and recycling them, and companies can help by insisting on responsible recycling practices, buying equipment that meets environmental standards, and pressuring suppliers to get greener.

The e-Stewards recyclers are a group of leading North American electronics recyclers and asset managers who have been qualified as upholding the highest standard of environmental and social responsibility. Environmental and social justice advocates urge you to make use of these recyclers for all of your e-waste disposal/recycling/asset management. Beware other recyclers claiming to be "green" and responsible. The e-Stewards recyclers are a group of leading North American electronics recyclers and asset managers who have been qualified as upholding the highest standard of environmental and social responsibility. Environmental and social justice advocates urge you to make use of these recyclers for all of your e-waste disposal/recycling/asset management. Beware other recyclers claiming to be "green" and responsible.

Market Velocity, the leading provider of turn-key, web-enabled recycling, asset recovery, trade-in, and donation solutions for Fortune 1000 & consumer electronics manufacturers, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. (TSX: MDF), makes it simple for technology companies, distributors and resellers to drive new sales and increase market share with creatively packaged online equipment upgrade programs. Market Velocity's clients are able to attract new buyers with exciting trade-in promotions while offering existing customers compelling, instant trade-in values for previous purchases through Market Velocity's vast network of remarketers. Customized trade-in sites are integrated with in-depth services and customer support to manage every aspect of trade-in programs, from promotion design through payments processing and extensive market data analysis. End users have multiple equipment disposal options including donations and recycling programs that meet the industry's highest standards for safety and privacy. Visit www.marketvelocity.com to learn more about the industry's only full-service, web-based solution for trade-in programs and launch your upgrade campaign today.Market Velocity, the leading provider of turn-key, web-enabled recycling, asset recovery, trade-in, and donation solutions for Fortune 1000 & consumer electronics manufacturers, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. (TSX: MDF), makes it simple for technology companies, distributors and resellers to drive new sales and increase market share with creatively packaged online equipment upgrade programs. Market Velocity's clients are able to attract new buyers with exciting trade-in promotions while offering existing customers compelling, instant trade-in values for previous purchases through Market Velocity's vast network of remarketers. Customized trade-in sites are integrated with in-depth services and customer support to manage e

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.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) September 4, 2009 -- Capstone Wireless, LLC is pleased to announce that the non-profit environmental watchdog Basel Action Network (BAN) has recognized Capstone Wireless as an e-Steward™ electronics recycler, a designation awarded to North American electronics recyclers and asset managers who have been qualified as upholding the highest standard of environmental and social responsibility.

Disposal and recycling standards for old computer equipment and other electronic waste must be harmonized for this rapidly growing problem to be dealt with effectively across national borders. An analysis of the current rules and regulations is reported in the latest issue of the International Journal of Environmental Engineering.

The Washington bill is what other states wanted,'' said Scott Cassel, executive of the Product Stewardship Institute. Requiring manufacturers to cover the collection and recycling costs will encourage them to design greener products that are less toxic and easier to recycle, he said. ``Here is a state that took a careful, methodical and comprehensive approach and considered various options,'' Cassel said. ``Now state residents will have an electronics recycling system that will become the gold standard for the country.'' A wide and diverse group backed the bill, which also had bipartisan support. Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co., Seattle electronics recycler Total Reclaim Inc., and retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com supported the bill. But the bill was far from receiving unanimous backing from electronics manufacturers. The Electronic Industries Alliance communicated its concerns with Washington's legislation. The group, along with 18 of its member companies, such as Dell Inc., IBM Corp. and Apple Computer Inc., did not support the bill. The law does not implement a shared responsibility approach. But rather, it extends the manufacturers' responsibility to finance the end of the life of their products, according to the EIA's remarks to the Washington Legislature. Such a system is inefficient, the group said, and will result in increased costs for Washington consumers.

