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 However, in order to take full advantage of today’s new recycling processes and innovative clean technologies, outdated regulatory frameworks must be revisited and cost effective options allowed.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.”

Survey Reveals Most I.T Managers Are Unsure What Happens To Their E-waste After Disposal.

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One in five senior IT managers are unsure whether some of their company’s PCs end up in landfill after they dispose of them, according to a survey by charity Computer Aid.

The 100 respondents to the poll disposed of an average 542 computers per year, but only 65 were “confident” or “very confident” that all their unwanted IT avoided being sent to landfill. Moreover, 13 were wholly unaware of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, which outlaws dumping e-waste.

“It is extremely worrying that many of the U.K.’s largest companies are not able to guarantee that their equipment is not illegally dumped in landfill,” said Anja ffrench, director of communications at Computer Aid, in a statement. “Companies must use disposal providers that can track exactly where their equipment is sent so as to avoid the devastating impact on health and the environment that e-waste can cause.”

Companies typically replace their base units every 3.7 years and their monitors every four years, and Computer Aid wants more of these businesses to donate computers it can refurbish and send to developing countries.

However, recycling IT remains the most popular disposal option, with 28 percent of businesses recycling all their IT and 41 percent recycling more than half.

Just 14 percent sent followed what the charity called “best practice in IT disposal” by sending all their working computers for reuse and recycling the remainder.

Cost, fears over data protection and contractual obligations to a leasing company were cited as the main reasons why companies did not reuse more computers, although 83 percent said they would reuse working equipment if these factors were addressed.

“Policies need to be in place to ensure more reuse of working equipment,” ffrench added. “Disposing of PCs after four years is a huge waste of resources since most computers will last at least double that.”

This article originally appeared on BusinessGreen.

 

eRecycleNY Launch Helps Business Owners Comply With New York State eWaste Laws

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Brooklyn Company Offers Cost-Effective Electronics Recycling and Onsite Hard Drive Destruction; Supports NYC Public Schools

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — To help businesses in New York State comply with a new law mandating responsible electronic waste (eWaste) recycling, today eRecycleNY officially launched its New York office, offering a cost-effective, Environmental Protection Agency-compliant option for businesses needing to dispose of electronic items. The company’s “Save our Planet, Save our Schools” program will remit a percentage of referred sales to Parent Teacher Associations at participating public schools, making the company the only recycling vendor in New York to support New York City schools.

eRecycleNY was founded by Stephen and Jodi Leone, Brooklyn parents with more than 20 years’ experience in waste management and recycling. “Having worked in recycling for decades, I know many eWaste companies do not comply with EPA regulations and charge far more for their services,” said Stephen Leone. “When we heard about the new law in New York, we saw an opportunity to create a service that fully complies with environmental standards, represents a solid value for business customers, and supports our kids’ schools.”

NEW LAW

Beginning January 1, 2012, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Electronic Equipment Reuse and Recycling Act (EERRA) will require all businesses in the state to recycle their eWaste – including old or obsolete computers, hard drives, monitors and other electronic devices – at a certified electronics recycling facility. Failure to comply could mean fines or other penalties. In passing this law, New York joins 25 other states in a legislative attempt to keep hazardous chemicals out of the air and water.

“Green laws are in place for a reason: to protect us and our kids from toxic materials, which up until now have been buried in landfills or exported overseas,” said Leone. “You can’t just throw your old electronics in the trash anymore. With eRecycleNY, you can comply with changes in New York State regulations while simultaneously protecting both the environment and your most secure data.”

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF IMPROPER ELECTRONICS DISPOSAL

Toxins found in electronic items, such as lead and mercury, contaminate the air we breathe and the water we drink when these items are not recycled responsibly. According to the EPA, electronics comprise 1% of the material entering U.S. landfills; yet contribute 70% of the toxins found there. “Electronic recycling statistics are frightening,” added Jodi Leone. “Especially when you consider that in the U.S., an estimated 133,000 computers are discarded every day – that’s why electronic waste must be handled correctly.”

