recycling

From April 2007 to February 2008, the city of Odate, Japan gathered about 17 tons of e-waste (according to a report from Harufumi Mori in Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper). The gadgets collected range from broken appliances to hair dryers to cell phones -- all too small to fall under the scope of recycling laws in Japan. By putting collection bins outside supermarkets and community centers the city diverted small electronics from landfills and turned their e-waste into cash.

After looking through just over one-third of the waste, Mori reports that Odate might find as much as half a kilogram of tantalum, one kilogram of gold, and as much as 4 kilograms of silver and palladium. All of this in less than one year of collections  in a city of 80,000 in a country with over 127 million residents. Imagine what a city the size of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles could recover?

The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of that waste is recycled. For example, steel, aluminum and copper are often stripped from outdated machines and reused in newer models.

But even recycled parts come at a price. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of e-waste collected in the United States for recycling is exported to areas such as China, India or Pakistan, where workers taking apart the old machines are handling toxic chemicals that can pose serious health problems.

Some manufacturers are beginning to assume greater responsibility for what happens to their products after they become obsolete. For example, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, IBM, and Sharp have programs to collect old computers, monitors, televisions, and other electronics.
Japan and the European Union have adopted progressive e-waste recycling laws. The European parliament approved legislative mandates to require manufacturers to cover the recycling and collection costs for their own take-back programs.

Europe's Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive are setting the global standard for computer recycling. Under the RoHS initiative, any manufacturer who wants to do business in Europe has to produce lead-free products.

The Computer Report Card from Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition says that some U.S. companies have a double standard when it comes to recycling. While some companies have implemented recycling policies in the European Union and Japan, where such programs are mandated, they've yet to do so in the United States.

Our favorite resource for recycling information is Earth 911 - your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash. Earth 911 was founded in 1991 and started off as a hot line for recycling. It has grown into a mature, intelligent and attractive site. They also maintain a bilingual hot line, 1-800-CLEANUP.

The Earth 911 recycling database can help you find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country. With information provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations and everyday consumers, you can recycle hundreds of products from packing peanuts to computers.

Let one of your goals for 2009 to be learning the four R’s: (From Earth 911)

Reduce: Waste reduction is the process and the policy of reducing the amount of waste produced and ultimately disposed. Waste reduction or waste minimization, also known as source reduction, is simply reducing waste at its source. In the waste management hierarchy the most effective policies and processes are mentioned first. Waste minimization is also strongly related to efforts to minimize resource and energy use. The fewer materials used for the same production output means that less waste is produced.

Reuse: When you use an item more than once, it is called reuse. Conventional reuse is where an item is used again for the same function, like when you refill a coffee cup instead of throwing it in the trash. It is also reuse when an item is reused for a different purpose, like when you use a 2-liter soda bottle as a seed-starter greenhouse.

Reuse helps the planet, but it also saves money. Today’s consumer is becoming more aware of environmental concerns and this awareness is gradually changing business and government policies, and consumer attitudes about what the convenience of a disposable society is really costing us.

Recycle: Recycling is the processing of making used items into new raw material. Recycling conserves our natural raw material resources, and typically uses much less energy. Saving energy means that smokestack emissions of greenhouse gas and other pollutants like mercury are reduced at the power plant, and our energy sources are not depleted as quickly. Recycling is critical to today’s waste management programs.

React: Conscientious Earth citizens have the ability to learn about the right things to do. After you learn, get out of your chair and actually do something about it: React! Make today the day YOU start to do something about it.

Until next time…become the change you imagine.

