Category Archives: E-Waste

E-Waste – Electronic Waste

Arkansas Provides E-waste Grants

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The Department of Environmental Quality for the state of Arkansas has awarded out six grants for the recycling of electronics waste totaling close to one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars. The recipients included both municipalities as well as businesses and not for profit groups.

The Solid Waste Management District for East Arkansas received seventy five thousand dollar to assist with the construction of a new facility to store equipment and electronics waste collected for recycling from businesses and residents in the six counties served by the district.

Other grant awards went to the Reams Group for acquisition and improvement to equipment used in the collection and dismantling of electronics waste; Solid Waste Management of Pulaski County for upgrading informational signs and brochures and for the improvement of e-waste collection sites; the city of Fayetteville received funds for assisting in the disposal of electronics waste; the Environmental Office of Benton County received funds to assist and improve the collection and disposal of electronics waste from businesses and residents; and the Solid Waste Management of White River District received an award to be used in creating educational materials for businesses and residents on ways to properly dispose of e-waste.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: While the awards might not always be big, there are ways to secure federal, state, and local grants to assist in the funding of recycling programs. If you have an idea for your town, business, or non-profit group, it’s well worth investigating!

Clover Technologies Strikes Gold With Recycled Cartridges

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Clover Technologies, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of recycled printer cartridges has reached such a high consumer demand for its products that the supply of recycled cartridges it purchases from OfficeMax and Staples are no longer sufficient. In order to procure the needed waste materials, Clover has created Evolve Recycling, a subsidiarity responsible for procuring cartridges directly from consumers.

Depending on the printer cartridge, Evolve will reimburse customers up to ten dollar per piece. The company also provides shipping boxes and prepaid postage so consumers are relieved of all mailing costs.

Evolve may be a unique idea, but it was created out of necessity as its parent company needs a constant and reliable source of unwanted and used cartridges for its manufacturing process. Clover sells over two million re-furbished cartridges for ink and laser printers every month throughout North America so a decrease in cartridge collection can negatively impact future production and sales.

Re-manufactured printer cartridges are responsible for fifteen percent of the cartridge market, with steady year over year growth as both individual and business consumers desire less expensive printing options made from recycled materials.

Evolve currently collects close to eleven thousand unwanted cartridges per month from individuals and businesses. The company’s goal is to collect one million cartridges per month by the close of 2013.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If your business is feeling the squeeze from procuring waste materials from other re-sellers, consider trying the Evolve model and source directly from consumers. Recycling becomes attractive when there’s a “green” incentive!

The EPA Electronics Recycling Challenge

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Earlier in 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started the electronics recycling challenge, aimed at increasing the number of computers, cell phones, and other electronics and media devices, being recycled properly and safely.  Many of the nation’s most popular electronics manufacturers and retailers immediately signed up and agreed to participate. Best Buy, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp Electronics, Sprint Nextel, Staples, Dell, Sony, and Nokia are all participants.

However, two of the largest names in the electronics industry did not agree to join – Apple and Hewlett-Packard (HP). The products they make – from the iPad to the iPhone to printers and computers, can be found in nearly every home or business. While both companies have refused to comment on their refusal to join, it is expected that the the companies’ took issue with the challenges requirement to only utilize R2 or e-Stewards certified electronics recyclers and that outcome data be shared with the EPA and the public.

Despite their refusal to participate, both brands do currently offer recycling programs for their products and will continue to work with the EPA to help address the concerns of environmental impacts caused by e-waste.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Recycling your businesses e-waste is an important concern – heavy fines await you if you try to dispose of computers improperly. Making sure the brand you buy has an established and convenient recycling program is something worth considering!

Wisconsin Hits Record High Collection of E-Waste

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recently announced that after three years of launching the state’s comprehensive electronic waste recycling program, residents and businesses have new recycled close to one hundred million pounds of unwanted or outdated computers, televisions, and other electronic appliances.

The state of Wisconsin legally bans all electronic devices from being disposed of in landfills or destroyed through incinerators. As a result of this state-wide policy, a recycling program was created that was funded through electronics manufactures selling their products in the state. In 2012 along, electronics waste collectors processed almost forty  million pounds of waste materials, this equates to almost sever pounds of e-waste per state resident.