ENVIRO COMPLIANCE, DATA SECURITY, CONVENIENCE AND VALUE

eRecycleNY offers key advantages over other collection and disposal companies:

eRecycleNY has partnered with WeRecycle!, a national leader in responsible electronics recycling known for meeting the industry’s highest environmental certifications (E-Stewards and ISO 14001), as its exclusive representative to the NYC business community. All eWaste collected by eRecycleNY will be processed responsibly by WeRecycle!

eRecycleNY provides eWaste recycling in conjunction with on-site hard drive destruction – a convenient option for businesses to witness their confidential information being destroyed while recycling responsibly.

eRecycleNY serves business customers directly, without a middleman, creating significant cost savings.

“Before, businesses would discard electronics using private garbage or building management companies,” added Leone. “Because we cut out the middleman, we are able to offer our customers a great deal. We are a direct, dependable, one-stop option for businesses in New York.”

Customers may request a quote from eRecycleNY or contact:

Jodi Leone Vice President of Marketing (718) 622-3540 jodil@eRecycleNY.com

ABOUT eRecycleNY

eRecycleNY is a New York-based electronic waste recycling company founded to help New York businesses responsibly recycle electronics in compliance with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Electronic Equipment Reuse and Recycling Act (EERRA). With more than 20 years’ experience in waste management, eRecycleNY President Stephen Leone is a third- generation recycler who has the considerable expertise required to ensure better environmental outcomes. In his position as President of Industrial Carting and Emerson Recycling, he works with businesses to create cost-effective programs for managing recyclables, including cardboard, paper, plastics, textiles and organic wastes. eRecycleNY fills the need for cost-effective and secure electronics recycling in the New York City area.

        MEDIA CONTACTS: Stephanie Wolf
                        Public Relations Director
                        (732) 322-3698
                        swolfpr@gmail.com
                        Jodi Leone
                        Vice President of Marketing
                        (718) 622-3540
                        jodil@eRecycleNY.com

Government brings criminal charges against Colorado e-recycler

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After 30 months of investigations, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and EPA Criminal Investigation Division handed down multiple criminal charges today against two executives of Executive Recycling Inc., a Denver electronics recycling firm.

The criminal charges are the result of an investigation initiated by the the Basel Action Network (BAN), the watchdog group reported.

The investigation was featured in CBS’s 60 Minutes news magazine, “The Wasteland.”  It is the first instance that criminal charges have been brought against an e-waste exporter, BAN said.

“In 2007 and 2008, BAN volunteers photographed 21 sea-going containers at Executive Recycling’s loading docks that they subsequently tracked across the world, with most ending up in China.  BAN then alerted the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and 60 Minutes, and together the groups documented US businesses posing as responsible electronics recyclers but who instead were simply shipping e-waste to developing countries where it was processed in deadly, highly polluting operations.  The resulting 60 Minutes episode has since become one of the most popular and award winning in the program’s history,” according to the environmental group.

“This is a major victory for global environmental justice,” said BAN Executive Director Jim Puckett.   “Even before we have a U.S. law in place to explicitly prohibit this dumping on developing countries, the US government’s criminal justice system has recognized the massive toxic trade we first discovered in 2001 as fraudulent, as smuggling, and as an environmental crime.  Now these sham recyclers are warned: their shameful practices can land them in jail.”

“The proper disposal of our electronic waste is not only critical today, but will also become more important in the future,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “U.S. law requires proper disposal of this type of waste not only for the protection of Americans, but also so that we in the United States live up to our responsibility to be good international environmental stewards.”

“Our ongoing 30-month investigation included cooperation from law enforcement agencies in the United States, Hong Kong and Canada,” said David M. Marwell, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Denver. “The investigation confirmed that Executive Recycling repeatedly exported used cathode ray tubes to China. In addition, Executive Recycling also made false promises to its customers who believed that Executive Recycling was properly disposing of their electronic waste. Homeland Security Investigations stands ready to prevent any company from circumventing U.S. controls to export hazardous waste.”

