Alonso has come up with a new way to make furniture out of all that electronic waste. Dubbed N+ew (or No More Electronic Waste), the showy seats are composed of e-wastes including circuit boards, multi-colored wires, computer components, QWERTY keyboards, and even scratched CDs.

He dumps all those stuff into a large cubic mold which is then filled with a clear epoxy resin and melted recycled aluminum to bind everything together. When it’s set, it will be polished to a high-gloss finish.

The result will be fine looking furniture which will also serve as a time capsule, and we won’t have to wait 100 years to take a peek at what’s inside.

The whole idea is definitely something that might become more popular in the coming years, especially because of the changing technological landscape which results in the introduction of new electronics which are e-wastes of the future.

- Story courtesy of Mobile Mag

While Americans know that e-waste is a mounting environmental problem, high rates of unemployment persist, and the digital divide plagues millions of Americans, they’re not always aware of a viable solution — electronics reuse. Electronics reuse is extending the life of an electronic item by using it more than once for a similar or new function. Reusing unwanted electronic goods not only benefits the environment by keeping toxins out of the landfill, it also allows local communities to reap the social and economic benefits of job training, job creation, and helps shrink the digital divide.

Here are a two statistics I have come across of the years, that highlight the need to properly steward discarded electronics goods through reuse: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, e -waste contributes only 1percent to the volume of our waste stream, it’s responsible for 70 percent of the toxins found in landfills. The EPA also states that 80 percent of the energy used over the life of a computer could be saved through reuse of the unit.

As the founding director of Reuse Alliance, a national association that promotes reuse, I often speak about the triple bottom line benefits of this often-overlooked activity. Whether you say “triple bottom line”, “people, planet, profit”, or “win-win-win” it all boils down to the same fact, reuse benefits the environment, our communities and the economy.

When talking about reuse, it’s often helpful to explain the difference between reuse and recycling. While recycling breaks down used items into raw materials and reprocesses them to make new items, reuse extends the life of an item by using it more than once, either as-is or with some modification or repair. By reusing materials you preserve the natural resources, labor and energy incorporated into manufacturing them. Additionally, when used materials aren’t trucked out of a community as trash it results in less emissions.

By diverting valuable resources from the landfill, electronic reuse organizations prevent highly toxic equipment from polluting our air and water, educate consumers about the importance of the proper disposal of unwanted electronics, provide meaningful green-collar jobs, and offer valuable job-training programs.

Reuse Alliance member NextStep is an electronics reuse organization offering these triple bottom line benefits. Founded in 2002, NextStep meets their mission to provide technology and training to children and adults who have barriers to employment and education and protecting the environment from hazardous waste all through electronics reuse.

NextStep, located in Eugene Oregon, has created a network of people committed to the shared values of preserving the environment, working to bridge the digital divide, and enhancing the quality of life around the world. NextStep provides community members with opportunities to learn about the impact e-waste, and through community referrals, places computers directly with children and adults living in foster care, persons experiencing disabilities, family members leaving domestically violent relationships, migrant worker families, under-funded schools and nonprofits.

Over the years, NextStep has made a tremendous impact on the environment. They’ve put thousands of pieces of electronic equipment, such as computer hardware, household electronics, and appliances, back into use in the community. As of September 2011, the company reports it has refurbished more than 23,000 computer systems and sold thousands of other household electronics sold at affordable prices. They’ve also properly managed the recycling of over 10 million pounds of e-waste.

NextStep also recognizes that technology is becoming increasingly important in the workplace, and that jobs in the information technology sector pay almost 80 percent more than the average private sector wage. As such, they offer volunteers valuable skills-training in rebuilding computers and other electronic hardware. Since inception, more than 8000 volunteers have donated over 480,000 hours of service refurbishing and recycling computers. Of those volunteers, hundreds have enhanced their employment marketability through experiential service learning and extensive training by staff.

Another Reuse Alliance member at the forefront of electronics reuse and recycling is Goodwill Industries International. In 2004, Goodwill formed a partnership with Dell to create a program that would allow Goodwill agencies to responsibly dispose of unwanted electronic products. Through this partnership, known as Reconnect, participating Goodwill agencies accept unwanted computers and components, ranging from whole systems to small parts, monitors and mice to keyboards and scanners, and provide tax deductible receipts for these donated goods.

