Certification for Electronic Waste Recycling Gathers Support

Certification for Electronic Waste Recycling Gathers Support
NEW YORK, New York, February 10, 2010 (ENS)
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2010/2010-02-10-093.html

The Natural Resources Defense Council Tuesday announced its endorsement of the first certification program for electronics recycling. The new e-Stewards Certification relies on independent, third-party auditors to verify safe and ethical disposal of the hundreds of tons of unwanted electronics discarded every year in North America.


Created jointly by the environmental community and business leaders, the new e-Stewards Certification and Standard is held by the nonprofit Basel Action Network.

"NRDC recognized that we have finally created a principled yet practical solution to e-waste recycling that environmentalists, businesses and consumers can all embrace," said Jim Puckett, executive director of the Basel Action Network. "We are thrilled to receive NRDC's coveted endorsement in the lead-up to our global launch.

The first companies to receive e-Steward Enterprise designations as well as the first Certified e-Steward recyclers will be announced in March.

These e-Stewards are North American electronics recyclers and asset managers who have been qualified as upholding the highest standard of environmental and social responsibility.

By March 1, accredited certifying bodies will independently assure conformity to the e-Stewards Standard. The criteria include no toxic e-waste dumped in landfills or incinerators, exported to developing countries, or sent to prison labor operations and accountability for the entire recycling chain of toxic materials.

The e-Stewards Standard is seen as an effective way to control the flood of hazardous old computers, TVs, monitors and other electronic waste shipped to developing countries for dismantling.

"This initiative is sorely needed," said NRDC senior scientist Dr. Allen Hershkowitz. "Many e-waste recyclers claim to be green, but in reality they rely on unsafe and ecologically damaging methods like dumping millions of tons of toxic waste each year in China, India and Africa. E-Stewards provide businesses and consumers with a first-of-a-kind seal to identify the truly responsible recyclers."


Electronic equipment contains toxics such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, beryllium, and brominated flame retardants. When burned, even more dangerous toxics can be formed such as dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that can cause cancer and birth defects.

While there is some gold and platinum in obsolete electronics, there is not enough to cover the costs of responsibly managing it in developed countries. For this reason, it is exported to countries where workers are paid low wages and the infrastructure and legal framework is too weak to protect the environment, workers and communities.

The Basel Action Network explains that sending equipment and parts for reuse is "an important solution" that can be abused by falsely labeling scrap as reusable or repairable equipment. Often this scrap equipment ends up getting dumped in countries lacking any infrastructure to properly manage it.

The NRDC and Basel Action Network are calling on all electronics recyclers to become e-Steward Certified recyclers.

They are asking all businesses to become designated "e-Steward Enterprises" by agreeing to give priority to e-Steward recyclers for their old electronic assets.

The e-Stewards Certification and Standard program will feature an ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board certification system with third-party auditing. The funding to create the certification program was provided by the 14 recycling companies designated as e-Steward Founders.

The e-Steward Founders are Boliden AB, California Electronic Asset Recovery, Cascade Asset Management, ECS Refining, Electronic Recyclers International, GreenCitizen, Hesstech, Metech, Redemtech, RELectronics, the Surplus Exchange, Total Reclaim, Waste Management Recycle America, andWeRecycle!.

"Currently, the truly responsible recyclers in the U.S. and Canada face unfair competition from the thousands of unethical, so-called 'waste recyclers' in North America that would more accurately be called waste shippers," said Neil Peters-Michaud of e-Steward Founder, Cascade Asset Management.

"We strongly support a certified, audited program to separate the legitimate recyclers from the low-road operators," he said. "We urge consumers and businesses to only use qualified e-Stewards and thus make sure that their old electronics are being safely recycled here at home."