``The Washington bill is what other states wanted,'' said Scott Cassel, executive of the Product Stewardship Institute. Requiring manufacturers to cover the collection and recycling costs will encourage them to design greener products that are less toxic and easier to recycle, he said. ``Here is a state that took a careful, methodical and comprehensive approach and considered various options,'' Cassel said. ``Now state residents will have an electronics recycling system that will become the gold standard for the country.'' A wide and diverse group backed the bill, which also had bipartisan support. Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co., Seattle electronics recycler Total Reclaim Inc., and retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com supported the bill. But the bill was far from receiving unanimous backing from electronics manufacturers. The Electronic Industries Alliance communicated its concerns with Washington's legislation. The group, along with 18 of its member companies, such as Dell Inc., IBM Corp. and Apple Computer Inc., did not support the bill. The law does not implement a shared responsibility approach. But rather, it extends the manufacturers' responsibility to finance the end of the life of their products, according to the EIA's remarks to the Washington Legislature. Such a system is inefficient, the group said, and will result in increased costs for Washington consumers.

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.

Free recycling of televisions, laptop and desktop computers and monitors will be available in Clallam and Jefferson counties starting Friday, thanks to the new E-Cycle Washington program. That means no one needs to throw away such gear and add to already-stuffed landfills, said John Friederick of the Washington Materials Management & Financing Authority, organizer of E-Cycle Washington. Households, businesses, school districts, government agencies and nonprofit groups can take advantage of the free program. The state Electronic Product Recycling Act requires electronics makers to pay for E-Cycle Washington, and the companies collecting equipment must adhere to state Department of Ecology standards for responsible recycling. For information visit Ecology's Web site, www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eproduct recycle.

RCN & Associates founded in 1992, originally started off as an IBM large system broker before expanding into the remarketing of IBM NZ's end of lease IT assets. Over the years RCN has also developed a large dealer network in New Zealand & overseas for buying & selling ex lease IT equipment. With RCN's high standards and efficient service we maintain a high quality of refurbished IT products throughout the industry. A few years ago RCN realised a need for an environmental e-waste disposal solution as the number of old and unwanted electronic equipment continued to increase. We developed a total solution for all electronic waste that sees 99% of all waste diverted from landfill.

The WMMFA is the manufacturer board-directed authority created by state law to handle the recycling of certain electronics in the state of Washington. Our job is to follow state law and guidelines as set forth by the department of Ecology to create a standard plan that manufacturers will participate in and finance. We coordinate collectors, transporters and processors to recycle covered electronics, then bill participating member manufacturers for the costs. Starting January 1st, 2009 covered electronics: TVs, Computer Monitors, Laptops and Computer towers will be recycled. The plan does not cover printers, scanners, keyboards, mice or other accessories.

A furniture refinishing company has launched a new electronics recycling program to deal with waste electronics generated by furniture remodeling projects. The Refinishing Touch is an Alpharetta, Ga., company that offers on-site furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire modification services to hotel chains and the federal government. Recently the company has conducted armoire modifications for several hotel chains upgrading television sets in guest rooms from CRTs to HD flat panel displays. The company is launching the new program to deal with those discarded displays. The company will guarantee TVs accepted through the program are recycled in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration and EPA industry standards as well as all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. The company also is in the process of gaining no-landfill certification for the program. Waste & Recycling News, 1/13/10.

Hewlett Packard (HP), in collaboration with the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), has launched a groundbreaking initiative to develop sustainable recycling processes to tackle the problem of e-waste in Africa. For the past two years, the initiative has been overseeing a pilot program facility in South Africa and conducting e-waste management assessment studies in both Kenya and Morocco; the goal of the assessments is ultimately to properly determine each country's ability to deal with the e-waste there, whether it arose from electronics that were purchased new within the country and are now reaching their end of life, or from electronics that were shipped illegally from other countries. The project has been examining efforts by both African governments and organizations to safely handle e-waste. The project has been compiling extensive information, such as the policy and legal framework in each country, standard settings for e-waste treatment, organizations and programs already in place to safely process e-waste, and the actual amounts of e-waste present. MediaGlobal article by Shefali Lall, 7/20/09.