Goodwill employees manage the collection, sorting, and in some locations, the disassembly and/or refurbishment of the equipment. The program supports Goodwill’s job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment. Unsalvageable equipment is sent to Dell’s authorized environmental partners for responsible recycling. Since the program’s inception Dell Reconnect has diverted more than 190 million pounds of e-waste from landfills and created more than 250 green jobs.

Reconnect started in June 2004 with the Goodwill of Central Texas and now there are more than 2,200 Goodwill stores and donation centers that serve as collection sites for the Dell Reconnect program across the United States and www.reconnectpartnership.com. Canada, making it convenient for more than 42 million U.S. households to drop off computer and accessories for free, environmentally-responsible materials management. Working together, Goodwill and Dell help raise consumer awareness about the positive aspects of donating electronic goods.

Now, let’s multiply the effort of these two organizations exponentially. There are thousands of reuse organizations across America — diverting tons of materials from landfills, providing vital resources to those in need, and contributing millions of dollars in economic benefit. Despite the amazing work these organizations do in their communities, we must work harder to get the message across that reuse in an integral part of sustainable materials management. Unless Americans understand the connection between reuse and sustainability, perfectly useful materials will continue to wind up in landfill. At the Reuse Alliance, we look forward to helping individuals, nonprofits, or businesses come together to raise awareness about reuse, and we hope you will join us in this effort.

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MaryEllen Etienne is the Executive Director of Reuse Alliance, a national nonprofit that promotes reuse and its triple bottom line benefits. Reuse Alliance acts as a networking conduit that builds relationships between members, provides capacity building training that strengthens reuse organizations, communicates the triple bottom line benefits of reuse, and advocates for pro-reuse policies. Contact her at maryellen@reusealliance. org.

Few corporations, financial institutions and federal and state governmental institutions possessing significant consumer information in their systems have implemented proper controls over their technology equipment disposal protocols. They simply designate their purchasing department or a staff member in charge of salvage to handle the disposal process. They do not comprehend the laws. Nor do they ask their recycling service providers key accountability questions about chain-of-custody programs, data destruction processes, certifications and report details. They don’t involve their IT management and security officers when performing in-depth, onsite audits during the vendor selection.

For example, at a leading medical association, the office administrator handles computer equipment disposal. This individual left the equipment at their facility’s loading dock and someone came by to pick up the equipment for free. Even prominent law firms seem to pay little attention to the disposal of their important technology assets, despite their awareness of the implication of violating federal privacy protection laws. Such laws include Gramm–Leach– Bliley Act (GLBA), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the recent Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).

Few corporations, financial institutions and federal and state governmental institutions possessing significant consumer information in their systems have implemented proper controls over their technology equipment disposal protocols. They simply designate their purchasing department or a staff member in charge of salvage to handle the disposal process. Their primary concern in the past has been cost. They do not comprehend the laws. Nor do they ask their recycling service providers key accountability questions about chain-of- custody programs, data destruction processes, certifications and report details. They do not involve their IT management and security officers when performing in-depth, onsite audits during the vendor selection process. Usually, the vendors with the lowest rates or those offering the most recovery value win the business.

The back-end security should involve the same scrutiny as the front-end security, but the primary concern for companies in the past has been cost. The vendors with the lowest rates or those offering the most recovery value won the business, but that narrow focus today may lead may lead to millions of dollars in financial penalties, not to mention the negative publicity, loss of customer confidence and the danger of proprietary information falling into the hands of competitors or criminals. Many governmental institutions and their contractors may also possess national security information, so any data breach could become a serious Homeland security issue. the liability issues at stake are significant. These types of worrisome practice outlining a best practices blueprint for CIO’s regarding the management of technology asset disposal, particularly in an area as critical as data security and data destruction.

