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leahesper

Electronic Recycling Market 2019 Industry Outlook, Market Dynamics and Forecast by 2024... - 0 views

www.marketwatch.com/...y-2024---mre-report-2019-09-25

electronic recycling recycling market industry outlook dynamics forecast report e-waste recycle technology hospitality hotel software business mobile green solution Travel tech

shared by leahesper on 29 Sep 19 - No Cached
  • The Global Electronic Recycling Market is expected to exceed more than US$ 114 billion by 2024 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 23% in the given forecast period.
  • Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of additives and raw materials of waste electronics.
  • Digital recycling helps to recover valuable metals by means of making sure that toxic and dangerous substance are handled well thereby minimizing the environmental effect associated with mining.
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  • Despite the fact that the methods of re-use, donation and restore aren't strictly recycling. They're different common sustainable approaches to eliminate it waste.
  • Even though recycling of e-waste pose clean blessings, loss of recycling cognizance and regulatory infrastructure have resulted to low recycling price.
  • leahesper on 29 Sep 19
     
    This press release article talks about how the Global Electronic Recycling Market is segmented on the lines of its type of processed material, type of equipment, source of equipment and regional. I find this interested because after watching the videos from this weeks module, my eyes have been opened to a world I once didn't know about. Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling aren't really recycling. This article is interesting to me because now I have knowledge of what really goes on behind the scenes.
azephyr

Hotel Recycling Program: Benefits of Ewaste Recycling in Hospitality - 0 views

www.ewaste1.com/onics-recycling-in-hospitality

recycling hotel technology hospitality

shared by azephyr on 15 Jun 20 - No Cached
  • Hotel Recycling Program: Benefits of Ewaste Recycling in Hospitality
  • Does Recycling in the Hotel Industry Include E-waste?
  • With thousands of customers checking in each year, at a business that operates 24 hours a day, hotels are more likely to be replacing their office electronics more frequently.
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  • As technology keeps advancing, creating newer and more sophisticated versions of older devices, consumers have been all too quick to discard the electronics they own now. That means the amount of e-waste that’s been tossed out and sent to landfills is skyrocketing.
  • the UN, environmental groups and governments around the world are working to promote the recycling of e-waste as the best solution.
  • Estimates are that the world produces up to 50 million tonnes of e-waste every year from consumers and businesses throwing out everything from smartphones to computers to household and office appliances, material believed to still be worth $62.5 billion. But only a small percentage of the e-waste — which contains valuable and reusable materials like metals and rare earth, never gets recycled.
  • Once a used electronic device is sent to an experienced recycling firm like Great Lakes Electronics Corporation, it keeps those devices out of landfills, and the parts with value can be used by manufacturers to create new products.
  • Recycling is a great way to make a long-term contribution to our environment, and recycling aging office equipment and electronics should be near the top of their list.
  • Electronic recycling is the specialty of Great Lakes Electronics Corporation, which has years of experience performing environmentally friendly recycling of electronic products. Great Lakes Electronics Corporation will disassemble these items into component parts, and the ones that still have value can be sold for reuse. Other parts are used for metals recovery, and everything is recycled.
  • In fact, estimates are that hotels have the opportunity to recycle as much as 50-60% of their total waste stream. And recycling can help hotels reduce the high cost of managing their waste.
  • They also need to monitor their recycling programs on a regular basis, carefully track the volume and types of recyclables they process, and continue to refine their recycling programs by encouraging feedback from employees and guests, making changes where necessary.
  • anaslip on 15 Jun 20
     
    Hotels are more likely to replace their electronics more often because they are using them every day and they are trying to be up-to-date to be able to provide the best experience to the customers. Therefore, the number of computers that people are throwing away is too big and hard to count. Great Lakes Electronics Corporation is providing electronic recycling programs that are environmental friendly.
anonymous

Our E-Waste Problem Is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren't Helping | WIRED - 1 views

www.wired.com/...product-design-and-recycling

shared by anonymous on 04 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • Oh sure, many companies have green initiatives. Apple in particular has made notable, documented efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, powering a majority of its retail stores and data centers with renewable energy, developing more efficient packaging design, and designing products that use less power than their predecessors. But if your products are going to be tossed out in a year, none of that is particularly brag-worthy. That’s a tremendous amount of wasted resources.
  • In the past, computers were designed to be relatively easy to disassemble, like HP’s towers and older versions of the Mac Mini. You could swap out dead parts and batteries, add more memory if it got sluggish, even replace a motherboard. But in the mid-2000s, things started to change. Apple introduced the ultra-thin, ultra-light MacBook Air and the industry enthusiastically followed with heaping helpings of devices that, while slim, were very difficult to repair due to the construction compromises required to achieve that svelte profile. Smartphones and tablets followed with an even faster purchasing and chucking cycle.
  • Therefore, the easier it is to disassemble something, the more likely it is to be worth someone’s time to recycle it. And that’s where issues arise
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  • “The big problem the electronics industry is facing as a whole is products are getting lighter and lighter,” iFixit’s Kyle Wiens said. “This is great for consumers but a nightmare for recyclers.” Smaller, lighter products can be tricky to take apart, and yield a lower volume of raw materials.
  • Glue and adhesives are a common hurdle. Products like the iPad and Microsoft Surface achieve a slim form factor by using “a metric duckload of adhesive,” as Wiens once put it, particularly to keep the battery in place. All that glue must be removed before any recyclable material can be melted down. And battery recycling is risky endeavorin the best of circumstances—under the right conditions, a damaged battery can cause a fiery explosion. Tack onto that the need to painstakingly pry a battery from its glue-smeared lodging and you’ve got a delicate task indeed. For items with a lot of glue, like a tablet display, Sims Recycling Solutions heats the glue, then uses suction cups to apply pressure across the glass so it can be removed without cracking. Other things that can make a product more challenging to recycle include the number of screws (particularly non-standard screws), the inclusion of hazardous materials like mercury (which is declining, due to the rising popularity of LEDs instead of bulbs), large amounts of glass, and plastics. Waterproof and tightly sealed products also are more arduous to deal with.
  • As we rush headlong into a world in which we’re disposing of more and more gadgets each year, making them easily recyclable should be a growing priority of device makers. Just as display size, processor speed and energy efficiency are marketing points, so too should recyclability.
  • David Thompson, Panasonic’s head of environmental affairs, says the standardization of screws and plastic resin materials, not thermally setting screws in plastic, and minimizing the use of glue will boost recycling efforts, as will designing products for easier disassembly. Would consumers really decry, or even notice, these changes? Probably not. But such changes could require concessions to slim dimensions and light weight. And for manufacturers, increased standardization may mean fewer distinctions between competing products. Take a plastic smartphone housing: Currently there are hundreds of variations (soft touch, textures, and metallic colors, to name a few). Standardization could limit that very marketable variety. Even so, some products are embracing such ideals. Dell won The Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries 2014 Design for Recycling award for the Latitude 10 and XPS 10 tablets and Latitude E7240 notebook. Aside making its products cheap and easy to recycle, Dell has used nearly 8 million pounds of recycled plastic in its desktop and display production. And it is not alone.
  • anonymous on 04 Sep 15
     
