Electronic Waste Journal » recycling

New lamp made from e-waste

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:25:17 +0000

E-waste never looked so bright.

LittleFootprint Lighting, of California, has introduced the HeronLED desk lamp, a highly efficient light fixture made from ABS plastic reclaimed from recycled e-waste.

This new lamp features an adjustable, ergonomic design, “warm white” light, and a replaceable LED bulb. According to its manufacturer, the HeronLED uses 7-10 times less energy than your conventional desktop lamp

LittleFootprint Lighting, a pioneer of sustainably designed LED task lighting products made in the USA from recycled materials, introduced the high performance HeronLED Personal Task Light for corporate and home office environments earlier this year.

“The HeronLED gives buyers the first-ever opportunity to select truly sustainable, quality task lighting for the office environment,” said Nancy Wahl-Scheurich, CEO of LittleFootprint Lighting. “The HeronLED lamp is highly-efficient, made from recycled materials, is itself easily recyclable, and is designed and manufactured in the USA. We’re excited to bring to market a high quality office product that supports a greener planet and the creation of green jobs.”

Designed and manufactured in the USA, the HeronLED’s adjustable and ergonomic design features a replaceable LED bulb that provides “warm white” light, and uses 7 to 10 times less energy than comparable conventional desk lamps. LittleFootprint’s HeronLED is the first LED desk lamp made of recycled plastic from e-waste.

For more infomaiton, visit http://www.lfplighting.com/

Onsite Electronics Recycling obtains e-Stewards certification

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:02:54 +0000

Stockton, Calif.-based Onsite Electronics Recycling has announced that it has been certified to the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment^®.

Onsite Electronics Recycling is the 14^th company in North America and the third in California to have achieved e-Stewards Certification, according to the Basal Action Network (BAN), the Seattle-based organization that developed the certification. .

The accredited, third-party-audited program is one of two recycler certification programs now required for the recycling of electronics generated by U.S. government agencies, according to the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship.

“In achieving e-Stewards Certification, Onsite Electronics Recycling has demonstrated adherence to the most rigorous electronics recycling standard in the world,” says Jim Puckett, BAN executive director. “By providing good jobs with fair wages and benefits in an award-winning environmentally designed and managed facility, Onsite shows that responsible e-waste recycling makes sense for the environment, society and the economy.”

“We are proud to receive this certification, because it represents our adherence to the strictest environmental and social standards in the Industry which are principle to our operating philosophy,” said Janice Oldemeyer, president of Onsite Electronics Recycling. The company was founded on the principal that e-scrap should be managed responsibly in the United States, creating local jobs with fair wages and benefits, she said.

The company’s customers include OEMs, small and medium-sized businesses, residents, nonprofits, solid waste companies and governmental organizations.

California based recycler (e-recycling of California) faces fine for improper handling, storage of CRT material

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:02:19 +0000

A California recycler must pay $21,000 for allegedly violating the state’s regulations for storage of e-waste materials.

According to a consent order filed by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, e-Recycling of California was assessed the fine after improperly storing CRT glass in containers deemed not appropriate to contain the material. Crushed CRT glass was found leaking out of the containers during inspections, DTSC officials said.

“Respondent failed to manage all residuals produced from treating electronic devices, residual printed circuit boards, and/or CRTs, in a manner that prevents a release to the environment of any universal waste or any component thereof, “ according to the document.

Specifically, the company didn’t tie the openings of CRT glass treatment dust bags, set up an appropriate container system to capture the CRT/CRT glass treatment dust under the Pulse-Jet Filter Cleaning Vacuums and did not separate floor sweepings containing CRT glass from regular solid waste.

To see the consent order, click here: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Projects/upload/eRecycling_Irvine_CO_081911.pdf

e-Stewards retires “Pledge” program

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:42:48 +0000

The “Pledge” program of the e-Stewards recyclers, used by recyclers wanting to support the e-Stewards certification standard before the full development of the program, has been retired.

“The evolution and adoption of responsible electronics recycling practices made an important transition today as the Basel Action Network formally sunsetted the Pledged e-Stewards Recyclers program on September 1, 2011. Established in 2003, the Pledge program was the first widely recognized initiative designed to identify electronics recyclers committed to globally responsible e-waste management practices. Toay marks its official and full replacement by the Certified e-Stewards® Recyclers program,” according to the Basel Action Network.