Instituting comprehensive technology asset policies and procedures

Define the pertinent technology assets.In addition to desktops, laptops, servers, data storage units, data center equipment and network equipment, other assets such as cellular phones, tablets, flash drives, CD’s, DVD’s, tapes, etc. should be governed by these same policies and procedures. Many companies are not aware that there are hard drives in copiers and printers. Consequently, the door is open for a data breach when these assets fall into the wrong hands during the disposal process.

Last year, CBS Evening News detailed how irresponsible disposal of retired photocopiers “turned an office staple into a digital time- bomb packed with highly-personal or sensitive data”. In a New Jersey warehouse, approximately 6,000 digital copiers storing confidential company and customer information – including everything from social security numbers to criminal records  were slated for resale globally. Many corporations and government institutions run the risk of trading their highly-guarded sensitive information for the sake of saving a few dollars when disposing their technology assets. This is partially due to the fact that the top management has not instituted a comprehensive policy to govern all the technology assets that could hold confidential information.

Develop precise procedures for technology asset retirement and disposal. These procedures should address how the equipment is securely consolidated and stored in house prior to handing them to a service provider. Each asset should be tracked by asset number and/ or serial numbers. Detailed records should be kept on the dates the assets are retired by each staff member, including assets at remote locations, such as staff working at home or in the field.

Assign a dedicated manager or team to manage the process.Ideally, this manager or team should have background in both information technology and technology security management. An understanding of laws and a holistic view from top management’s perspectives is also important. Simply leaving it in the hands of an office administrator, salvage personnel or purchasing department is not a good practice.

Establishing criteria for selecting a service provider Because the technology disposal service provider plays such a critical role in data security, business entities must establish a very detailed due diligence process for selecting the right vendor. The criteria should include an evaluation of the service provider’s chain-of-custody protocols, data destruction and validation process, tracking mechanisms, reporting details, certifications and insurance coverage.

Clearly define the transfer of liabilities between the asset holder and the asset disposal service provider. This important liability issue must be written into the contract. The primary determination factor may depend on which party is responsible for transportation arrangement. If it is the asset holder, then the transfer of liability may take place when the service provider receives the asset. If the service provider arranges for transportation, then the transfer of liability will begin when the truck leaves the asset holder’s premises. What complicates the issue is when a third- party logistics company subcontracts with a trucking company. In such a case, the transfer of liability needs to be clearly defined between all parties involved.

Selecting a technology asset disposal service provider. At SSI, our technology asset recovery management and data destruction service is tailored to the most stringent customers. In our pursuit of potential customers, we find that few businesses have exercised a rigorous due diligence process to evaluate, audit and select the important service partner at the end of the data protection process, in order to securely protect their own  and their customers’ sensitive information while mitigating liabilities.

Protecting data in the retired assets is a complex issue that goes way beyond data destruction. It encompasses a variety of critical aspects. Based on our own experience and what we have learned from our stringent corporate customers, we have developed the following best practices blueprint for CIO’s to select a technology asset disposal service provider.

What is the service provider’s chain-of- custody protocol? The chain-of-custody protocol usually starts before receiving assets at the service provider’s facility. It involves a holistic view of the service provider’s entire receiving, processing and disposal process. The service provider must have detailed procedures in each of the following areas:

Does the service provider have a logistics security program in place? How do they secure the transportation process? If required, can they record or verify all the pertinent asset information before loading? Is there a method for securing the truck at the loading dock while workers are busy moving the assets within the building?

What is the service provider’s facility security infrastructure? Do they use an electronic security services company to monitor the security of the facility? Do they keep records longer than 90 days? Can they provide their weekly inspection record of all their surveillance cameras? What access control systems are in place?

What is the service provider’s receiving procedure? Do they capture all the critical receiving information on the assets such as bill of lading number, bill of lading date, trucking company, quantity of skids, weight of each skid, and trailer seal number? Do they perform an audit against the packing list or the inventory list emailed by the customer prior to the shipment to verify items actually received?

What is the service provider’s general processing procedure? How do they track the processing status of each asset? Do they have a solid testing and refurbishing process in place? Do they have the capability to handle higher end technology assets? What is their data destruction process in terms of data sanitization and/or physical destruction?