    I found an interesting article about how the big computer companies can recycle the computers. This can solve some of the main problem about the recycling. The article is referring to idea that computers may become bigger size but easier to recycle. In other words we might wanna make a step back in the past, when we was able to just replace one detail from the computer instead of throwing it away.
kmill139

Why the U.S. is Terrible at Recycling Electronics | Digital Trends - 0 views

www.digitaltrends.com/...-waste-recycling-united-states

technology hospitality business tech

shared by kmill139 on 17 Jun 21 - No Cached
  • E-waste in the United States is out of control.
  • You may assume America has to at least be on par with the rest of the first world when finding a forever home for computers, phones, and printers, but you’d be wrong.
  • Those millions of old motherboards and TVs consoles rotting in landfills and warehouses aren’t just eyesores. They amount to a massive health hazard. While electronics waste comprises only 2-3 percent of America’s solid waste stream, the lead, cadmium, chromium, and other materials in aging circuitry account for 70 percent of the hazardous material in landfills, according to an EPA report.
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  • Others go belly up, leaving behind millions of pounds of old gadgets piled in mountainous heaps atop land which has lead levels many times normal.
  • You’re probably not screaming into a paper bag about the $20 billion or so of gold that’s trashed in electronics every year worldwide. Precious metals come and go. But if you care about the soil that comprises the land of the brave, you should start thinking about what happened to last year’s smartphone (even if it’s just sitting in the garage).
  • This list of reasons isn’t exhaustive, but serves as a solid starting point for understanding the United States’ e-waste dilemma and what can be done.
  • U.S. e-waste recycling laws are often outdated or nonexistent
  • Only 25 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have legislation that addresses e-waste recycling. The other 25 don’t have comprehensive programs, and don’t report what happens to the electronics beyond occasional voluntary numbers, says Jason Linnell, head of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER). Federal laws don’t explicitly address e-waste recycling.
  • The U.S. isn’t good at recycling
  • The current level and effectiveness of e-waste recycling depends on which state you live in and whether or not you trust locals to “do the right thing.” The hope for improvement sits with congressional reps, state lawmakers, manufacturers, and gadget freaks (yes, you).
  • Single-stream recycling hasn’t helped
  • Between 2005 and 2014, single stream recycling programs increased from 29 to 80 percent in American towns and cities. During that same time period, material contamination rates increased from 7 to 25 percent.
  • E-waste legislation regularly disappears in Congress
  • This is not the first Congressional session in which similar bills have been introduced and allowed to die like a first grade classroom goldfish on summer break. SEERA currently sits with the house’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Why is it so tough to pass e-waste legislation?
  • The U.S. is an environmental rogue
  • As of late 2018, 186 states and the European Union have ratified it and follow its legal framework. The United States has signed the Basel Convention, indicating an intent to ratify, but is the only developed nation that hasn’t actually done so, which
  • After the initial Basel Convention was adopted in 1989, many organizations said the treaty didn’t do enough to address the disposal of waste from first world countries into the developing world, and pressed for an update, which eventually became 1995’s Basel Ban Amendment. The tweak — which was attacked by many industrial powers, including the U.S., Canada, and Japan — needed three decades before it was accepted by enough countries to go into effect. In August 2019, Croatia became the 97th country to ratify it, which transformed the updated stipulations into international law in December 2019.
  • EPA regulations are incomplete
  • Federal attempts at regulation have stalled, been killed
  • U.S. pushes back against international efforts
  • As a part of the 2003 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), the public was guaranteed free recycling services, and conveniently located collection centers. Around the same time, the EU also passed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), aka the “lead-free directive,” which restricts the use of several toxic materials in the manufacture of circuitry and electronic products.
  • In Japan, the Association for Electric Home Appliances requires consumers to help pay for the processing of their goods and manufacturers to set up recycling programs. Electronics recycling has been promoted as such a point of national pride — because Japan is both a huge consumer of gadgets and the country has few indigenous precious metals — that there’s serious talk of making the 2020 Tokyo Olympic metals out of recycled materials. An estimated 80,000 cell phones need to be pulled apart and picked over to complete the plan.
  • State-level e-cycling programs are uneven
  • Certified e-cycling programs are important, but also confusing
  • If you’re the compliance officer who has to make sure the company’s used servers don’t wind up getting tossed in an Indonesian landfill, and you won’t have to nervously answer questions in a “60 Minutes” exposé, you probably want to get that e-waste removed by a disposal team with one of these
  • That all sounds great until you listen to Puckett, who helped create the e-Stewards protocols. He’s one of several people who took part in the development of R2 for over two years and then refused to continue when the proposed guidelines seemed to be too tainted by lobbyists, including ones at the Institute of Scrap Recycling (ISRI), an organization that favors a free market approach over regulation. Puckett and 13 recyclers created e-Stewards, which describes itself as the “the cleanest, most globally responsible standard for e-waste recycling.” He points out that the R2 certification still allows recyclers to export to developing countries. E-Stewards’ doesn’t. R2 recyclers can drop toxic e-waste in landfills or incinerators in the event of “circumstances beyond their
  • Scrap recycling lobby doesn’t like regulations
  • The announcer proudly explains e-cycling is a vibrant industry that adds 20.6 billion to the U.S. economy and supports 45,000 jobs domestically, “safeguarding our environment,” along the way.
  • Can anything be done? Possibly
  • Recycling isn’t the only answer for fewer landfills filled with decaying circuits. Chris Wellise, Chief Sustainability Officer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which installs and recovers tech, emphasizes the importance of designing products for longevity, disassembly, and reuse.
  • “On average, 85 percent of the environmental impacts can be addressed in the design phase,” estimates Wellise.
  • Similar challenges exist for smartphones. Review IFixit’s guide for repairability and you can expect the phones that are easy to disassemble are also easier to refurbish or scrap. In an unusual display of transparency, eco-minded electronics company Fairphone sells spare parts on its site and has visual cues printed on the pieces to help novices figure out where everything goes. In case you’re wondering, it’s possible to make a Fairphone work in America, but most of the company’s sales are in Europe.
  • In 2018, Apple gave birth to Daisy, a robot that can disassemble 200 of the company’s phones in an hour — 1.2 million a year. The company has an installation of the machine in Austin, Texas, and another in the Netherlands. Daisy’s supply chain of used products comes from the company’s in-store trade-in program and a partnership with Best Buy.
  • Pretty awe-inspiring, right? Keep in mind that Apple sold over 217 million phones just in 2018 and has moved 2.2 billion iPhone units since the product line launched in 2007. The two Daisy divisions aren’t even working at capacity. Apple is willing to license the robot technology so any company can use it to disassemble phones, but none have approached them yet.
  • carlatj on 17 Jun 21
     