Already there are about 50 recyclers that are considered "Pledged e-Stewards." Some of the largest electronics recyclers in North America, these companies have been vetted by Basel Action Network and are licensed and committed to becoming certified within the next 18 months.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2010/2010-02-10-093.html

E-Waste: Dark Side of Digital Age

E-Waste: Dark Side of Digital Age
Kendra Mayfield 01.10.03
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/01/57151


These days, it's often cheaper and more convenient to buy a new PC than to upgrade an old one. But what happens to those old computers once they've been abandoned for newer models?

The refuse from discarded electronics products, also known as e-waste, often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled. And that means toxic substances like lead, cadmium and mercury that are commonly used in these products can contaminate the land, water and air.

"The fruits of our high-tech revolution are pure poison if these products are improperly disposed of at the end of their useful life," said Ted Smith, founder of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

On Thursday, Smith's group released its annual Computer Report Card comparing the environmental records of 28 tech firms.

The report, sponsored by the SVTC and the Computer TakeBack Campaign, found most U.S. firms lag behind their Japanese competitors when it comes to the use of hazardous materials, recycling programs and worker health and safety.

The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. More than 4.6 million tons of it entered U.S. landfills in 2000, and that amount is projected to grow fourfold in the next few years.

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 and Gateway have recently expanded programs to collect old computer equipment.

The SVTC report card evaluated the firms based upon criteria gleaned from the companies' websites. Only one company, Fujitsu, received a passing grade.

Fujitsu is among a handful of Japanese companies that have developed technologies to eliminate toxic chemicals by developing lead-free products.

"The leadership continues to be by and large the Japanese companies, and the U.S. companies tend to be far behind," Smith said.

"A lot of (U.S. manufacturers') initiatives are piecemeal and not really designed to address the vast majority of consumer concerns," he added. "There is still an enormous amount of computer waste being exported to China."

Japan and the European Union have adopted progressive e-waste recycling laws. The European parliament recently approved two 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, Smith said. Under the RoHS initiative, any manufacturer who wants to do business in Europe has to produce lead-free products.

The Computer Report Card 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.



The report also criticizes Dell's use of federal prison labor to recycle old computers, which it says exposes inmates to toxic chemicals without the same health and safety protections as workers at other facilities.

On Thursday, SVTC staged a demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to protest Dell's deployment of a prison-labor workforce. Demonstrators pretended they were a prison chain gang breaking up old computers outside the room where CEO Michael Dell was delivering a keynote address.

By changing its recycling policies, Dell could be instrumental in forcing other manufacturers to follow suit, Smith said.

"If they would start matching their industry leadership with environmental leadership, they would really help turn things around," he said.

But Dell insists that its recycling program is environmentally responsible.

"We share the same goal (the protesters) do," said Dell's spokeswoman Michele Glaze. "We don't want computers to end up in landfills either."

Dell's contract with Unicor to implement its recycling program with the help of prison labor is humane and follows all federal laws, Glaze said.

"As Unicor says, these (inmates) are recycling their lives as they recycle these computers," she said.

Meanwhile, officials are trying to hammer out a national solution to the e-waste problem. Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) introduced federal legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to create grants for private and governmental organizations to develop computer-recycling programs.

The National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative is also working on a nationwide plan for recycling electronics that involves manufacturers, retailers, governmental officials and consumers.

"There's still some hope that there could be a national solution, but progress has been slow," said Mike Paparian, a member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

Some state legislators are introducing their own bills. California and Massachusetts have made it illegal to discard cathode-ray-tube monitors and televisions in landfills because of the lead content in the glass. Arkansas, Minnesota and Nebraska have also introduced e-waste legislation, and more than a dozen states are planning to introduce initiatives this year, Smith said.

Last September, Gov. Gray Davis vetoed State Senator Byron Sher's electronic waste bill that would have required California electronics manufacturers to add a $10 recycling fee to the price of every computer or TV sold.

HP, which opposes state-mandated recycling fees, aggressively lobbied against the bill. The company said the law would benefit its competitors outside California "who make a significant percentage of their sales over the Internet," according to a company statement.