For assets that are to be remarketed, do they only re-market tested and functional units that have had the hard drives wiped three or more times, and then verified that no data is present? What is the service provider’s procedure in executing a data destruction management program? This is an extremely important issue whereby companies need to exercise highest due diligence via both paper and on-site audit. Almost every recycler’s website or brochure claims that they perform data destruction adhering to DoD 5220.22-M or NIST’s Guidelines for Media Sanitization (Special Publication 800-88). However,do they truly practice it? We strongly urge companies to validate the service provider’s practice via an onsite audit by a technology security officer or consultant. The critical areas warranting special focus include:

Does the service provider perform the data sanitization in a secured area with access control? Many recyclers perform limited data sanitization in a small room or cubicle without any secured and access-controlled mechanisms.

What is their data sanitization procedure? You need to read their procedures and make sure that they perform a minimum of three wipes as a default. Many recyclers – even the large ones – only perform low level formatting or one wipe as a default procedure in order to minimize the cost. You also need to check if the service provider has a sanitization validation process and procedure in place.

Does the service provider also have software and procedures for enterprise data storage units, cellular phones and tablets? Many recyclers have not developed comprehensive infrastructure to address these types of equipment. The best way is for the company representative to randomly pick several sanitized hard drives and send them to a forensic lab for testing. This is an area where many recyclers would fail.

Does the service provider have a NAID Computer Hard Drive Sanitization and Destruction certification? NAID (The National Association for Information Destruction) actually offers two types of certifications. The first is the Computer “Hard Drive Sanitization and Physical Destruction” certificate. If a company requires their service provider to perform asset recovery tasks, then this certification with the key word “Sanitization” is a must. Due to the difficulties in obtaining this certification, only a few companies have achieved this status to date. This is the pinnacle of all NAID’s certifications, and SSI is among the first companies to attain it.

The second certification is “Hard Drive Destruction Only” certification. Some recyclers certified to this type of certification have little control on the sanitation side.

Data is everywhere and in everything we use in today’s world of electronics and securing the back end for retired technology assets is just as complex and important as securing the front end. Kviagra what to look for and establish proactive procedures. Use this best practices blueprint that outlines a number of vital touch points that both private and public organizations need to consider when making a service provider selection decision. SSI’s customers and certification auditors have repeatedly brought up the fact that even among certified service providers, there are drastic differences in processes, protocols and emphasis. Even today, as the number of states instituting e-waste recycling laws have increased, the idea of data security as part of the process is rarely brought up by the OEMs or major collectors in their contract discussions with recyclers regarding the secure disposition of data in computers.

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Jade Lee, MBA is the CEO and President of Supply-Chain Services, Inc. (SSI), based in Lombard, Illinois. SSI is among the first companies awarded by NAID for its certification on Computer Hard Drive, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. The company now holds six key certifications. For more info, visit www.supply-chainservices.com.

Several university campuses will be participating in the nationwide RecycleMania competition from Jan. 22 to March 31, an effort that encourages more than 500 participating colleges and universities across the country to promote recycling and waste reduction activities for the school’s recycling programs.

For every week during the event, the schools must report recycling and trash data. The RecycleMania staff will use this information to rank schools based on which institutions collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita and the highest rate of recycling. This rate is a combination of the trash and core recyclable materials used to determine a school’s recycling rate.

According to the RecycleMania website, the per capita results are determined by dividing a school’s weekly recycling and trash weights by its population of students, staff and faculty.

RecycleMania lasts for 10 weeks, although the first two weeks of the reporting period are technically counted as trial weeks and will not be counted in the final results. However, schools are still expected to submit data to the organization. The official competition begins Feb. 5 and lasts until March 31.

Materials that count for the 2012 RecycleMania competition include mixed paper, cardboard, and electronic equipment, including computers, printers, and other office electronics, cell phones and other hand-held devices, televisions, stereos, consumer electronics, ancillary items (chargers, cords, head sets, CDs), and consumer electronic batteries.

RecycleMania began in 2003 thanks to Ed Newman of Ohio University and Stacy Edmonds Wheeler of Miami University as part of a student-based initiative to increase recycling on their campuses. Since then the number of competing colleges and the amount of products recycled by students have both increased dramatically.