    "Maybe it's easy to ignore the huge percentage of vintage gadgets that wind up torched in dicey scrap heaps in developing countries". This article was written on Feb-27-2020. The problem we saw on the old video is still very much a problem now, only bigger.
  • kmill139 on 29 Sep 21
     
    This article was super informative in the realm of E-waste. It covered every aspect of the issue and most definitely is relevant in today's world.
jsanc478

Getting E-waste Right | Green Lodging News - 8 views

www.greenlodgingnews.com/getting-e-waste-right

technology Hospitality hotel green

shared by jsanc478 on 18 Apr 22 - No Cached
  • In the past decade, televisions have grown bigger, then flatter, then bigger again. The emphasis is on the new: buy now, because your old television is clearly, decidedly obsolete.
  • The demand for the current and the top of the line strikes a chord especially in the hospitality industry.
  • equal to, or greater than, those offered by their competitors.
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  • The result is a product cycle that matches the pace of innovation:
  • Between consumers and businesses, an estimated 50 million tons of electronic waste is disposed of each year. Some of that is recycled properly. The rest is not.
  • Nearly 400 million units of consumer electronics are sold per year. Relatively light regulations and recycling standards result in th
  • Multiple Solutions for Hoteliers Despite the doom and gloom, there are a multitude of solutions to the hospitality industry’s e-waste problem.
  • The remaining 86.4 percent made its way into landfills,
  • Old TVs and computer monitors contain lead, cadmium and brominated flame retardants; all of which are hazardous to personal and environmental well-being.
  • 90 percent of the e-waste that is recycled is sent overseas.
  • Developing countries have become ground zero for e-waste collection
  • . According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only 13.6 percent of all e-waste was recycled properly in 2007
  • That hotels upgrade their televisions is not an issue as long as their existing units are recycled properly
  • It starts with awareness:
  • Then hoteliers can move to change a different statistic:
  • , hoteliers should seek out domestic recyclers and take care of their e-waste recycling with proven, safe commodities.
  • Environmentally responsible, eco-savvy hotels are in vogue right now, appealing to customers with promises of sustainable travel and accommodation
  • Sustainable building materials, recycling services and even linen reuse programs are tangible ways for guests to see that their hosts are eco-conscious.
  • Green Hospitality with a Backbone
  • Green hospitality makes money, but it mustn’t be without a backbone.
  • Actual green hospitality outweighs the appearance of green hospitality
  • organizations hop on the sustainability bandwagon, it is more important than ever that recycling becomes permanent,
  • This means actively looking for and implementing recycling solutions, not simply shipping our problems overseas.
  • e recycle and reuse more than ever. B
  • E-waste recycling, for most people and companies, is not a day-to-day occurrence, which means we should be ready to handle it when the time comes
  • jsanc478 on 18 Apr 22
     
    This article is based on how we can improved e-wastes on doing little changes that will benefit on our future. Most of the e-waste is not recycle properly, we buy things after things and more after more, every time a new technology comes up there is the motivation on buying what is the lasted cool technology, and what about what we have , where does it go ? to the trash or recycle, but we do not know where that recycling goes, I believe learning more about it will help on our routine of how to recycle better and help with this process to proceed right.
  • CHARLENE ESCOE BARNETT on 10 May 22
     
    We quickly move to 'next' as far as technology goes and rarely think about how to get rid of it when obsolete. In the Caribbean for example, there are not may recycling plants for e-waste, in fact, many rarely do recycling on a whole. In the Turks and Caicos, disposing of a television or a phone is as simple as throwing it in the trash among everything else. What happens next? It goes into the landfills and there they lie. Imagine the toxic waste from over 40,000 inhabitants on a small island. While moving with the crowd seems to be the way of the world, I believe government entities must act swiftly in ensuring e-waste is disposed of correctly to preserve this island and its inhabitants for generations to come. The technology should not outpace the disposal thereof.
vickychapas2021

10 Things You Should Know About Recycling Electronics - 1 views

www.familyhandyman.com/...ow-about-recycling-electronics

technology hospitality Software tech e-waste

shared by vickychapas2021 on 11 Apr 21 - No Cached
  • The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15 to 20 percent of e-waste is recycled,
  • the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills, incinerators and are illegally exported to developing countries
  • These foreign junkyards hire low-wage employees to pick through the few valuable components of often toxic old machines.
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  • The E-cycling Central website allows users to select their state and city to find a trusted recycler nearest them.
  • Reuse is always more environmentally sound and will give devices an extra couple years of usability.
  • One is called the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, known as e-Stewards, and the other is called Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices, known as R2.
  • If an electronics recycler has either one of these certifications they are typically more trustworthy than a recycler without one.
  • With that being said, it is best to recycle your electronics as soon as you know you are done using them.
  • Before you recycle or donate your computer or cell phone, be sure to erase your data from the device.
  • CRT TV’s, printers, cartridges and many large home appliances are dangerous to recycle, so consumers should expect to pay a small fee to recycle them.
  • Don’t throw nickel cadmium batteries in the garbage! They’re made from poisonous materials that can harm the environment—and they also need to be recycled.
  • cell phone batteries can be used to make new smartphones and batteries, while zinc and aluminum from laptops and tablets can be used for metal plates, jewelry, cars or art.
  • vickychapas2021 on 11 Apr 21
     