“As consumer demand for electronic goods continues to grow, communities and individuals will look for safe, domestic recycling options for electronics that are no longer needed,” said Lori Hanson, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Colorado.  “EPA is committed to ensuring that companies that offer fraudulent recycling services, where e-waste is illegally shipped abroad, are caught and prosecuted.”
According to the federal grand jury indictment, Executive Recycling was responsible for at least 300 exports, including shipments of more than 100,000 CRTs. Revenues of these activiteis were in excess of $1.8 million, the government said.  Executive’s CEO, Mr. Brandon Richter, together with Mr. Tor Olson, Vice President of Operations, were indicted on 16 separate counts including wire and mail fraud, environmental crimes, exportation contrary to law, and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records.

Photo by EMPA. Supplied by UNU

BAN said Executive Recycling still operates in the Denver area and has had e-waste recycling contracts with the cities of Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield and the El Paso County and Jefferson County governments.  It is registered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as a “Large Quantity Handler of Universal Waste.”

“Sadly, Executive Recycling is just the tip of the e-waste iceberg,” said Puckett. “They are but one of hundreds of fake recyclers who sell greenness and responsibility but in fact practice global dumping.  This is why we must pass federal legislation prohibiting this activity.  And this is why all those disposing of electronic waste should use only Certified e-Stewards® Recyclers who will not export your old toxic computer or TV to a developing country.”

If convicted of wire fraud, the defendants face not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, per count, for each of the 11 counts.  If convicted of mail fraud, the defendants face not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, per count, for each of the two counts.  If convicted of the one count of RCRA, the defendants face not more than 2 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $50,000 a day or a fine of up to $500,000 or either twice the gross gain or loss.  If convicted on the one count of smuggling goods from the U.S., the defendants face not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.  If convicted of one count of destruction of records during the course of EPA’s administrative process, the defendants face not more than 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.  If the corporation is convicted of wire or mail fraud it faces a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss per count for each of 13 counts.  If convicted of one count of RCRA, the corporation faces a fine of not more than $50,000 per day of violation or twice the gross gain or loss.  If convicted of one count of smuggling goods from the United States, the corporation faces a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  The indictment includes an asset forfeiture allegation, which states that upon conviction the defendants shall forfeit to the United States any and all property or proceeds derived from their illegal activity.

To view the original indictment, click on executive_recycling_indictment

See the government announcement here.

The company did not immediately offer comment. The most recent information available from the firm is a one-paragraph statement from 2008 stating the company is in full compliance with state of Colorado laws.

Press Release: Sims Recycling Solutions becomes the first electronics recycler to be TAPA certified

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Sims Recycling Solutions, the world’s largest electronics recycler, received its first Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) certification at the company’s facility in Roseville, CA. TAPA is an international association that establishes security standards for assets travelling through the supply chain in an effort to fight cargo crime. These standards specify security requirements for the handling, warehousing and transportation of goods.

“Cargo theft is becoming a huge concern for businesses throughout the U.S. and we recognize the threat cargo theft poses to our customers,” stated Steve Skurnac, President, Sims Recycling Solutions, Americas. “By Sims Recycling Solutions receiving this TAPA certification we are hoping to do more than demonstrate our commitment to protect our customers but to raise some awareness on this issue as well.”

The certification audit was extensive and involved a thorough inspection of the current security systems in place at the Roseville facility. TAPA security requirements are recognized globally as the industry standard for cargo facility and transport security.  They have become a benchmark for businesses that want to choose service providers that meet or exceed TAPA’s certification requirements..

Sims Recycling Solutions is a proud member of several organizations and associations. To view a list of the industry affiliations please visit http://us.simsrecycling.com/about-us/affiliations.

Sims Recycling Solutions

Sims Recycling Solutions (www.us.simsrecycling.com) is the world’s largest electrical and electronics recovery and recycling company with 42 sites across the globe.

Sims Recycling Solutions recycles all types of electronic equipment and enables businesses to meet both their social and legal obligations in the treatment of surplus electronics. The company’s asset management and recovery service enables businesses and public sector organizations to sustain the value of IT and electronic equipment, in a legally compliant, data secure, fully traceable and environmentally sustainable manner.

In North America, Sims Recycling Solutions operates 14 sites in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Ontario, South Carolina and Tennessee.