Christmas does not have to be a burden on the environment. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season. Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while caring for the earth:

Food & drink at Christmas
1. Buy local, seasonal, winter vegetables (these include sprouts, carrots, cabbage, leeks, onions, parsnips, and potatoes).
2. Support your local farmers' market (visit Local Harvest to find out your nearest farmers' market )
3. Look for meat from traditional breeds of sheep, beef or poultry, raised naturally and locally. Ask your butcher about the history of the animal. If you choose a bird opt for free-range organic or even try an alternative like goose.
4. If you can't buy local, buy fair trade products such as fruit, nuts and chocolate
5. Buy wine with real corks - not a single tree is cut down in their production and it is one of the most environmentally-friendly industries possible. The Natural Cork Quality Standard website has more information and guidance.
6. Try to buy food and drink packaged in materials that can be recycled in your area, such as paper and glass and avoid disposable items on the Christmas table such as paper serviettes.
7. Compost vegetable leftovers – try vermiculture
8. Use 100% recycled aluminum foil or baking paper for Christmas cakes

Christmas Trees, decorations, cards & wrapping paper
1. If you buy a real Christmas tree, check that it has the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo, which guarantees it has been sustainably farmed.
2. Buy a small pot grown tree and plant it out after Christmas.
3. Buy LED Christmas lights which, as well as lasting longer than conventional lights, use can 80% less energy.
4. Solar powered Christmas lights are also a great alternative - they can be bought in a number of online shops now, just search for them in Google.
5. Use old cards to make gift tags.
6. Send an E-card.
7. Wrapping paper is often treated, colored and sometimes covered in glitter which isn't easy to recycle - choose cards and wrapping which contain recycled paper.
8. Check to see if your community recycles real trees.
9. Recycle cards and wrapping paper.

Now that it is almost Christmas and everybody is busy shopping for gifts, I thought it was a timely matter to post this information on ewaste recycling.  It is a fact that electronics are tops on the list of popular gifts and what your kids want most.  But please don't put the old ones in the trash!  Read this and remember to recycle, always!

Here are some great tips on how to recycle your old electronics.  You must start doing this because electronic waste is dangerous to the environment in too many ways and can easily be recycled.  Most companies show responsible stewardship in creating their own recycling programs.  There are a few independent companies who will pay a stipend and pay the shipping for the delivery of your used, old or broken electronics.  These companies recycle the electronics by either fixing them and reselling them as refurbished, by donating them to charities here and overseas, by donating them to schools for reuse or by breaking down the units for parts that are then used in the repair or refurbishment of other electronics.  Either way, if you take advantage of these programs, you will keep the junk out of the landfill and do something good for the less fortunate, as well.

Here are some facts about electronics in America: During the holidays, every year, people clean out their old gear in favor of the new shiny toys and appliances they have just received, or purchased at after Christmas discount sales. With the upcoming 2009 change in TV transmissions from analog to digital, a mountain of e-waste will be created and not limited to the thousands of analog sets that people will simply dump.   And consider as well that the average cell phone user changes handsets every 18 months, putting the old phone into a dumpster or trash can along the way.

Recycling is a necessity, considering that 20 to 50 million tons of electronics waste (often called e-waste) is discarded globally every year, according to Greenpeace.  E-waste is the fastest growing component of and currently makes up five percent of all municipal solid waste.  Until recently, no one thought of recycling computers and other electronics. The only option was tossing them on the curb. But these days Engineers have taken notice that electronics contain a wealth of valuable materials. Plus, recycling almost always means lower net carbon emissions and a lot less lead, cadmium, brominated fire retardants and plastics ending up in the ecosystem where they can leach toxic breakdown products that end up in our water supply. 



The Consumer Electronics Association, which represents electronics manufacturers, encourages people to recycle their e-waste, and has set up a handy Website to make the process simple. Log on to www.mygreenelectronics.org, where you can search for local recycling drop-off points by zip code and product category. You'll also find tips and info on electronics recycling, and a cool energy calculator that will show you how much juice each product uses.

How to Recycle Items by Brand or Manufacturer:

Apple/Mac Recycling Program:

Apple offers a free U.S. recycling program for old computers and monitors - with the purchase of a new Mac. There is also a free iPod recycling program conducted through Apple's retail stores (earn a 10% discount).

Additionally Apple has instituted a trade-in program for educational and business customers in the United States.

In 2006, Apple recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste, the equivalent of 9.5 percent of the weight of all products sold seven years earlier. The company says it expects this percentage to grow to 13 percent in 2007, and to 20 percent in 2008. By 2010, it predicts it will be recycling 19 million pounds of e-waste per year - nearly 30 percent of the product weight sold seven years earlier.