    This article explains what e-waste is and how we as consumers can help recycle our e-waste. We should recycle products we know we won't use anymore because technology depreciates. When we decide to recycle our e-waste we should ensure that they are reputable. Throwing certain things in the garbage is toxic to the environment and thus we should make sure to recycle all technology instead of tossing it into the landfill.
jchac014

LG Electronics Partners with Hilton Hotels to Recycle Old TVs - 1 views

www.waste360.com/...-hilton-hotels-recycle-old-tvs

electronics partners hilton hotels tvs business solution Green

shared by jchac014 on 23 May 20 - No Cached
  • TVs are the largest contributor to electronic waste, which is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world.
  • To address this issue, Hilton Hotels recently teamed with LG Electronics to create a TV recycling pilot program.
  • The need for an e-waste recycling solution is urgent. Not only is the waste prevalent, but it’s also toxic.
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  • “Hilton is committed to minimizing waste by providing our properties with a sustainable solution for the proper disposal of their existing TV sets rather than sending them to a landfill where they can leak harmful substances in the environment,” says Judy Pines, director of sustainability and responsible sourcing at Hilton.
  • Working together, Hilton Hotels, LG and GSS recycled nearly 400 older flat-panel hotel TVs from the Hilton Newark Airport.
  • Each recycled TV set was replaced with a new 43-inch Energy Star certified LG flat screen TV. The program was successfully executed in four days and had a minimal impact on guests.  
  • The old TVs were transported to an e-Stewards-certified recycling facility in New York, where they were manually taken apart and sorted into various components. “Parts that cannot be dismantled efficiently are shredded into smaller e-waste pieces and eventually broken down even further,”
  • TVs contain valuable and reusable materials such as plastics, copper, gold and glass and approximately 99 percent of the TV components can be repurposed into new electronics
  • One option is a turnkey solution that includes the installation of new TVs, the removal of old TVs (50 unit minimum), TV programming and transportation to a recycling facility. The second option is for recycling services only and includes the removal of the old TVs and transportation of the old TVs to an e-recycler.
  • In addition to partnering with Hilton Hotels, LG has focused on making responsible recycling a priority.
  • jchac014 on 23 May 20
     
    TVs are the largest contributors to electronic waste. Electronic waste recycling solution is urgent because the waste is toxic. LG partnered with Hilton Hotels for a recycling program to efficiently recycle their old TVs without sending them to a landfill or somewhere overseas. Through the program, recycled TVs were replaced with newer 43" Energy Star certified LG flat screen TVs.
Michaela Gave

Hilton Worldwide Announces Mattress Recycling Program - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4058320.html

shared by Michaela Gave on 08 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Our hotels have purchased more than 50,000 mattresses in the past two years in the U.S. alone,"
  • Steel Springs: Tools, Automobiles, Construction Materials Wood: Tempered Flooring, Particle Board Shelving and a variety of Pressed Wood Products Cotton Fibers: Oil Filters, Mats and Stuffing Quilt Scrap: Carpet Padding
  • Last month, Hilton Worldwide reported its 2011 results and announced it has achieved its five-year goal to reduce waste by 20 percent, two years ahead of schedule.
  • Michaela Gave on 08 Sep 13
     
    Hilton has decided to recycle their mattresses in hopes of reducing their waste. Planning to recycle 85% of their mattresses and box springs after purchasing over 50,000 mattresses in just the US alone. Working with DH Hospitality who provides services such as recycling will recycle the mattresses, box springs into tools, construction materials, flooring, oil filters and carpet padding. LightStay is the companies tracking system which will track the process of its donations. Hilton reached their five year goal to reduce their waste by 20% which turned out to be two years ahead of schedule. LightStay is the company's tracking system which tracks their donations to Good360. When I first read this article I thought I was going to read something about Hilton's products going overseas like we watched on 60 minutes. I'm happy to see these mattresses aren't going overseas to harm people. I recently just bought a new mattress and the company that picked up my old mattress and they were going to recycle it. After watching the 60 Minutes I will always inquire about such recycling. I was told they clean the old mattresses and donate them to families in need and shelters. After watching the video clip I wish I would have asked further questions about the donations to be sure. As a consumer I would like to hear more businesses talk about the different programs they offer to go green and recycle. As someone in the multi-family housing industry I think recycling and going green is an area we need to focus on. As a Hilton Diamond Member I'm happy to see the Hilton is trying to go green. This article was from 2012, so I'm looking forward to see what they will be doing in the future.
alo328