"We think that federal legislation is (preferable) to a patchwork of state legislation that is burdensome administratively," said Renee St. Denis, HP's product recycling solutions manager.

The company recently announced it would be willing to work with state officials on a solution that would require all U.S. PC manufacturers to cover the costs of recycling old computers based on their market share in California.

"It's significant that (HP) has responded to the governor's call for manufacturers to step up to the plate," Paparian said.

Instead of imposed fees, HP favors a shared responsibility model where local governments and municipalities collect the products and manufacturers recycle them, St. Denis said.

Governor Davis favors a similar model for California, Paparian said.

Senator Sher reintroduced his e-waste bill last December after gaining support from HP and Apple. If the bill is enacted, California could lead the nation in regulating e-waste, supporters say.

"If there is not a nationwide solution at hand, we don't see that as precluding a nation-sized state such as California from reaching a solution," said California EPA spokesman William Rukeyser.



Read More - http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/01/57151?currentPage=1

WasteCap Nebraska offers grants for e-waste collections

WasteCap Nebraska offers grants for e-waste collections

Feb. 11 - http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/email.html?id=1265902322

Feb. 11 -- Nebraskan community recycling programs and businesses are eligible for small grants to help fund e-waste collections through WasteCap Nebraska.


Thanks to funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, WasteCap Nebraska is offering the grants through its e-Scrap Nebraska grant program. The deadline for the current application cycle is March 1. The grants cover the cost of recycling a limited number of items, with additional items requiring the participant to pay a nominal fee. Successful grant recipients will receive planning assistance along with educational and marketing materials.

Applications are available at www.wastecapne.org and will be processed promptly until the fund is exhausted.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com


http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/email.html?id=1265902322

Green Surprises at Apple's Shareholder Meeting

Green Surprises at Apple's Shareholder Meeting
By Conrad MacKerron

Published February 25, 2010
http://www.greenercomputing.com/blog/2010/02/25/green-surprises-apples-shareholder-meeting

Who would have thought that one of the world's hottest, richest companies would spend about a third of its annual meeting discussing sustainability, melting glaciers and the finer points of reporting about greenhouse gas emissions? That's what happened at today's Apple Inc. shareholder meeting.


There were two shareholder proposals on the proxy, one of them from As You Sow, where I work, calling for the company to set greenhouse gas reduction goals and do a better job of environmental and corporate responsibility reporting in general. A second proposal, from Harrington Investments, asked the company to establish a permanent board committee on sustainability.

Normally we get our two minutes to speak and then the meeting veers back to more pressing matters such as how Apple should spent $25 billion in cash it's sitting on. However, a politically conservative investor started off the meeting commenting that the glaciers were not melting, climate change was not real, and Board Member Al Gore had become a laughingstock. This prompted a swift rebuttal from another shareholder in support of Mr. Gore, and the company's social and environmental performance went on to curiously pervade much of the meeting.

A question about our proposal, suggesting that the company do a better job on sustainability reporting, led CEO Steve Jobs to minimize the value of reporting, commenting that sustainability groups like to have companies generate lots of reports, make specific commitments, and schmooze at conferences.


"We don't trumpet" all the good things we do, we just try to do the right thing, he said. The problem with this line of argument is that it allows companies to selectively report on things they are making progress on and conveniently avoid dealing with issues they may be ignoring.

Although corporate responsibility reports by Dell and HP may have some greenwash, the benefit of those reports is to set out specific goals and key performance indicators and then discuss how well they have met them.

Another investor began to spontaneously engage Mr. Jobs in a lengthy exchange about the value of product environmental reports posted on Apple's website. The company says the reports "show the complete environmental footprint of every new Apple product so you can see how each one affects the planet."


For example, the report on the iPhone 3GS says it will use an "estimated" 55 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) over its life cycle. The problem is, there's no useful context for this information. As this investor pointed out, until you develop uniform test protocols for all products and list competitor products side by side, the reports aren't very helpful.

