Category Archives: INDUSTRY

Industry related news, updates and discussions.

Blancco Partners With DestructData to Expedite Secure Erasure of Loose Hard Drives.

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Electronics recyclers, refurbishers and information technology asset disposal (ITAD) specialists regularly receive loose hard drives for secure processing in preparation for reuse, resale or disposal. With studies showing that around 40% of hard drives reach the secondhand market still containing sensitive data, ITADs need a reliable method for safely and efficiently erasing drives so that customer information is protected.[1,2)] To help ITADs remove data from loose hard drives outside their original enclosure, Blancco, the global leader in data erasure software and end-of-lifecycle solutions, has joined forces with DestructData, the leaders in secure data destruction. Under this partnership, Blancco’s certified data erasure software will power a series of DestructData erasure appliances for loose drives.

“The technology alliance between Blancco and DestructData is a natural fit, combining Blancco’s industry leading data erasure software brand with DestructData’s extensive experience as the most respected hardware systems integrator in the enterprise data destruction and ITAD marketplaces,” said Michael Lawlor, President of DestructData. “Recognized globally as the standard in certified data sanitization, Blancco’s software solution will be deployed via DestructData’s powerful, customizable hardware platforms to ensure the highest possible data security for ITADs.”

Through the new partnership, industrial grade erasure appliances from DestructData will include Blancco’s certified data erasure software, adhering to all major national and international erasure standards. This series of “Powered by Blancco” systems will be designed, assembled, tested and delivered by DestructData. The systems will remain fully supported with Blancco’s latest erasure software, which provides detailed reports on hardware health, along with proof of erasure to help customers comply with a growing number of industry standards.

“The Blancco and DestructData collaboration builds on the respective strengths of both companies to provide ITADs a safe, high-speed way to remove information from loose drives,” said Markku Willgren, Blancco’s President of US Operations. “ITADs, along with their customers, will also benefit from auditable erasure reports that are automatically sent to a centralized management console or IT asset tracking system.”

About Blancco

Blancco is the proven data erasure solution for millions of users around the globe. As the global leader in data erasure and end-of-lifecycle solutions, Blancco offers the most certified data erasure solutions within the industry. The company serves users across a wide range of industries, including banking, finance, government and defense, as well as IT Asset Disposal professionals. Blancco operates from an extensive network of international offices and partners across Europe, North America,Asia, and Australasia. More information is available at http://www.blancco.com.

About DestructData

Founded in 2007, DestructData is an electronic data erasure solution provider specializing in high security technologies and on-site services that promote both secure re-purposing of assets and audit-friendly physical destruction. The company offers custom hardware appliances engineered specifically for high capacity or complicated applications involving loose drives, multiple protocols, and asset reporting. Headquartered in North Andover, Mass., DestructData also provides a full line of physical destruction and degaussing solutions. More information is available at http://www.destructdata.com.

[1)]Proceedings of the 8th Australian Digital Forensics Conference, “The 2009 analysis of information remaining on disks offered for sale on the second hand market,” November 2010.

[2)] Computerworld, “Survey: 40% of hard drives bought on eBay hold personal, corporate data,” February 10, 2009.

Planet Green Recycling Program Hits $40 Million in Donated Funds for Schools and Non-Profit Groups Nationwide!

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Through its “Fund Raise through Recycling Program,” Planet Green of Chatsworth, California (www.planetgreenrecycle.com) has reached a new standard in fundraising proficiency by hitting the $40 Million mark for cash paid out to its Recycling Program partners! Planet Green pays for “E-Waste” items that are sent to its re-manufacturing facility in Southern California which provides important funding for contributing schools, community organizations, and non-profits across the country, particularly during these very tough economic times. Their collection list includes old or empty ink cartridges and toners as well as outdated cell phones and small electronics. Planet Green has been providing essential funding to schools, non-profits, religious organizations, clubs and/or groups that enroll in their program for over a decade and also provide an easy means of removing critical E-Waste components that are inundating landfills nationwide.

Chatsworth, California (PRWEB) September 29, 2011

Talk to any school, university, club or non-profit organization these days, and they will tell you that fundraising is a major challenge in 2011. With the gloomy economic outlook and a dramatic shift in demographics marked by the retirement of scores of Baby Boomers, charitable giving has fallen to its lowest level in decades. As the slumping economy causes many American families to tighten budgets, private donations are also plummeting. Contributions to schools and universities have declined substantially, most national philanthropic endeavors are cash-strapped, and even fund-raising drives for local car washes, bake sales and the enduring cookie sales of the Girl Scouts have seen an historic crash. Add cuts in Federal, State and Municipal budgets and those organizations that need the most help are fighting for their very existence.