IERCE will include a roster of the best speakers, informative panel discussions, exhibitors and other stakeholders in the global  electronics waste management industry.

Since launching in 2009, more than 2,100 executives representing more than 700 companies have attended the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo. The event has also attracted participants from 24 nations.

Ismail Oyekan, president and program director at the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo states “our attendees see tremendous value in networking with their industry peers, meeting potential clients, all while learning from the knowledgable panels of speakers at IERCE”.

Joe Yob, vice president at Tampa Florida based, Creative Recycling Services, a leading national electronic recycling service provider states, “IERCE has fast become a must-attend industry event, where electronics recycling industry executives discuss best practices, meet new clients and grow their businesses”.

The event includes an award ceremony to highlight and recognize pioneers in the electronics recycling industry. Past honorees include Cisco, Sprint, Samsung, Basel Action Network (BAN) and several others.

You cant afford to miss this event!

More details coming soon! Recap of 3rd IERCE (password : expo123)

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE EVENT WEBSITE

http://erecyclingexpo.eventbrite.com/

The first of 13 electronics recycling rallies to be held at Verizon facilities around the country this year kicked off Thursday (Jan. 26) at the company’s Temple Terrace facility. Similar events held by Verizon in 2011 collected more than 358,000 pounds of e-waste, about the equivalent weight of 10 charter buses, that was recycled and kept out of landfills.

Recycling rallies, which enable employees and members of the surrounding community to conveniently recycle household electronics items ranging from laptops to toasters to monitors, are part of Verizon’s broad commitment to help protect and preserve the environment. Verizon’s recycling rallies operate with a zero-landfill goal, meaning the materials will be reused or recycled so that they do not end up in a landfill.  The Temple Terrace rally is being held at 7701 E. Telecom Parkway from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“E-Waste can be tricky, so we’re making it easy and convenient for our employees and people in many of the communities we serve to dispose of electronics in an environmentally friendly manner,” said James Gowen, Verizon’s chief sustainability officer. “By opening up our recycling rallies to the public, Verizon was able to offset the equivalent of 562 tons of CO2 last year alone. It’s a valuable service, but it also helps raise awareness of environmental practices that can be easy to adopt but impactful.”

The Verizon locations hosting recycling rallies later this year include Chandler, Ariz.; Wilmington, N.C.; Alpharetta, Ga.; Ashburn, Va.; and Basking Ridge, N.J.

Recycling Is an Integral Part of How Verizon Does Business

Verizon’s comprehensive sustainability strategy encompasses the company’s entire operation, from energy consumption to product packaging, to providing energy solutions to businesses and consumers. Recycling is an integral part of the company’s sustainability efforts.

Since 2008, Verizon has collected 4.3 million no-longer-used wireless phones through theHopeLine phone recycling and reuse program, keeping the devices out of landfills and turning them into support for domestic violence survivors.

Late last year, Verizon Wireless launched its Trade-In Program, which allows customers from any wireless carrier to get value from no-longer-used wireless devices and help the environment at the same time.  Customers who participate in the program can submit their devices for appraisal online at www.trade-in.vzw.com.  In exchange, customers receive a Verizon Wireless gift card by mail.

Also since 2008, Verizon has recycled more than 100,000 tons of telecommunications equipment and more than 80,000 tons of paper and cardboard. The company is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste Wise Hall of Fame.

TechTurn offers a comprehensive portfolio of services, including asset retirement, data wipe, asset test and diagnostics, data sanitation, and refurbishment and remarketing. With offices in Texas and Virginia, as well as partner facilities in Europe and Canada, TechTurn provides EAD services to Fortune 500 customers, original equipment manufacturers, and large retailers.

“We are very excited to have the TechTurn team join the Arrow family. This acquisition will strengthen our existing portfolio of services and is a continuation of our global strategy to expand into faster growing services that span the full lifecycle of technology and complement our core businesses,” said Paul J. Reilly, executive vice president, finance and operations and chief financial officer of Arrow Electronics.