The pledge, officially known as the Electronic Recyclers’ Pledge of True Stewardship included eight tenets of responsible recycling including a promise not to send hazardous e-waste to landfills, incinerators, prison operations or to developing nations. In addition, it promoted establishment of environmental management systems and material tracking and transparency throughout the downstream supply chain.

“In 2003, the world was just waking up to the horrors of e-waste export and the dire need for a means of separating good recyclers from bad recyclers,” said Roman. “I’m amazed the basic tenets of the Pledge program, identified by BAN eight years ago, provided the foundation for what are now globally accepted principles of responsible e-recycling. The new e-Stewards Recycler Certification is even more comprehensive and accountable – really the gold standard,” said Lauren Roman, BAN’s e-Stewards Business Director.

When the Certification program was launched in April 2010, almost 50 companies were participating in the Pledged e-Stewards Program. These companies were given 18 months to certify or leave the program completely. As of September 1, approximately 75% of the Pledged e-Stewards have either achieved certification or are under contract with a Certifying Body to be certified by 2012. Among those that have not certified, some were not eligible as they only collected e-waste and were not doing actual recycling. Four companies are working toward certification but have yet to contract with a Certifying Body. Two pledging companies could not achieve certification, BAN said, and a third declined due to the program’s expense.

Currently, more than 140 companies are certified or are in the process of obtaining certification.

For more information, visit www.e-Stewards.org.

Sprint CEO invited to write post on White House website

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:04:06 +0000

Sprint was noted on the Obama Administration’s official website for its commitment to e-waste recycling.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse was invited to write a guest post on the website for the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. Hesse wrote about the Obama Administration’s national e-waste recycling initiative, announced July 20.

“On July 20 the EPA invited Sprint, along with Dell and Sony, to Austin, Texas to be among the first corporations to publicly commit to follow a new national e-waste strategy. We were honored to join EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, General Services Administrator Martha Johnson, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley as they issued the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship.

“The collaborative work of the EPA, General Services Administration (GSA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the dozen additional agencies represented on the e-waste task force that developed the National Strategy over the past eight months is an example to all who manufacture and distribute electronic products. Sprint commends the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that all electronics it uses are reused or recycled at a certified recycler. An e-waste solution will require on-going collaboration, shared commitment, accountability and meaningful action from companies in all sectors. I am proud that Sprint – along with Dell and Sony – has implemented sustainable business practices early on.”

Hesse described the company’s commitment to e-waste recycling in the blog post.

Sprint’s Electronics Stewardship Policy sets aggressive e-waste goals, including the collection of nine phones for reuse or recycling for every 10 sold by 2017. To date, Sprint has collected more than 25 million mobile phones— keeping them out of landfills, helping to conserve resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preventing air and water pollution.

For the second year, Sprint received the Sustainability Leadership Award from the International Electronics Recycling Conference for our full-lifecycle product approach. On the design end, we have more environmentally-friendly devices and accessories than any other carrier. We recently launched our fourth green device and first eco-friendly Android phone – the new Samsung Replenish. It’s made with 82 percent recyclable materials, and is the first phone in the U.S. with a solar battery cover. And it’s the first mobile device to receive UL Environment’s Platinum certification.

At the other end of the lifecycle, Sprint’s industry-first Electronics Stewardship Policy gave us the opportunity to work with environmental organizations like BSR, Basel Action Network and ABI Research to develop goals. The new national e-waste policy will enhance progress in the area of sustainable electronics management. Sprint’s commitment to the new national strategy will boost our goals in several areas including greater transparency in our operations.

Sprint is honored to be among the first companies to sign the new sustainable electronics management policy and to make our commitment public.

ROUND2′s new Atlanta facility expands company capacity 52%

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:29:12 +0000

ROUND2 INC has opened a new e-waste processing facility in Atlanta, Ga.

The 258,000 square foot facility increases the company’s processing capacity by 52 percent and is expected to handle 4 million pounds monthly.

“Our strategic expansion into Atlanta creates green jobs and aligns with our commitment to support the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship developed by U.S. federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration,” said Paul Adamson, ROUND2’s VP of Corporate Development. “The Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Department of Economic Development and QuickStart Technical College System of Georgia were all very helpful in the site selection process. Over the next 12 months we plan to hire 200 employees for this electronics ReDistribution Center to divert electronics from landfills and support the U.S. based green economy.”

The new Georgia facility joins ROUND2 processing facilities in Austin and Coppell, Texas, and Grove City, Ohio.