Electronic Waste Is Becoming a Global Environmental Problem | Time - 1 views

time.com/...world-electronic-waste-problem

shared by alo328 on 23 Sep 20 - No Cached
  • s a tech-hungry nation flush with cash gets ready to upgrade to the next generation of lightning-fast 5G devices, there is a surprising environmental cost to be reckoned with: a fresh mountain of obsolete gadgets. About 6 million lb
  • Workers with hammers hack at the bulkiest devices, while others remove dangerous components like lithium-ion batteries
  • That cycle of consumption has made electronics waste the world’s fastest-growing s
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  • “In our society, we always have to have the new, best product,” said Aaron Blum, the co-founder and chief operating officer of ERI, on a tour of the facility
  • Even when e-waste rules exist, it’s left up to consumers to handle their old devices prop
  • But less than a quarter of all U.S. electronic waste is recycled, according to a United Nations estimate. The rest is incinerated or ends up in landfills
  • Environmental concerns aside, compacting flammable lithium-ion batteries with paper recycling can be dangerous; recycling centers have reported an uptick in fires
  • 5G promises faster speeds and other benefits. But experts say it will also result in a dramatic increase in e-waste, as millions of smartphones, modems and other gadgets incompatible with 5G networks are made obsolete
  • ly. But recycling them can be a
  • We don’t necessarily have the measures to make sure people aren’t throwing it away,” Walters said.
  • Even so, some companies are increasing their recycling efforts on their own, whether for the economic benefit or the public relations boost (mining fresh materials has financial, environmental and human costs of its own). For instance, Apple in 2018 introduced Daisy, a smartphone-recycling robot that can take apart 200 iPhones every hour, and says it diverted 48,000 metric tons of electronic waste from landfills that year
  • Our products today don’t last as long as they used to, and it’s a strategy by manufacturers to force us in
  • o shorter and shorter upgrade cycles,” said Kyle Wiens, the founder of iFixit
  • Some environmental groups say multibillion-dollar companies like Apple and Samsung should pick up the cost of recycling the devices they sell. Lawmakers in parts of Europe and Canada and in some U.S. states have passed so-called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which require manufacturers to establish and fund systems to recycle or collect obsolete products
  • One solution is to make electronics last as long as they once did. At ERI’s facility, Shegerian showed TIME dozens of televisions from the 1970s and 1980s that stopped working only recently
  • About 6 million lb. of discarded electronics are already processed monthly at recycling giant ERI’s Fresno plant.
  • Americans spent $71 billion on telephone and communication equipment in 2017, nearly five times what they spent in 2010 even when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Apple alone sold 60 million iPhones domestically last year, according to Counterpoint Research.)
  • That stream is expected to turn into a torrent as the world upgrades to 5G, the next big step in wireless technology.
  • Part of the problem is regulatory. Only 19 states have laws banning electronics from the regular trash. In states without such rules, like Nevada, electronics often end up in garbage and recycling bins, said Jeremy Walters, a community-relations manager for waste collector Republic Services
  • Our products today don’t last as long as they used to, and it’s a strategy by manufacturers to force us into shorter and shorter upgrade cycles,”
  • nbakir on 23 Sep 20
     
    Advancement in technology every day has led to the dumping of electronic gadgets no longer wanted to the environment. Heaps of unwanted electronic waste, hazardous containing substances like lithium-ion batteries, are dumped into the ground with all their toxicology. As the world upgrades to 5G, it will end in a rapid surge in e-waste. According to John Shegerian thinks people are yet to see the magnitude of the transition to 5G, it is tremendous than changing from analog to digital (Samuels & Calif, 2019). However, it comes with many advantages; its outcome is a drastic rise in electronic waste. The ERI recycles less than a quarter of the United States' e-waste according to the estimate made by the United Nations, and the other dumped in landfills. This waste contains harmful metals such as beryllium and mercury, that have adverse environmental dangers. Among the 50 states in the United States, only 19 States have imposed a law to bun electronics from regular trash (Samuels & Calif, 2019); the rest of the states, like Nevada they are incorporated in recycling and trash bins, according to Jeremy Walters's manager for waste collection. The consumers are left to handle their e-waste even though there are e-waste rules. Multibillion companies should the responsibility and cater for the cost of recycling for the products they are manufacturing. Companies like Apple and Samsung, nonetheless the United States is repelling modifications to the prevailing laws, according to Scott Cassel Product Stewardship Institute found. However, some companies are improving through increasing their recycling efforts. For instance, Daisy, a recycling robot introduced by Apple, can collect more than 200 iPhones for recycling every hour. But this is not enough since e-waste generated annually globally is more than we can imagine, which almost 50 tons (Samuels & Calif, 2019). In a nutshell, technology can bring many benefits to society. Still, it can also harm both the environment and the p
  • khadija2050 on 28 Sep 20
     
    the article explores the dangers of elctronic waste and give suggestions on how to better monitor this issue and resolve.
  • alo328 on 21 Feb 21
     
    This article explains how the rapid advancement of technology has impulsed an increase in the use of technology, however has resulted in a rise in ewaste percentage. This happens because companies have opted for creating products that do not last for long periods of time, since they want to sell future products.
Qianlin Wang

A welcome sign: Hotels adopt reuse and recycling - Waste Mangagement World - 0 views

www.waste-management-world.com/...adopt-reuse-and-recycling.html

hotel hospitality green

shared by Qianlin Wang on 18 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. But many hoteliers are responding to the waste challenge.
  • Wherever possible, waste elimination at source must be a hotel’s number-one priority.
  • A major way in which many hotels reduce waste at source is by running towel and linen reuse programmes.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • Having addressed waste at source, the next step is to put appropriate systems in place to identify how the remaining waste can be redeployed.
  • Any waste that cannot be reused needs to be sorted into its component fractions so that as much as possible can be recovered for recycling.
  • Many resort-based hotels, and those with sufficient space outside, compost their organic waste.
  • Another way of dealing with kitchen and garden waste is using it as feed for biogas plants. 
  • Waste management is not new to the operating agenda of hotels, and for many it is part of their overall environmental management system (EMS).
  • Qianlin Wang on 18 Sep 12
     
    At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of the hotel industry. Hotels can make a significant impact on waste reduction and recycling.  Hoteliers have many opportunities to reduce waste by establishing waste prevention and recycling programs and by purchasing recycled products. Besides reducing waste and saving money, these actions can increase employee morale and customer satisfaction. Hotels and motels generate large amounts of highly recyclable materials, such as office paper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass. Work with your waste hauler or recycler to arrange the details of your recycling program. Management should adopt an environmental policy to reflect how the company sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors, and the people it employs and serves. Chains with multiple locations may want to encourage each hotel to evaluate and establish its own program.
claudia pretelt

Guest column: True e-waste recyclers return goods to commerce - Opinion - Waste & Recyc... - 0 views

www.wasterecyclingnews.com/...clers-return-goods-to-commerce

shared by claudia pretelt on 09 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • f a speaker or article uses the words "returned to commerce," or "reused for the material's originally intended purpose," you have a fair likelihood that the person is talking about true recycling. But if a person says that they have produced a "commodity," it's questionable if they are talking about true recycling or, rather, a cheap method of disposal for most of the commodity. The word "commodity" can mean anything bought or sold and not necessarily returned to commerce.
  • claudia pretelt on 09 Jun 12
     
    This articles talks about what a true recycling is, and how to know whether the things that you are recycling are are being really recycle. Is important to know that if a product is "return to commerce" or "reused for the material's originally intended purpose" is true recycling. So next time that you are recycling make sure that the product is "return to commerce".
kyleemcroberts