For Planet Green of Chatsworth, California (www.planetgreenrecycle.com), however, fundraising dollars have never been handed out faster! Planet Green is a world leader of high quality remanufactured electronic products, and they recycle inkjet cartridges, toners, cell phones and a variety of small electronics. The folks at Planet Green have come up with a simple and environmentally-friendly solution to fuel national, local and community-based fund-raising efforts and their cash donations have recently surpassed $40 Million. If there ever was a “Win-Win” for beleaguered non-profit groups across the United States … this would be it.

Since 2000, Planet Green has been providing critical fund raising opportunities via an environmental “E-Waste for Cash” exchange program that creates a powerful, dynamic and virtuous opportunity for year-round fundraising through recycling. Planet Green establishes organizations as EnviroPartners and pays cash for old or empty ink jet cartridges, toners, cell phones and a variety of other small electronics. They remanufacture and refurbish ink-jet cartridges via some of the industry’s most rigorous quality guidelines and sell them at a fraction of OEM prices.

In keeping with their mantra “Only by Working Together, Can We Make a Difference,” Planet Green provides all the tools necessary for schools, groups, non-profits and businesses to collect recyclable goods and raise funds! They provide free promotional materials, a free organization-based website, free shipping labels, complete customer service support, real-time online accounting, and a 7-Day turnaround for payment.

If that’s not motivation enough for a school, club, religious group, or non-profit to contact Planet Green TODAY, consider this … with the rapid changes in technology, electronic waste is considered to be one of the biggest threats to the world environment. A single, inkjet cartridge can take up to 1000 years to be broken down by nature and discarded cell phones contain arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper and zinc … all toxic substances that pose a major threat to public health. Recycling also conserves natural resources, reduces air and water pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

Becoming a Planet Green EnviroPartner is fast, easy and free. To “Help the Planet and Help Your Cause” … schools, religious organizations, non-profits, businesses, and even individuals can go to the Planet Green website and SIGN-UP at www.planetgreenrecycle.com.

R2 Solutions Technical Advisory Committe (TAC) Holds First Face-To-Face Meeting In Chicago.

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Members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) held their first face-to-face meeting in Chicago September 20th.  The TAC, which was formed in June, has been working on developing guidance for the current version of the R2 Standard as well as identifying areas of the Standard to consider modifying during the Standard revision process.   A diverse group of stakeholders was present at the meeting, including OEMs and other customers of recycling services, recyclers, refurbishers, downstream vendors, auditors and consultants, and government regulators.   Members of the public were also present and participated in the discussions.  The discussions focused largely on review of the draft guidance developed by the Guidance Workgroup and on how to proceed with the Standard revision process.The Guidance Document, expected to be available for public review and comment in November, will provide further information about what conformance looks like under different conditions and what the expectations for demonstrating conformance are for all R2 certified facilities. “The process that has been undertaken to develop the guidance, and which will be repeated during the standards revision process, is one that really allows for the concerns of all stakeholders to be heard and represented.  This brings a good deal of strength to the document, which has become a more balanced and effective document each time stakeholders weigh in,” notes Kim Holmes, Program Manager for R2 Solutions.  “Being new to this type of multi-stakeholder development process, I was impressed to see how these interests can work together to create a document that delineates the best practices customers want to see, and makes it accessible so that recyclers and refurbishers, regardless of size, can implement those practices.”The Standards Workgroup is scheduled to begin the revision process in October.  They will undertake a similar process as the Guidance Workgroup, allowing each TAC member, as well as the public, an opportunity to weigh in.  Many suggestions from the public have been included in the discussion, and a revised version of the R2 Standard is expected to be available for review and additional public comment in a few months.”We are very pleased with the quality of participation from stakeholders, which lent to a very informative discussion and productive meeting,” notes Rike Sandlin, TAC co-chair and Senior Vice President of HiTech Assets.  “The strength and transparency of the process has been reinforced by the sincerity of the TAC members.  This momentum will carry us forward through the fall, as we continue deliberations on both the Guidance and Standard documents, and until the TAC meets again.”  An official announcement providing details of the next meeting will be made a few weeks prior to its being held.