More on this at http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/ipodrecycling/
To recycle batteries from Apple electronics: http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/
Recycling offer from Apple http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/program/index.html

Dell Computer Recycling Program:

Dell recently announced its goal of becoming the first major computer company to go carbon neutral and at the same time implemented systems to both recycle and reuse old computers.

Through the company's partnership with the National Cristina Foundation, any consumer or business can donate working, used computer systems to charity in exchange for a possible tax deduction. The foundation then places the donated technology with local nonprofits and public agencies that service disabled and economically disadvantaged children and adults. Dell and NCF provide this work in Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The company also offers its customers free recycling of any Dell-branded computer equipment at any time.  With purchase of a new Dell computer or printer, consumers can also take advantage of free recycling of other brands of used computer equipment. The recycling is managed by Dell's selected partners, who are required to adhere to Dell's high environmental standards.

Learn more about recycling Dell products: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/about_dell/values/environ...

Sony Electronics Recycling Program:

Sony will take back your old notebook or PC for credit.  You can use this program by going to www.sonystyle.com or at any Sony Style retail outlet.  Simply take your old Sony Notebook Computer to any SonyStyle outlet or mail it in to  Sony.

Sony products can also be taken to any Waste Management Facility in the US.  Just drop it off there and they will be recycled for free. 

Sony says the ultimate plan is to have a recycling center within 20 miles of most U.S. residents.  To learn more, and locate a site near you, http://www.sony.com/recycle.

Hewlett Packard Recycling Program:

Hewlett Packard is a leader in the green movement.  The company has been recycling old computer products for over 15 years now.   Currently, HP customers have several options to make sure their old e-waste doesn't end up polluting the planet.

HP has a trade in program that offers fair market value for aging technology and an upgrade to new HP technology.  Every product category is covered, HP and even non-HP products.

Companies can earn money for aging qualified computer equipment that is turned in. That in turn will be wiped clean of data, refurbished and resold.

HP will also take back used printer cartridges for recycling for no cost to the consumer. Many cartridges currently sold come with pre-paid return labels to simply the process.  Or you can just go the HP website and print out pre-paid return labels online. Rechargeable batteries can also be recycled for free at various locations; go to http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/ website to locate one near you.

HP will also recycle any brand of computer hardware. You can register on the website and get set up to do this.  The cost is minimal, ranging from $13 to $34 per item, depending.

HP also facilitates donations of older equipment to the less fortunate, through the National Cristina Foundation.

Learn more about HP's recycling program go to http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/return/index.html

Gateway Computers Recycling Program:

Gateway has a trade-in program in which customers get Gateway credit if they recycle their old PCs.They also have an innovative program in which recent Gateway customers can get cash for sending in preowned, working technology products. The initiative is managed by www.dealtree.com.

Gateway also has a program in which people can ship in e-waste for proper recycling.  The fee for this service depends upon the weight of the item. 

Learn more about Gateway's recycling program here: http://gateway.eztradein.com/gateway/.

Best Buy Electronics Recycling Program:

Best Buy is making progress in their recycling efforts, recycling more than 20 million lbs of electronics in 2006.  They are pioneers in new ways of recycling products, including drop-off kiosks that can be found inside the front door of every Best Buy in America.  Customers can drop off old cell phones, rechargeable batteries and ink-jet cartridges at no cost.

Best Buy also has an appliance recycling program.  They will come out and remove old appliances from your home and send them to recyclers. Harmful materials will be separated and disposed of, such as CFCs, usable parts will be salvaged, and other materials will be recycled for scrap.

Also, every cell phone customer will receive free, postage-paid envelopes to mail old phones to ReCellular. In turn, ReCellular donates dollars from its recycling program to Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

In addition,  Best Buy is known for hosting recycling events at its store parking lots, during which people can come drop off a wide range of items for recycling.

Learn more about Best Buy's recycling program go here: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/recycling.