Going Beyond E-Waste Recycling - Human-I-T - 0 views

www.human-i-t.org/going-beyond-e-waste-recycling

Technology E-Waste tech green disadvantage solution

shared by kyleemcroberts on 20 Feb 23 - No Cached
  • 25 states have enacted legislation establishing a statewide electronic waste, or E-waste, recycling program.
  • The multitude of state laws can make proper disposal unclear for many who have never recycled old electronics.
  • The confusion can lead to mismanaging E-waste recycling and negatively impact existing programs
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • California’s Electronic Waste and Recycling Act of 2003 established four main purposes to manage the growing amount of E-waste.
  • facilitate the collection and recycling of covered devices,”
  • intends to eliminate E-waste stockpiles
  • make manufacturers report their efforts to increase the use of recycled materials.
  • end the illegal disposal of covered electronic devices
  • we need to focus more on reusing and donating electronics to a greater cause
  • Only twenty-five states have passed legislation in the last fourteen years.
  • E-waste is changing rapidly and legislation hasn’t kept up with the demand.
  • Encouraging reuse can simultaneously reduce E-waste in landfills and bridge the digital divide in low-income communities
  • Recycling centers don’t always recycle your old devices. It has been well documented (here and here) that most of them ship old electronics to other countries that don’t have strict environmental laws.
mtedd003

UN report: Time to seize opportunity, tackle challenge of e-waste | UNEP - UN Environme... - 0 views

www.unenvironment.org/...unity-tackle-challenge-e-waste

e-waste technology Hospitality solution green

shared by mtedd003 on 01 Sep 20 - No Cached
  • The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year, weighing more than all of the commercial airliners ever made. Only 20% of this is formally recycled.
  • worth over $62.5 billion
  • Global e-waste production is on track to reach 120 million tonnes per year by 2050 if current trends continue,
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • $62.5 billion, more than the GDP of most countries.
  • Less than 20% of e-waste is formally recycled, with 80% either ending up in landfill or being informally recycled – much of it by hand in developing countries, exposing workers to hazardous and carcinogenic substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium.
  • improper management of e-waste is resulting in a significant loss of scarce and valuable raw materials, such as gold, platinum, cobalt and rare earth elements.
    • mtedd003
      mtedd003 on 01 Sep 20
       
      The resources not consumed but still existing in landfills.
  • circular economy in which resources are not extracted, used and discarded, but valued and reused
  • Nigerian Government, the Global Environment Facility and UN Environment announced a $2-million investment to kick off the formal e-waste recycling industry in Nigeria.
  • 100,000 people work in the informal e-waste sector in Nigeria.
  • PACE is a public-private collaboration mechanism and project accelerator dedicated to bringing about the circular economy at speed and scale.
  • The UN E-waste coalition is a group of seven UN agencies who have come together to increase collaboration, build partnerships and more efficiently provide support to Member States to address the e-waste challenge.
  • mtedd003 on 01 Sep 20
     
    The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) is a public-private group consisting of more than 50 heads from various internal and external organizations. The group intends to fight the route cause of e-waste by repairing the method for which technology is recycled. The plan of action is to establish a circular economy. Materials are consumed, trashed, and eventually sent to landfills or sent for workers in toxic unsafe conditions to extract the precious materials. The world produces 50 million tons of e-waste annually, accumulating a worth of almost $62 billion. 80% of e-waste is improperly recycled in dangerous polluted conditions, creating an environmental hazard and unethical work conditions. Valuable resources such as gold, are also lost due to this poor method of recycling.Nigeria is one of the many countries that has exploited thousands of workers in the recycling of e-waste. In an effort to reform this issue, the Nigerian government has invested $15 million to employ PACE's circular economy. The design of a circular economy allows for products to be either made for longer use or recycled in a sustainable way. The circular economy will allow for a more efficient and environmentally friendly method of harvesting these resources while providing sustainable job opportunities.
peacejj22

Hotel Recycling Programs Make a Major Contribution to our Environment - 0 views

www.ewaste1.com/rong-pr-for-the-hotel-industry

shared by peacejj22 on 26 Sep 22 - No Cached
  • Hotel waste management can be an issue, especially when it comes to recycling. How can hotels increase recycling to improve the environment? There are a lot of questions about how hotel recycling programs can help the environment; here are a few.
  • hotels are far more likely to be replacing their equipment and electronics than many other types of businesses.
  • Some hotels managers might assume it’s too difficult to successfully launch and operate an in-house recycling program. They have very large staffs, operate 24 hours a day, and have the challenge of providing immediate and reliable service to their guests.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • By recycling their used equipment in bulk, the managers and operators of hotels across the country will help keep those products out of landfills, where the toxins and chemicals inside electronics can pose significant environmental risks to our soil, water, wildlife and even our personal health. The risks are real and well-documented.
  • Waste Management in the Hotel Industry
  • If guests arrive expecting the highest standards, it can make a bad impression to have computers that don’t work or furniture that looks run down.
  • a number of hotels have already proven they can establish successful recycling programs.
  • Cost savings alone should be a top concern for the hotel industry. It’s been estimated that hotel guests generate up to two pounds of waste per night. Because of the prohibitive cost of waste disposal services in New York City, for example, a hotel can spend up to $100,000 annually to get rid of their waste. If recycling can cut that down significantly, that can amount to significant cost savings. And a growing number of hotels are recognizing that they can manage their waste in a sustainable manner, including by recycling.
  • A smart approach would be to offer incentives for workers who provide waste-saving ideas that can be implemented and to educate guests about the hotel’s recycling and environmental policies.
  • The creation of a successful hotel recycling project offers a lot of long-term rewards that include: • cost savings; • strong public relations to their guests; • an engaging program for employees and even guests to become part of.
  • peacejj22 on 26 Sep 22
     
    this article goes through the importance of recycling within the Hospitality industry as well as the benefits associated with doing so.
Matt Turner

Hoteliers see green in 'green' tuxedos, tablecloths - 2 views

travel.usatoday.com/...1

shared by Matt Turner on 19 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Kevin Character on 19 Jan 12
     