Meeting minutes from this TAC meeting will be posted on the R2 Solutions website.

E-Waste Systems, Inc. Enters into Agreement to Acquire Tech Disposal, Inc.

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E-Waste Systems, Inc. (OTC BB: EWSI) announced today that it signed a definitive agreement to purchase Tech Disposal, Inc., (“TDI”), an electronic waste recycler and asset recovery specialist, based in Ohio. E-Waste Systems, Inc. (“EWSI”) has developed an acquisition strategy designed to create what it hopes will be an integrated business that unifies the rapidly emerging Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (“WEEE”) industry. The company is actively pursuing businesses facing regulatory and/or other mandates for the handling of e-waste.

This acquisition, if consummated, will be a component of EWSI’s plans to acquire what it believes are a select number of quality companies led by capable management teams, which share a commitment to helping businesses achieve cost-effective and environmentally-responsible compliance with e-waste recycling and disposal requirements. EWSI’s mission is to complete a number of acquisitions to extend its reach and to offer existing and future customers a suite of enhanced services; to incorporate best practices in professional management and to invest in state-of-the-art recycling technology. The success of this mission is dependent on the Company’s ability to secure sufficient financing. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to secure sufficient financing in order to fulfill this mission and execute on its business plan.

Martin Nielson, Chairman and CEO, E-Waste Systems, Inc., states, “We are pleased to announce the signing of this agreement and are enthusiastic about the prospect of beginning work with George Pardos of Tech Disposal, Inc. He possesses extensive industry experience, an excellent customer base and a prime location in the Midwest, all of which our management believes will complement the expansion of our business.”

George Pardos, Founder and CEO, Tech Disposal, Inc., states, “I am proud to have signed an agreement with E-Waste Systems, Inc. We are looking forward to the possibility of partnering in building a market-leading, integrated business in the WEEE industry and are eager to advance the most integrated, innovative end-of-life solutions for managing the reverse logistics pipeline.”

Steve Hollinshead, newly-appointed CFO and board member of EWSI, states, “The acquisition of TDI, if consummated, will be significant in that it will bring a base of operations to EWSI with anticipated proforma revenues for the earnout year ending September 30, 2012 of approximately $700,000.”

EWSI’s management believes that the location of Ohio is of paramount significance to this mutual agreement as the state, which is the seventh most populated in the nation, that according to Blumberg Associates generates over 200 million pounds of e-waste annually, while less than 20 percent is properly recycled. Due to these statistics, Ohio now has pending legislation regarding the lawful processing of e-waste. Should the bill pass into law, EWSI’s business plan is to prepare to support the state’s effort in handling the adequate disposal of e-waste.

The closing of this transaction is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to: the parties performing their obligations and covenants under the agreement; EWSI completing its due diligence process of TDI and leased real estate; no material adverse change occurring to TDI business; TDI continuing to operate its business in the ordinary course; the auditors of TDI completing the audit of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2010; and other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close on or before September 30, 2011, but we can give you no assurance that the closing conditions or other conditions will ever be satisfied to allow us to close the transaction. Mr. Pardos and the seller have the right to terminate the agreement if the closing has not occurred by November 30, 2011 (as long as they have performed their obligations under the agreement) and to terminate upon a material misrepresentation or breach by EWSI. The agreement may also be terminated upon mutual written consent of the parties.

A copy of the agreement can be accessed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company and through links provided by the EWSI website: www.ewastesystems.com.

Flat-Screen Display Sales Cause Electronics Recycling Crisis.

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Electronics recycling programs are collecting more old cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs and computer monitors, while solutions for recycling CRT glass are disappearing fast. Without updated regulations and new recycling models, old CRT glass — which contains lead and requires responsible recycling — will become harder and potentially more costly to recycle.

Millions of CRTs are collected for recycling each year. Currently, CRT glass is separated into leaded and non-leaded glass and processed for recycling into other glass products. CRT used to be recycled into new CRT television and computer displays; however, because plasma and flat-screen displays are now the norm, the demand for CRT glass has collapsed worldwide.

“Currently, there are only one or two CRT manufacturers outside of China that accept CRT glass for reuse in manufacturing of CRTs. Both are located overseas; and these plants only process a limited amount of CRT glass each year, which makes depending on these facilities for consistent consumption nearly impossible,” says Robert Erie, CEO of E-World Online. “Many state regulations require CRT glass to be recycled rather than disposed. The recycler’s dilemma is that currently there are too few domestic end-markets for this material. Not to mention the downstream due diligence liabilities and lack of efficiency that comes with shipping millions of pounds of glass — much of which contains lead — across the globe.”