With over four hundred e-waste collection points throughout the state, residents and businesses have an inexpensive and convenient way to safely, and legally, dispose of broken or outdated equipment.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Many of the components in electronics equipment are considered hazardous waste, so it makes good environmental sense not to dispose of  unwanted gadgets by throwing them in the trash. In some states, private companies may offer financial incentives for your outdated cell phones and computers, so it pays to search around and see what disposal options are available to you!

 

Businesses Embracing E-Recycling

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The technology industry is constantly releasing new products that consumers wait in line to buy, and that high demand for brand new equipment is creating an opportunity for those in the business of e-recycling last year’s unwanted model.

Both businesses and individuals want data-safe and environmentally sound methods to dispose of their old computers, and smart e-recyclers can earn money collecting gadgets, dismantling them, and re-selling the parts for the materials they are made of.

As the national economy improves, more and more businesses will replace their older computers and cell phones, and generate a steady volume of materials for those in the recycling industry.

While many think that scrap metal is the most lucrative of the recycling sectors, scrap electronics saw sales grow by thirty percent in 2011 and is expected to have similar returns this year as well. Many businesses in this sector have added employees and expanded facility space in 2012 which points to an increase in work and demand.

However, as with any recycling niche, standards must be upheld and enforced. For electronics, the Responsible Recycling Practices certification established by manufacturers and the EPA is becoming a requirement for ensuing recyclers adopt best-practices for recycling electronics, employee safety and data security. While certification does cost money and time, many recyclers are making the effort as a way to distinguish themselves in the expanding market.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Unlike scrap metal, glass, or plastics, electronics waste often contains data that must be safely and securely removed. While expanding your business into e-waste can bring an added level of training and expense, in the long run it could help take advantage of this opportunity!

Safe Waste Recycling for Business Electronics

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In just a few years it is expected that the average U.S. citizen will own or have access to at least seven computerized electronic devices. These range from cell phones, tablet and handheld computers, GPS devices, as well as traditional desktop and laptop computers. From a business standpoint, most companies are concerned about protecting data while the technology is being used but what happens when it’s time for employees to upgrade their machines? All businesses, large and small, need to have a plan that goes beyond wiping the device of personal and corporate data. A solid plan must also include the safe disposal of the equipment to ensure that donations are properly handled and more importantly, that electronics stay out of the community’s landfill.

Working with an EPA certified electronics waste recycler will help your business to ensure that all data is removed from obsolete machines and that your equipment doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Offering your employees a e-waste recycling day to collect old equipment is a great way to make sure risks are reduced while generating awareness in the importance of environmental conservation.

Most certified recyclers will be able to provide an estimated environmental savings that is generated as a result of the electronics collected. Donating outdated but still functioning equipment to a reputable charity can also help to gain your business positive publicity and good-will. Taking care to address the full life-cycle of your electronic equipment can be a win-win situation for all involved.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Promote waste recycling in your workplace by offering your employees a convenient, economical, and safe way to retire their outdated equipment. It will help to keep the environment, and your data, safe and secure!

Cell Phone Self-Serve Waste Recycling

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Recycling old cell phones can result in small financial windfalls for consumers while providing manufacturers with recycled metals and plastics. However, the process can often be cumbersome and inconvenient as a result, less cell phones are recycled. However, a new system is being implemented in Texas with the introduction of self-serve cell phone recycling kiosks.

Produced by the California-based EcoATM, the self-serve kiosks, which resemble large ATM cash machines, will accept cell phones and small electronic devices from customers and provide cash back depending on the make and model. Dozens of these kiosks will be placed in shopping malls throughout the state.

Based on the success of the Texas project, the kiosks will be making their way to malls and shopping centers throughout the rest of the country next year.

Three years of testing self-service recycling in California yielded very positive results and high consumer response. The most often cited benefits were the instant gift card payment and the ease of use not found in other cell phone recycling programs.

The EcoATM machine also addresses security issues in that it erases all data from the phone or device when the customer accepts the offering price. Approximately seventy-five percent of the collected devices are re-furbished and re-sold. The rest are recycled for their metals and plastics.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: What can your business do that the competition is falling short on? With so many opportunities for waste recycling, where can you provide a valuable service while enhancing your bottom line?