    In an effort to catch up with emerging technology and trends, it is expected more hotels will begin to "go green" this year with their linens and uniforms. I believe this is in part because hotels are being held to hirer expectations as we emerge from the recession. USA Today reports that American Laundry News surveyed several vendors about new products at the 2011 International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Show in New York. Vendors including popular uniform maker, Cintas revealed more items like the washable tuxedo, made from recycled plastic bottles and the Eco-Cobra Jacket for front door staffers. Hospitality textile maker, Riegel is reportedly getting lots of attention from hoteliers for its recycled polyester tablecloths, also made from recycled bottles. The recycled fibers are expected to cut costs on hotel laundry bills. For example, Cintas estimates the washable tuxedos would save them nearly $1,000 each year. I had the opportunity to attend IHMRS this year, and visited the Cintas display. The recyclable material is no new idea. However, it is apparent that changes are being made to improve the durability of the products. I recall when the recycled fibers were initially used. The material seemed cheap and couldn't be ironed for risk of destroying it. Quality seems to be something hotels and restaurants are forgoing in order to "go green". To add, up front costs aren't necessarily saving companies much money. The USA Today article prompts reader responses by asking if hotel/ restaurant visitors even care whether or not a business has "green" products. I believe this is a fair question. Beyond attempts to save on long term costs, what other motivation do hotel operators have to "go green"?
  • Craig S. Wright on 19 Jan 12
     
    I think it is important to hotel visitors, especially group & corporate, for hotels to go green. Maybe companies and organizations require their employees to book rooms at hotels that meet certain "green" standards. If I am a business owner, and promote the company as "green", then our actions and choices have to be "green" too. The uniforms made of recycled material sound very interesting! I wonder if they are comfotable and liked by employees.
  • Matt Turner on 29 Aug 12
     
    While many U.S. hotels are moving from recession style cost cutting to updating their properties, it would appear that they have become interested in a more green approach, at least in one area, laundry. The American Laundry news explains that as many hotels seek to buy new tablecloths and uniforms for their staff, they are looking for green products that can help to trim their laundering costs. One of the things that caught the interest of hoteliers is the hotel industry's first look at machine washable tuxedos for the wait staff. Cintas partnered with Boardroom Eco Apparel to produce the tuxedo, which uses recycled plastic bottles transformed into polyester fibers. Cintas has stated that this green, machine washable tuxedo can save the hotel up to $1000 per employee annually. Cintas has also garnered interest in its recycled polyester bellman's jackets, as well. Another green product that hotels can use is the recycled polyester tablecloth. These tablecloths also come from recycled bottles and are also very eco-friendly. Riegel, the company behind these, has said that just using one of their table napkins can eliminate three plastic bottles from landfills. While these tablecloths may not save the hotel money in the short run, Riegel says that the hotel can save money in the long run by pitching itself as a "green" hotel. It is important to note that hotels have been slowly switching to greener products over the years, such as energy efficient light bulbs, to recycled plastic water bottles, and even sustainable organic ingredients in restaurant kitchens.
garz14

What Can We Do About the Growing E-waste Problem? - 3 views

blogs.ei.columbia.edu/...growing-e-waste-problem

technology tech Software business

shared by garz14 on 19 May 20 - No Cached
    • tcale003
      tcale003 on 19 May 20
       
      China recently banned other countries from sending e-waste to them. E-Waste is comprised of many toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium which are very harmful to people and the environment. Many new technologies for biodegradable electronics are being looked at and there is even an EcoAtm in some U.S. states for people to recycle their small electronic devices.
  • When China banned 24 kinds of solid waste last September, countries such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan realized they had a big problem. Until last year, China accepted 70 percent of the world’s electronic waste—discarded computers, cell phones, printers, televisions, microwaves, smoke alarms, and other electronic equipment and parts.
  • After China stopped accepting this e-waste out of concern for its environment, Europe and North America began shipping more of it to Southeast Asia—but now Vietnam and Thailand, whose ports have been overwhelmed, are curbing imported e-waste as well.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • In 2016, the world’s population discarded 49 million tons of e-waste
  • It’s estimated that by 2021, that number will grow to more than 60 million tons.
  • Electronic devices are made of a complex mix of materials that include gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, lithium, cobalt and other valuable elements.
  • But electronic devices also comprise toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium, polluting PVC plastic, and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants, which can harm human health and the environment.
  • A recent study in China found that mining copper, gold and aluminum from ore costs 13 times more than recovering the metals through the urban mining of e-waste. The state of e-waste recycling Recycling e-waste is practiced both formally and informally.
  • onmental hazards, however, many people in developing countries earn a living by dismantling, refurbishing, repairing and reselling used electronic devices.
  • As a result, many companies and countries illegally export their e-waste to developing countries where recycling is cheap
  • Research has found that inhaling toxic chemicals and direct contact with hazardous e-waste materials (even in some formal e-waste recycling settings) result in increases in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, premature births, reduced birth weights, mutations, congenital malformations, abnormal thyroid function, increased lead levels in blood, decreased lung function, and neurobehavioral disturbances. Moreover, e-waste toxins contaminate the air, soil and groundwater. In the face of these health and envir
  • n the face of these health and en
  • mally.
  • In addition to its health hazards, informal recycling can pose security risks, because while formal recyclers in the U.S. usually require wiping devices clean of data, informal recycling does not.
  • Criminals search e-waste for credit card numbers and other financial information.
  • In order to reduce e-waste, manufacturers need to design electronics that are safer, and more durable, repairable and recyclable. Most importantly, this means using less toxic materials.
  • anonymous on 10 Jun 20
     
    This article introduces what is e-waste and the main reason for the surge in e-waste. It also introduced the current recycling status of e-waste and the harm caused by the informal recycling of e-waste, such as heavy metal poisoning and financial information leakage. In addition, measures to address the proliferation of e-waste were also discussed.
  • garz14 on 12 Apr 21
     
    It has become necessary for more proper and formal recycling of e-waste as it is economical and environmentally beneficial for companies. China decided to accept less e-waste from other counties and as a result there is more e waste going to other countries in south east Asia damaging their environments.
cborregomarsh

