e-waste

PR is close to adopting a law banning e-waste from landfills & requiring take-back & recycling for old electronics (computers, photocopiers, printers, PDAs, cell phones, TVs, etc.).

Starting next April, a fee will be added to electronics to help establish a recycling system for Ontario, CA. Producers of televisions, computers, monitors and fax machines will pay an “e-waste” fee on each device to help build a structure of 420 drop-off locations where e-waste can disposed of safely.

Goodwill processed 27 million pounds of e-waste in 2005. Much of which it had to pay to do so, diverting from it's mission. There are several ways you can help make e-waste less of a waste in the US. Here's how.

Electronic waste, or “e-waste”, is waste consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. It’s been estimated that a person keeps their laptop for just 3 years before buying a new one and cell phones are generally replaced and disposed of within just 24 months.

With blue, grey and an upcoming green bin in the works, Kingston is still lagging behind other communities. Regarding E-Waste, the city has done little by means of colleciton, and their plans are less than stellar for the near future. Get with the times Kingston!

The largest retailer of consumer electronics has just started a trial e-waste recycling program in over 117 stores across 8 states.

ITRenew provides comprehensive asset recovery solutions, computer equipment recycling, hazardous waste management and computer disposal services. We utilize highly advanced process technologies in computer recycling and e-waste disposal services.

About three to five years. Thats the average lifespan of most electronics devices these days. So it’s not surprising that to hear that we junk about 2 million tons of e-waste every year.

I personally like to change my cell phone about every two years for the newer more beautiful one.

When companies recycle e-waste, they need to ensure that every stage of the recycling process is set up appropriately, from where the waste is sent to how it's processed. But the effort is worth it. Aside from helping the environment, proper e-waste disposal can be a revenue stream and protect a company's work.

Ten stories about the varying states of recycling, from promising and valuable to dangerous exploitation.  E-waste, plastics, cell phones, "free electronics recycling", how to recycle plastic (from the EPA), and more.

What to do with your old electronics? Lots of people are asking themselves that question. Gathering dust in your basement, these electronics have no good use. Well that was true until now.

Sony Canada is tacking action on this case. They are putting in place a recycling program for all its end-of-life products at no cost to the consumer. No purchase is necessary. Just send in your old equipment.

There is no doubt that waste generated by technology is a serious problem and I am sure many of you have seen countless interviews and videos describing where that waste ends up and the impact it is having. Click here to get a small idea of the issue.

It may not be intuitive, but voice mail uses less energy, and results in less hazardous waste than answering machines.

If you are looking to reduce your environmental footprint, one place to start might be looking at your TV. Technological advancement in consumer electronics has made us more in touch with happenings around the world but, increased our energy usage and taste for shopping while creating a looming environmental problem with landfills.

Alexander Lin, at just 12-years-old, knows the patience and motivation required to make positive changes. “There’s no instant gratification,” he says, but insists that everyone can do their part with environmental issues, focusing on one issue at a time.