TechTurn is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has 135 employees. The company’s sales are expected to exceed $50 million in 2012. This acquisition is subject to the customary regulatory approval process and is expected to close in the next 45 days.

Arrow Electronics ( www.arrow.com ) is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for over 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 340 locations in 52 countries.

The legislative update to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE, directive offers consumers new possibilities to return small waste items to retailers, will cut red tape for businesses and will enable better recovery of raw materials.

MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz steered the legislative update through Parliament (Photo by Pietro Naj-Oleari courtesy European Parliament)

“After difficult negotiations I am very satisfied that we viagra agreed ambitious but achievable collection rates with Council. Europe will now recover more raw materials, which is excellent news both for the economy and for the environment,” said rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz of Germany, a member of the European People’s Party, the largest in the European Parliament.

The 27 EU Member States will be required to collect 45 percent of electrical and electronic equipment put on their markets by 2016, and then achieve 65 percent by 2019. Alternatively, they can collect a comparable figure of 85 percent of e-waste generated.

Ten countries that need to improve their facilities will have an interim target of 40 percent and may take until 2021 to reach the final target.

All Member States must increase their collection of e-waste, whether or not they already meet the current flat-rate target of four kilograms (8.8 pounds) per person per year.

The current target represents about two million tons per year, out of around 10 million tonnes of WEEE generated per year. The total of e-waste currently collected and appropriately treated is higher than that, about one third of all the electrical and electronic waste generated across the European Union, according to the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch of government.

By 2020, the Commission estimates that the volume of WEEE will increase to 12 million tons. The new 85 percent target endorsed by Parliament would ensure that around 10 million tons, or roughly 20kg per capita, would be collected in 2020.

Under the updated law, consumers will be allowed to return small items such as mobile phones to large electrical goods shops, without being required to buy a new product.

Under the new law, waste management standards have been clarified, there will be a chance to address nanomaterials contained in electronic waste and in six years “the scope” will be opened, meaning the directive can be applied to more general products.

Parliament said that under the new regulations better processing will help to recover more valuable raw materials and prevent harmful substances going to landfill. “The best recycling techniques should be used and products should be designed to be recycled more easily,” Parliament said in a statement announcing the vote.

MEPs also negotiated tighter controls on illegal shipments of e-waste, to prevent the devices from being processed in countries where conditions are hazardous to workers and the environment. The burden of proof moves from customs officials to exporters, who must demonstrate that goods are being shipped for repair or reuse as appropriate.

Producers of e-goods will continue to contribute financially towards meeting processing targets although administrative burdens on industry are expected to decrease by around 66 million euros per year according to the European Commission.

Producers will benefit from simplified registration and reporting requirements and will be able to appoint representatives instead of being required to establish a legal seat in each country where they operate. New measures will prevent double charging of registration fees within Member States.

Now that the legislators have approved a common text, it must be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers, a move expected within weeks because the targets passed by Parliament were previously agreed with the Council.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik called the new measures “good news for health of our citizens, Europe’s competitiveness, and the environment.” He said the new targets reflect “a similar level of ambition to the Commission’s original proposal.”

DIGITALEUROPE, the European electronics industry association, says it “has been delighted to play an active and positive role in the review process having assisted with the research studies, developed a constructive dialogue with officials and formally responded to stakeholder consultations.”"This means a major boost to resource efficiency in Europe for the years to come,” said Potocnik. “Proper treatment of WEEE is important to prevent harm to human health and the environment, and its systematic collection is the precondition for professional recycling of the valuable raw materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals, contained in our used TVs, laptops and mobile phones.”

The new rules can open a path for new businesses. In August 2011, “Waste Management World” reported that a joint venture in Rome is to build and operate a 25,000 tonne per year e-waste plant. The new company will be 51 percent owned by U.S. recycling and energy specialist, Garb Oil & Power Corp. and 49 percent by an Italian waste recycling business. The facility will produce copper, aluminium, alloys and plastics.

The London-based nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency, EIA, welcomed the new regulations but warned they would be meaningless without strict enforcement.