We are pleased the company did a life cycle analysis looking at the carbon implications of raw materials, production, use and disposal of its products. But without providing source data and methodologies used, and establishing common industry yardsticks, it's very difficult for stakeholders to make fair comparisons and understand whether Apple or its competitors are acting aggressively to evaluate and control carbon emissions.

Mr. Jobs said his company is a clear leader in areas like removing toxic chemicals, recycling and workers rights -- and he's right, Apple is now strong in all of those areas. But the company didn't become a leader because of its own proactive internal moral compass.

It didn't really move on some aspects of toxics reduction, at least publicly, until Greenpeace made the company the object of a high profile campaign.

It didn't move on e-waste recycling until As You Sow and activist groups pressed the company on the issue for several years
It didn't have a supplier code of conduct to protect the workers who make its products until 2005 when Domini Social Investments pressed the company on the issue. Gap, Nike, Walt Disney Co. Wal-Mart and other retail giants adopted supply chain codes back in the mid-1990s.


The problems associated with achieving environmental sustainability remain daunting. But it was refreshing to see investors veer away from their usual preoccupation with why the company is not paying a dividend long enough to acknowledge that we must do better to plan how companies like Apple can continue to thrive in a future of limited raw materials and constrained carbon.

Even though it doesn't want to talk about it, we think Apple is paying more attention to these issues and we look forward to them sharing more about what they are doing.

Where Old TVs Go When They Die?

Where Old TVs Go When They Die?
By Lisa Jo Rudy

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:56 AM ET
http://www.tonic.com/article/new-laws-require-safe-recycling-of-electronics/
 
Where do old computers and televisions go when they die?


The answer isn't simple, because old computers and televisions are loaded with toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury. Toss them with the trash and they wind up in a landfill. From the landfill the chemicals leach into the ground, finding their way into the aquifer. And, of course, from the aquifer they make their way into your drinking water.

In many states, it's against the law to toss electronics out with the trash. As a result, many old fax machines, telephones and TV sets sat in basements and attics.

Then, states began to take action. In 2005, Maine was one of the first of 18 states to approve laws that make manufacturers responsible for recycling electronics. Washington passed a similar law this past January. Response has been impressive, according to an article in the New York Times.

Once the materials arrive at the recycling location they're taken apart. Machine parts that are in good condition may be refurbished and reused. Items in poor condition are separated into their constituent parts — glass, plastic, precious metals — and recycled.

Most importantly, heavy metals and other toxins are safely removed and disposed of, eliminating the problem of contaminated drinking water and airborne pollutants from incinerated devices.


http://www.tonic.com/article/new-laws-require-safe-recycling-of-electronics/

E-Waste Drop-Off Kiosk in San Diego?

ATM Recycles Gadgets for Cash!
By Steve Tanner

Thursday, October 8, 2009 9:00 AM ET
http://www.tonic.com/article/ecoatm-recycle-gadgets-get-cash/
 
A trip to the ATM usually results in a pocketful of cash, along with a dent in your bank account, but a new kiosk manufactured by ecoATM takes your old mobile phones and other gadgets for recycling and gives you something in return.


The San Diego-based start-up installed its first machine at an Omaha, Neb., furniture store on October 1, according to an article by CNET News. You gotta start somewhere, right?

The kiosk is one smart piece of machinery, though. It uses digital cameras to electronically inspect your unwanted device and somehow assigns a value. If your old Nintendo Game Boy or Motorola Razr is worth anything, the kiosk spits out a trade-up coupon (i.e. for a new phone), gift card or charitable donation of your choice.

If the gadget is worthless, then at least the kiosk offers a convenient way to keep e-waste out of landfills. And according to the article, "Consumers could still get a free gift for their efforts -- in Omaha's case, a waterproof phone case. And in a green nod, EcoATM will plant a tree for them."