Safely Recycle e-Waste

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Does this scenario sound familiar? You business would like to recycle electronics waste but you’re not sure where to take it, when to take it, and how to make sure that any information on the device has been successfully destroyed. As a result, you have a closet, or another storage area that is filled with old computer monitors, phones, printers, and other devices that haven’t been produced in years! You would like to use that space for something else, but you just don’t know how to get rid of the old electronics.

If your business is in this situation, you are not alone. Fear of having data get in the hands of unscrupulous individuals is a primary reason why businesses are hesitant to recycle.  While many recycling facilities buy hard drives and other computer parts of the valuable metals they contain, most of these locations do not have the proper training or authority to destroy the data found on e-waste equipment.

This uncertainty leads many businesses to simply smash the equipment and dispose of it with other trash in a landfill. Unfortunately, this has a very negative consequence on the environment as the components of e-waste often contain toxic substances that leech into the groundwater.

It pays to take the time to find a reputable recycler for your e-waste that fits your businesses needs. Some facilities offer money for the metals found in your devices, others will not. Some provide drive shredders right on site where you can verify that your material was properly destroyed. Select municipalities also offer public shredding and e-waste days where residents and businesses can properly dispose of their waste.

When you find a facility that accepts e-waste, ask for their procedures for destroying your materials. A trustworthy recycler will have this information on hand, along with the proper licenses and authorizations. Taking small steps to recycle your e-waste can help to improve the quality of the environment, possibly earn you a little money, and certainly free up some space in that storage closet!

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: The recycling opportunities are numerous for various business materials. Are you looking for ways to save money? Look to the e-waste that’s collecting in your office!

 

United Parcel Service Increases Waste Recycling

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It was recently announced in the 2011 Corporate Sustainability Report that UPS, also known as United Parcel Service, has reduced their waste disposal of solid materials by almost three percent compared to 2010. The company, known for their iconic brown trucks and package delivery service recycled almost fifty-four thousand tons of corrugated containers, wooden pallets and wood-product waste materials, and metals.

It should come as no surprise that for UPS solid waste materials are primarily corrugated cardboard containers which comprise more than half of all the waste recycled. Waste materials made of wood or wood by-products make up a quarter of all waste recycled and metal waste materials arrive at a distant third.

UPS has also expanded its electronics waste recycling program for computer and scanning equipment and batteries. Since launching the initiative in 2000, the company has recycled over thirty two million pounds of electronics. Over forty thousand pounds of batteries were recycled last year alone a four percent increase over the previous year.

Two UPS facilities have been designated as achieving a zero landfill waste disposal goal. These two locations will serve as test centers for waste recycling and waste disposal policies and procedures that can then be applied throughout all UPS facilities.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: UPS serves as a great example of turning waste disposal into waste recycling. How can your business operate differently to save the environment and cut back on disposal fees?

Recycling Electronics

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If your business is in the electronics sector, it may be worth obtaining your certification as an e-Steward or in Responsible Recycling Practices through the US EPA. These two certifications are granted through the EPA by an outside auditor to show consumers and individual recyclers that your business upholds national safety for e-recycling standards.

From a consumer’s perspective, here are just a few of the benefits of obtaining certification and following best-practices in the management of electronics recycling:

  • Reducing environmental and health impacts that can occur when e-wate is improperly recycled;
  • the collection of electronics increases the availability of devices to those in need or for non-profit organizations;
  • the components from electronic devices can be reused thus reducing the need for increased mining of raw materials and metals.

Certification programs focus on fully adhering to environmental standards and require participating businesses to completely remove and destroy all data on electronics left for recycling. These program also require that businesses also ensure good practices in the areas of worker health and safety practices when handling all e-waste.

From the business view, consumers have a greater level of trust toward certified e-recyclers as they have met the high standards for safety and management as outlined by the EPA. This can contribute to individuals choosing to patronize your business over another who is without the certification distinction.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Certification can help your business distinguish itself from others and provides a value-added benefit from the consumer’s perspective. This can not only help you to increase and grow your business but contribute to good environmental practices.