EIA Campaigns Director Julian Newman, co-author of the 2011 report “System Failure,” which exposed the illegal e-waste trade in the UK, said, “It remains up to the EU’s individual member states to have strong penalties in place for illegal e-waste exporters – effective enforcement is the key to dealing with the growing mountain of e-waste we produce.”

“The new targets are more ambitious than those currently in effect. It’s good that the EU has recognised its responsibility to deal with e-waste appropriately and to prevent it being illegally exported to poorer countries where it poses such a serious threat to the environment and to human health.

Europe’s largest association of nongovernmental organizations, the 140-member European Environmental Bureau, expressed concern that too many improvements have been left to future revisions.

EEB said it is “particularly outraged” by a clause that allows the shipment of defective and untested items to developing countries under “reuse status,” escaping waste shipment rules.

“These appliances often contain hazardous substances which the destination countries are often ill-equipped to deal with,” the green group warned.

EEB said it is disappointed that “many electrical and electronic waste management proposals have been watered down and the collection target deadlines, although ambitious, have been pushed back from 2016 to 2020.”

EEB’s Stephane Arditi said, “Collection targets have been delayed and the introduction of economic instruments for greener design, reuse targets and ambitious recycling targets have been left to a future revision, which is a bitter blow to the environment and Europe’s economic development.”

EEB took aim at the provision that requires only a few of the largest retailers to collect the smallest of appliances without requiring consumers to purchase an equivalent new product, while the rest have to do little or nothing to support consumers in waste disposal.

Arditi said, “Once more we can see a huge inconsistency between the political rhetoric about resource efficiency and job creation. In the end it will be the environment as well as European citizens and industry that will suffer from this lack of courage and consistency.”

Story courtesy of Environmental News Services  http://www.ens-newswire.com

With main processing facilities in Taizhou and Ningbo, CTG is the largest mixed scrap metals importer in China and operates three core businesses: a metal recycling business, foundry business and wholesale scrap metal brokerage business. CTG has expanded into domestic ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal recycling in Shanghai and recently announced further expansion plans to Yantai on the Bohai Coast and Hong Kong with new metals and electronics recycling facilities.

SimsMM has acquired 16 percent of the existing shares of CTG from founder Chairman Ankong Fang and Delco Participation B.V. (Delco), a Netherlands-based scrap metal company. Delco has granted an option to SimsMM to acquire a further 2 percent of CTG. In addition, subject to approval by CTG’s independent shareholders, SimsMM will subscribe for a convertible bond and be issued warrants. After all instruments are exercised or converted, SimsMM expects to hold 20 percent of the fully diluted issued capital of CTG. In order to support the continued growth plans of the company, Chairman Fang and Delco will re-invest two-thirds of the proceeds received from SimsMM into convertible bonds issued by CTG on the same terms as SimsMM.

Daniel W. Dienst, Group Chief Executive Officer stated, “After several years of earnest evaluation of opportunities to enter the physical recycling arena on Mainland China and in Hong Kong, we have identified CTG as among the most exciting and attractive companies that will define and shape the nascent Chinese recycling landscape. Through our investment and partnership, we are validating not only CTG’s extraordinary growth prospects under the vision of Chairman Fang and his leadership team but, as importantly, the shared cultures of our two companies manifested in unwavering commitments to creation of long-term shareholder wealth, the safety of our valued employees and the health of the environment and communities in which we operate and locate. CTG, as a long-standing trusted and honorable trading partner of SimsMM, made this investment decision that much more compelling.”

Ankong Fang, Chairman of CTG stated, “As the largest mixed metal scrap importer and processor in China, we are always exploring opportunities to grow, both within China and worldwide. SimsMM has been one of our major suppliers for a number of years and, given SimsMM’s global reach and customer network, advanced technologies and solutions in the metals and electronics recycling industry, the proposed strategic collaboration with SimsMM will add significant value and expertise and complements our Group.”

Chairman Fang continued, “I believe that SimsMM, the industry leader, becoming a significant minority shareholder shows a strong recognition of our Group’s competitiveness and achievements. I look forward to continuing to lead our company and the opportunity to work with a world-class management team under the leadership of Mr Daniel Dienst and particularly Mr Michael Lion, who will become a member of our Board upon the successful completion of the transaction.”