Like most other brilliant ideas, this presents a win-win-win-win relationship for consumers (convenience and credit), on-site retailers (increased foot traffic), gadget-makers (great marketing opportunity) and, of course, Mother Earth. The kiosks are free for retailers interested in housing them. Also, businesses can use the ecoATM for charitable efforts by, for example, putting the kiosks in the office and pledging $1 toward a given charity for every device deposited into the machine.

The company is, of course, planning a larger roll-out beyond the Omaha furniture store; but if you live in Nebraska, have an old phone that needs recycling and you're in the market for a new kitchen table, then by all means check it out.


http://www.tonic.com/article/ecoatm-recycle-gadgets-get-cash/

E-Waste Drop Off Locations

E-Waste Drop Off Locations

This is a group of E-Waste Drop Off Companies brought together because of their ability to accept the dropping off of normal "E-Waste". Normal E-Waste consists of common Electronics Equipment such as Computers, Cell Phones, Monitors, Laptop, etc. Look each listing over for other restrictions and assurances the e-waste will be recycled and not shipped overseas. The benefit of using this type of E-Waste Drop Off Company is that it is convenient, plus you can be assured the equipment will not end up in a landfill.


Remember that some electronic items such as cell phones, PDA's and computers contain confidential information. Be sure to remove or destroy such items containing personal information before dropping them off. Simply hitting the "delete" button is not enough to remove items from a computer. For computer hard drives, the association recommends their removal and destruction.

About Ewaste-dropoff.com:
Contact Ewaste Drop Off Companies of America


Ewaste Drop Off Program was formed for the purpose of promoting consumer and small volume recycling of Ewaste. This is a program offered by Evergreen Specialty Services, LLC and David Murray, a long-time consultant and services provider to this industry. Click on the link to the right to "Register your drop off locations".

http://www.ewaste-dropoff.com/index.html

Study: E-waste build-up will plateau by 2015

Study: E-waste build-up will plateau by 2015
by Candace Lombardi


The contribution to landfills from electronics will actually escalate until about 2015, but good news will follow, according to a report released Wednesday by Pike Research.


So-called e-waste will reach a global volume of 73 million metric tons by 2015, then begin to decline in the years following as recycling initiatives and practices catch up to the rate of the production of electronic goods, according to the report called "Electronics Recycling and E-Waste Issues."

The prediction is the firm's own forecast based on the premise that companies and governments worldwide will continue and expand current recycling programs and initiatives--a practice Pike Research said will likely continue now that public awareness of the effects of e-waste dumping have been brought to light.

The report found that the efforts of nonprofit groups and the media to expose the effects of e-waste dumping have influenced original equipment manufacturers and recyclers worldwide to make an effort to clean up their act.

Pike Research touted the following companies as responsible leaders when it comes to recycling e-waste: Cisco, Dell, HP, Motorola, Nokia, Research In Motion, Sprint Nextel, and Vodafone.

It blamed low consumer effort to recycle old stuff as part of the problem, as well the dumping of e-waste in developing countries.

"Consumers have few incentives to reuse or recycle used electronics equipment. In most countries, it is still too easy and relatively inexpensive to throw e-waste in the trash. An optimistic estimate of average recycle rates is about 15 percent. Inconsistent legislation, minimal controls on the recyclers, and little enforcement has also led to widespread and inappropriate dumping of e-waste in developing countries," the report said.

May 6, 2009 8:44 AM PDT
by Candace Lombardi
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10234442-54.html

What is E-Waste?

Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-Waste)
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/ewaste/index.cfm

Due to ongoing technological advancement, many of electronic products become obsolete within a very short period of time, creating a large surplus of unwanted electronic products, or “e-waste.” Disposing of e-waste in landfills has the potential to cause severe human and environmental health impacts. To avoid these risks, the Electronic Waste Recycling Act (Senate Bill 50) was signed into law in 2004. SB 50 established and funded a program for consumers to return, recycle, and ensure safe and environmentally sound disposal of covered electronic devices (CEDs).