Can New Technologies Recycle the 90% of Plastics That Don't Get Recycled? - America's P... - 0 views

plasticmakers.org/lastics-that-dont-get-recycled

shared by cborregomarsh on 02 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • advanced recycling. These technologies turn used solid plastics into their gas/liquid raw materials to be remade into “virgin” quality plastics for use in virtually any plastic product or packaging.
  • Plastics that once ended up in landfills and incinerators now can be remade and stay in use.
  • With proper support, these technologies can scale quickly, potentially doubling the plastics recycling rate in the U.S. and Canada by 2030
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Over the past few years, more than $8.7 billion has been invested in plastic recycling, mostly in advanced technologies. That’s enough potential to divert 13.6 billion pounds of waste from landfills each year.
  • These technologies are poised for rapid growth and can lead us down the path toward a circular economy in which used plastics are remade into new plastics that can be remade again and again.
  • cborregomarsh on 02 Jun 23
     
    Advanced recycling technologies can significantly increase the different types, and amount of plastics that can be recycled. The overall goal is to turn plastics that once ended up in landfills back into new plastics that can be remade again and again. With these new technologies, there is potential to divert 13.6 billion pounds of waste from landfills each year and potentially double the plastics recycling rate in the U.S. by 2023. That is pretty impressive.
Laura Montoya

At Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 'Little' Steps Add Up to 'One Big Green Initiative' |... - 0 views

www.greenlodgingnews.com/mick-place-little-steps-add-up

initiative lodging green

shared by Laura Montoya on 01 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • Perhaps even more impressive than its energy and water savings is the hotel’s recycling and composting accomplishments. In 2008 the hotel recycled 85 tons of materials; in 2009 that number grew to 137 tons. Last year 116 tons was recycled. In late June of last year, a food waste decomposition machine was installed in the loading dock area. The leased machine uses heat, and bacteria treated wood chips to accelerate the decomposition process. Over the remainder of 2010, 110 tons of food waste was composted. “We need to generate at least a few hundred pounds a day to make it [financially] worthwhile,” Martin says of the machine. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place recycles the following: office paper, newspaper, glass, metal cans, plastic containers, glass, construction waste, cardboard (four to six tons per month), used bulbs, batteries and ballasts, electronics and pallets. Recycling containers are placed throughout the hotel in public areas and guestrooms include a plastic bag for guests to insert recyclables.
  • “Our focus is to do a lot of the little things that add up to one big green initiative.”
  • reduced its electricity consumption by 12.7 percent from 2009 to 2010 and its water consumption by 24.4 percent.
  • Nelson Placa on 01 Sep 12
     
    Travelers prefer to stay at green hotels. Major corporations such as Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton & Starwood are looking for ways to integrate green into their hotels while conserving water and energy. Not only is the focus on going green going to impact the environment but also will impact the bottom line which is the dollars. This article shows how the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois has been able to go green to benefit both the company and the environment. The amount of items they are able to recycle is amazing; it is great that the company can also focus on the disposal of foods. As we continue to focus on the environment, more and more companies will continue to find ways to help reduce cost while protecting the environment. At the Walt Disney World Resort, guest can tour facilities and are educated on how the company impacts the environment through their recycling programs worldwide.
  • Laura Montoya on 02 Sep 12
     
    This article talks about the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the different steps they have taken to Go Green. They have significantly reduced their water and electricity consumption with the "When not in use, turn off the juice" project. Along with saving water and energy, they have also begun recycling. They recycle, paper, plastic, cardboard, light bulbs and the list goes on. They are also taking the time to educate their employees as well. "To encourage participation in programs such as 'When Not in Use, Turn Off the Juice,' employee awareness days are held. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are given to employees to help them save energy at home." The hotel has a green team who meet quarterly to continue growing in their sustainability initiatives. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is Green Key certified and has been recognized and awarded for their Green efforts.
samanthapoorman

How to Recycle Old Electronics - Consumer Reports - 0 views

www.consumerreports.org/...how-to-recycle-electronics

how to electronics

shared by samanthapoorman on 21 Jan 19 - No Cached
  • 1.5 billion cell phones were bought in 2017. That’s around one for every five people alive.
  • 44.7 million tons of e-waste was discarded in 2016, and only 20 percent of it was disposed of properly
  • Ask Apple: The company says it re-captured 2,204 pounds of gold—worth $40 million—from recycled devices in 2015.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • Also, many cities and towns sponsor collection days for electronics
  • Plenty of nonprofit organizations and local communities offer options to help you recycle old electronics
  • electronics products can also contain toxic substances, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium
  • a charity or nonprofit out there that would be happy to take it off your hands.
  • Many electronics manufacturers and retailers offer robust recycling programs
  • samanthapoorman on 21 Jan 19
     
    3 ways in which you can properly recycle your old electronics. Bring to recycler, donate it, or take it to a tech firm who offers a recycling program.
cpaez007

Recycling Electronic Waste Responsibly: Excuses Dwindle - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...sponsibly-excuses-dwindle.html

shared by cpaez007 on 11 Feb 18 - No Cached
  • Recycling electronics is becoming easier by the day.
  • Still, most old gadgets end up in the trash. Americans alone throw away two million to three million tons of electronics yearly, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. With the life span of devices shrinking — the average phone is replaced every 18 months — the problem keeps growing worse.
  • The solution is not just recycling. It’s to be sure that you’re recycling with a responsible processor.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • EStewards and S.E.R.I. use a network of auditors to make sure companies like GreenCitizen are doing what they say they’re doing.
  • Organizations around the world have been certified by S.E.R.I. and eStewards. Both groups let you search their websites for local options. In New York, for example, you can take electronics to GreenChip Electronic Waste Solutions, an R2-certified recycler, or have them picked up by 4th Bin, which is certified by eStewards and also has R2 certification.
  • cpaez007 on 11 Feb 18
     
    The issue of illegal electronic dumping has been a real severity, and mostly because people are unaware of what happens to the products that they used to own. Luckily, our world is advancing to a point where appropriate disposal is being greatly developed. There are different mainstream companies that will take your old products to refurbish them, or handle them accordingly. Most importantly, there are companies like GreenCitizen, who are responsibly recycling products. They gather all of the old technology, and attempt to refurbish it. If not possible, then they use the parts, or just dispose of it in the right way. Certified monitors of the recycling process look over the practices of GreenCitizen to make sure that they are doing their jobs correctly. Actions are being dealt more responsibly, as the EPA and these certified monitors have gotten involved. Recycling used to be claimed, but done wrongly. Now, these groups closely overlook the process, and ensure that things are being done appropriately.
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