Michael Lion, Chairman Sims Metal Management Asia Limited, and SimsMM’s nominee to the CTG Board, concluded by saying, “The complementary expertise of SimsMM’s global trading reach, material recovery technology and rigorous controls married to CTG’s exceptional leadership and fast-growing presence in the China and Hong Kong recycling space provides a transformational platform for our partnership. As the domestically generated volumes of recyclable non-ferrous and ferrous metals and electronics continues to grow, SimsMM’s and CTG’s shared vision of building a leading best practices position in China together is an extraordinary and exciting opportunity. I am honored to be designated to serve.”

]]> http://www.ewastejournal.com/sims-metal-management-makes-a-strategic-investment-in-chiho-tiande-group-a-hong-kong-listed-recycler/feed/ 0 http://www.ewastejournal.com/recycling-electronics-helps-technology-value-financial-revenue-jump-400-percent/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recycling-electronics-helps-technology-value-financial-revenue-jump-400-percent http://www.ewastejournal.com/recycling-electronics-helps-technology-value-financial-revenue-jump-400-percent/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:22:56 +0000 admin http://www.ewastejournal.com/?p=2225 Continue reading →]]> Technology Value Financial announced it has seen 400 percent revenue growth in two years– because it recycles electronics as they come off lease. The subsidiary of GreenLoop IT of Harrisburg, Penn., proves that companies want to go green and save the environment even as they save money on technology leases.

Vic Eliau, senior vice president of Technology Value Financial. (Oak Tree Communications Photo)

“In many cases, parts value of returned technology can be more valuable than the whole unit,” said Eilau. “Customers end up with better solutions because we are able to provide them lower rates on the lease if our affiliate gets the residual.”

Cincinnati-area electronics leasing company Technology Value Financial reports a revenue increase of 400 percent over two years—because organizations want to save the environment even as they save on technology leases.

The Maineville, Ohio firm provides technology leasing to organizations nationwide by doing business with the front and back doors in mind.

The GreenLoop IT affiliate is only in its second year of operation, but it’s already gathering major green— revenues were up more than 400 percent in 2011– because it taps into many corporations’ desires to be environmentally-responsible.

GreenLoopIT of Harrisburg, Penn., owns Technology Value Financial; PC Parts, Inc.; Penn Data Networks; PC Surplus Online; and PC Surplus Recycling.

GreenLoop IT provides organizations with a closed-loop technology lifecycle. Electronics are replaced at the end of a lease and their parts harvested and recycled, providing material for manufacturing new electronics.

TVF is headed by Vic Eilau, senior vice president and a GreenLoop IT principal. Eilau plans to add additional employees over the next year to keep up with demand.

“Hundreds of companies are in the electronic parts or leasing business, but no company but GreenLoop has moved the two functions together to provide corporate technology solutions from leasing, to harvesting of used electronic parts, to recycling, which allows for re-manufacturing new electronics,” said Eilau.

GreenLoop IT offers a comprehensive IT life-cycle management solution to providing technology for businesses. The company’s mission is to provide a profitable blend of environmentally-conscious technology after-market products and related services.

GreenLoop’s subsidiary, PC Parts, Inc. was named to the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row this year as one of the nation’s fast-growing, privately-held companies. Penn Data Networks provides logistics, technology maintenance and repair, and temporary staffing. PC Surplus Online is an e-commerce re-seller, and PC Surplus Recycling is an electronics scrap recycling business.

“Most organizations literally have closets full of outdated technology,” said Eilau, “but what are they doing with that equipment? Our solutions allow them to lease the technology and avoid all the disposal issues at the end of the lease. The unit can be processed and useable tech parts re-used. Remaining components are sold for commodity value, and new equipment manufactured from recycled materials.”

Eilau said most organizations don’t want equipment at the end of a lease, but Technology Value Financial does– because the returned equipment feeds its parts business.

“In many cases, the parts value of returned technology can be more valuable than the whole unit,” said Eilau. “Our customers end up with better solutions because they know we are able to provide them lower rates on the lease if our affiliate gets the residuals.”