E-World Online provides electronics recycling solutions for the country’s leading consumer electronics manufacturers and oversees the safe collection and recycling of 40 million pounds of CRT glass annually. In light of the growing CRT glass recycling problem, E-World Online is working to find new, economical CRT recycling solutions. However, in order to take full advantage of today’s new recycling processes and innovative clean technologies, outdated regulatory frameworks must be revisited and cost effective options allowed.

One of the largest companies that does process CRT glass in the U.S. is the Dlubak Glass Company in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Most of the CRT glass collected by E-World Online’s network was being shipped to Dlubak facilities in both Yuma, Arizona and in Ohio; however, the recent closure of Dlubak’s Yuma facility, combined with cost increases to process CRT glass domestically, have made this model financially and logistically challenging.

Much closer to the California border, E-World Online is working with Phoenix-based Closed Loop Refining & Recovery, Inc. (CLRR), a relatively new recycler of CRT glass. CLRR can recycle more than 70 million pounds of CRT glass per year using an innovative approach that extracts lead from CRT glass as part of the process. The extracted lead can then be used in batteries and other products, reducing the need to mine new lead out of the ground.

Currently the State of California requires that one of two methods be employed to compliantly recycle CRT glass that has been handled as a universal waste: 1) as a feedstock in the manufacturing of new CRTs, or 2) as a feedstock to primary or secondary lead smelters. Officials with California’s Departments of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) have recognized that new outlets need to be evaluated and are holding meetings to discuss this issue. An electronic waste stakeholder meeting is scheduled in Sacramento on Sept. 26 to address how regulations might need to change to support new innovations coming to market or to allow alternative glass management practices.

“Our industry is at an interesting crossroads when it comes to CRT glass,” explains Erie. “In my 12 years in the electronics recycling field, this is the first time that I’ve seen an e-waste material stream become obsolete and markets dry up so quickly. We’re very pleased to be working with U.S. entrepreneurs developing domestic solutions and to see state regulators taking the logical next steps to utilizing new innovations in the marketplace.”

From geograph.org.uk Author David Wright

ViaTeK Solutions Awarded with e-Stewards Certification

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ViaTeK Solutions announced yesterday that both its Tampa, Florida facility at 5206 Eagle Trail Dr. and Lawrenceville, Georgia facility at 825 Marathon Parkway have been certified to the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment.

The e-Stewards certification program, created by the Basel Action Network (BAN), formally recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering hazardous electronic materials. To achieve certification, ViaTeK’s Florida and Georgia facilities were subject to extensive and rigorous audits conducted by accredited Certifying Bodies to ensure they comply with the e-Stewards Standard and have an ISO 14001 environmental management system in place. Organizations and individuals entrusting their scrap electronics to Certified e-Stewards recyclers like ViaTeK Solutions are ensured that their efforts to recycle responsibly are honored.

Mark Cardamone, Vice President of ViaTeK Solutions, said the company has always been committed to doing the right thing for its customers, but that it has often been difficult to distinguish ViaTeK Solutions from competitors that keep costs artificially low by secretly shipping hazardous e-waste overseas. “The e-Stewards Recycler designation really helps folks separate the good from the bad”, said Cardamone. “Our capabilities, including glass to glass recycling and shredding of data storage devices; along with our fleet of service vehicles, brings advanced recycling capability and convenience to conscientious generators of e-waste throughout the U.S.”

The e-Stewards certification is the first for electronics recyclers that is backed by environmental organizations and major corporations alike.  The accredited third-party audited certification program is supported by the USEPA and is endorsed by Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and 68 other environmental organizations.  It has also drawn the public support of major corporate “e-Stewards Enterprises” including Alcoa, Samsung, Bank of America, Capitol One Financial Corp., Wells Fargo and LG.

“The addition of ViaTeK’s facilities to our growing network of Certified e-Stewards Recyclers helps provide greater access to responsible e-recycling,” said Jim Puckett, BAN’s Executive Director. “Generators have a choice when choosing certified electronics recyclers and only e-Stewards recyclers can ensure that hazardous electronic waste is not exported to developing countries and is recycled in accordance with the most secure practices in the world.”