DTSC has also adopted regulations (Chapter 23 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations) designating e-wastes as universal wastes. Because they pose lower immediate risk to people and the environment when properly managed, universal wastes can be handled and transported under more relaxed rules compared to hazardous wastes. However, e-wastes contain hazardous materials and must be taken to a designated handler or recycler. You may use this map to find an e-waste handler or recycler in your county, or visit the CalRecycle's database of the companies that collect, reuse and recycle electronic wastes.

Read more | http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/ewaste/index.cfm

E-Waste News!

Welcome to E-Waste News. This Bolg will cover E-News and E-Waste news. This topic is very New and is effecting our Enviroment every day! What is new in the world of E-Waste?

How Cisco's Packaging Diet Saves $24 Million a Year! by: GreenBiz.com
http://www.greenercomputing.com/
By Claudia Girrbach

Published March 10, 2010



My last post here, "How to Work with Your Vendors to Go on a Packaging Diet," was born of the frustration my colleagues and I felt from dealing with the wasteful and at-times absurd amount of packaging our IT products are shipped in. In it, I challenged ITC suppliers to reduce packaging, and since that time, I have found a perfect case study proving the benefits of going on a "packaging diet."



I visited with several members of Cisco's supply chain team working toward a comprehensive Sustainable Value Chain strategy. Overseen by Edna Conway, the company's Senior Director of Advanced Compliance and Social Responsibility, Cisco's environmentally sound packaging program is still evolving and not fully rolled out, but early results show what is possible.

The savings that Cisco is seeing from its packaging diet are sensational, to say the least: The pilot program alone would lead to $24 million in annual savings. And by focusing on packaging material content, volume and transport container efficiency, the company will save on materials and transportation costs as well.




One product line reduced packaging by 33 percent and increased transportation load utilization by 50 percent resulting in $1.3 million annual savings. The most dramatic improvement for a product was 450 percent increase in transportation efficiency with savings of $1.8 million. Cisco's efforts provide the necessary business case for other ITC providers to green their packaging.



More than 4 million pounds of materials were eliminated across the pilot products. In addition, progress was made to increase recycling potential. From an environmental perspective, greener packaging resulted in decreased energy and water use while reducing GHGs related to transport.


Transportation costs were a major contributor to costs since Cisco supports global manufacturing and a global customer base. Much of the product is shipped at some part of its journey via air which is the most expensive transport method, both financially and environmentally. As reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), shipping by air compared to ship creates nearly 20 times as much GHG for the same ton-mile shipped.


Cisco selected high volume products from its wide range of product families to participate in the pilot program, and the chart below lays out the savings Cisco will earn from the project.
When trying to digest the millions saved, I noticed that for each pound of packaging material that Cisco reduced, more than $5 of annual savings was achieved for those products participating in the pilot. The type of materials, weight, volume and transportation methods could change how many dollars are saved per pound.




A "per pound saved" metric is simple to conceptualize. Most of us are able to imagine removing at least one pound of materials and thus provides a good starting point for brainstorming new packaging design. It is also a helpful metric when comparing savings across product lines.



Three Guidelines for a Packaging Diet



Cisco's new packaging practices are compared to the three best practices reviewed in my previous post: Eliminate, right-size and sustain.



1. Eliminate.



Paper-based documentation was digitized and migrated to CDs or "pointer cards" -- 3 x 5 inch cards with online references. The intention is to use pointer cards whenever documentation is not mandated by regulation. As you can see in the image below, Cisco's IP phone benefited from documentation reduction. Now three phones can be shipped in the same space that previously could only support two units -- a 50 percent improvement.



Cisco also looked for activities that could be eliminated. For example, with its CSR product, the old method was to depopulate and package cards after testing. By leaving the cards in the rack, Cisco was able to eliminate an entire crate. Cisco also reduced labor by no longer removing and packing the cards

Read more at - http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/03/10/how-ciscos-packaging-diet-saves-24-million-year