“Georgia is a great consumer of technology, and green companies such as ROUND2 play an important part of the cycle,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “Our top-notch Quick Start workforce development program will play an integral role, and our great Georgia workforce will enable the company to grow and thrive here.”

“Atlanta continues to grow as an advanced manufacturing and renewable energy hub,” said Hans Gant, senior vice president of economic development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “ROUND2’s selection of metro Atlanta reinforces our region’s position as a growing center for clean tech sustainable jobs.”

ROUND2 INC. offers a range of integrated asset disposition, technology recovery and recycling solutions. The company is R2 Certified, ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001: 2004, and OHSAS 18001: 2007 registered.

Maine e-waste firm adds CRT processing capabilities

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:51:30 +0000

EWaste Recycling Solutions, of Auburn, Maine, is expanding its CRT recycling business thanks to new electronic takeback laws in that state.

The Sun Journal reported the expansion on its website.

EWaste Recycling Solutions recycles CRTS and electronics, and is one of the only state firms approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to process through the state-run system.

“We are going to do a little ramp-up here, hiring a couple of people right off, quick,” CEO Rick Dumas told the newspaper. “Then we plan to do a couple of tests just to make sure that the process we have in place is working. As soon as we verify our process and procedures, we should be able to add 18 people.”

The company currently has 29 employees.

While the company has its own shredding technology, the company is adding technology to separate leaded from unleaded glass. Unleaded glass will be recycled, and leaded glass is sent to a smelter in New Brunswick, Canada, the company said.

Maine’s new takeback law allows homeowners to recycle covered electronics, including CRT monitors and TVs free of charge.

NAID expands certification to include solid-state memory devices

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:35:37 +0000

Press release from the National Association for Information Destruction:

Effective immediately, the NAID Board of Directors has approved the launch of the NAID AAA Certification Program for Sanitization Operation that process solid state memory devices, including mobile phones, smart phones, memory chips and computers.

Prior to this development, NAID program for certifying Sanitization only applied to convention hard drives.

Companies that are already NAID AAA Certified for Sanitization Operations can now add a Solid State Memory Endorsement to their current status at their next announced audit (not applicable to unannounced audits) for no additional fee.

Firms that applying for NAID AAA Certification that are exclusive focused on solid state applications will pay a fee that is consistent with all Sanitization Operations audits: $2,580 per year, which includes all application fees and the cost of all announced and unannounced audits.

For more information, see NAID’s website.

Oregon collects 12.2 million pounds for electronics recycling in six months

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:56:47 +0000

News outlets in Oregon are reporting the Oregon E-Cycles program is gaining steam in its thid program year.

Halfway through 2011, totals from collection sites and events amounted to 12.2 million pounds of e-waste collected for recycling, up from last year’s mid-year collection total of 11.9 million pounds for recycling, reports OregonLive.com.

Reuse is also growing, the program reported – nearly 18,000 TV, computer and monitor units have been diverted for reuse so far this year.

E-waste recycling in Oregon became obligatory in 2009 after the passage of producer responsibility laws in the state.

Each year, collection goals of 19 million pounds and 21.5 million pounds have been surpassed, the website reported. The program is on track to meet its 2011 collection goal of 22.95 million pounds.

For more information on electronic recycling in Oregon, Oregon E-Cycles, visit www.oregonecycles.org or call 1-888-532-9253.

WM completes two electronics recycling acquisitions

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:01:27 +0000

Waste Management has purchased two electronics recycling firms, in a series of financial transactions announced Aug. 1.

The company, through its recycling subsidiary WM Recycle America LLC, acquired Access Computer Products, Inc. and Mordell LLC. Access Computer Products provides cell phone, ink and toner cartridge, and consumer electronics reverse logistics, remarketing, and recycling services. Mordell, LLC, a re-commerce partner responsible for refurbishing and selling used computer equipment obtained through Access and other third party suppliers, was also acquired by WM Recycle America. Both are based in Loveland, Colo.

“Waste Management is committed to providing solutions to our customers for managing their electronic waste,” said Pat DeRueda, president of WM Recycle America. “This acquisition will expand Waste Management’s presence in the growing electronics recycling and re-commerce market and provide an additional high value service to our customers. Waste Management is committed to maximizing the value of the components in electronic materials as well as other materials it manages.”

The company has a partnership with Cartridge World to recycle ink cartridges, announced in May 2011.

This acquisition contributes to Waste Management’s sustainability goal of tripling the amount of material it recycles to 20 million tons by 2020.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the largest provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also the largest residential recycler and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. For more information visit http://www.wm.com/.