In some ways it pains me to quote Heidegger, but I think he gets things right there in this account of how public opinion is, literally, manufactured as the production, distribution, and destruction of physical meaning:
The forester who measures the felled timber in the woods and who to all appearances walks the forest path in the same way his grandfather did is today ordered by the industry that produces commercial woods, whether he knows it or not. He is made subordinate to the orderability of cellulose, which for its part is challenged forth by the need for paper, which is then delivered to newspapers and illustrated magazines. The latter, in their turn, set pubic opinion to swallowing what is printed, so that a set configuration of opinion becomes available on demand
--Heidegger, Martin. (1977). Basic Writings from Being and Time (1927) to The Task of Thinking (1964). Trans. Joan Stambaugh, J. Glenn Gray, David Farrell Krell, John Sallis, Frank A. Capuzzi, Albert Hofstadter, W. B. Barton, Jr., Vera Deutsch, William Lovitt, and Fred D. Wieck. Ed. David Farrell Krell. New York: Harper & Row, p. 299.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
EVEN THE DAILY MAIL IS ONTO THIS
Forget plasma and LCDs: How the 3mm-thick, eco-friendly OLED is the TV of the future
By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 8:05 AM on 26th May 2009
Once they were a must-have for every living room. But LCD and plasma TVs could be about to go the way of the cathode ray tube.
A new generation of super-slim screens will revolutionise home entertainment, according to the makers.
The OLED sets boast the thinnest TV screen created. At its narrowest point it is the width of a pound coin. And technological advances make the image far sharper than on LCD and plasma screens.
Enlarge OLED TV
The Sony XEL-1 is currently the only OLED TV on the market and priced at £3,500. The screen is just 3mm thick
The Organic Light- Emitting Diode TVs have a contrast rating of 1,000,000 to 1, about ten times sharper than most LCD screens.
The first OLED TV to reach consumers was Sony's 11in £3,489 Bravia XEL, which went on sale this year.
More...
* How to... get the most out of your WiFi
* The new generation DVD that can hold all of your movies on just one disc
Sony recently unveiled a new Walkman music and video player using an OLED screen to take on Apple's iTouch, while large-screen TVs, priced at £5,000, could be in shops by Christmas.
Panasonic is expected to launch a 40in OLED television next year and, according to online speculation, Apple will make a 15in Oled notebook on which users will be able to download movies.
Enlarge bendy OLED light
The Orgacon prototype is a flexible OLED lighting panel. Companies such as Japan's NHK are working on creating bendy TVs
Apple is also rumoured to be planning to include an OLED screen in the next generation of iTouch and iPhone devices, which could be unveiled within days.
The OLED TV uses display technology based on organic materials which emit light naturally, once an electric charge is passed through them, rather than being back-lit as in LCD and Plasma screens.
This means the screens are much thinner and use up to 40 per cent less energy.
Dark areas appear black rather than dark grey because the relevant cells are simply switched off.
sony oled
OLED screens have a contrast rating of 1,000,000 to 1, producing remarkably sharp images
Jim Clark, of retail analyst Mintel, predicted that OLED televisions would become the dominant television from 2012, when cheaper models arrive in the shops in time for the World Cup.
However, the screens have a limited lifespan. An OLED set will last 30,000 hours, about ten years for someone using the TV eight hours a day.
By contrast, a Sony LCD TV lasts twice that long.
OLED
An OLED (organic light emitting diode) is 200 times smaller than a human hair. Two layers of organic material are sandwiched between two conductors. When a current passes from the cathode to the anode a bright light is produced by the organic material
RESEARCHERS at Japan's public broadcaster NHK have developed a flexible OLED display that's 5.8in and can display moving images in colour.
The screen could one day be used as a light-weight television that could be rolled up after use.
It is currently in the early stages of development and the prototype on show at DHK shows lines that are stuck on one colour. This is because connections are vulnerable to breaking due to the flexible screen.
By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 8:05 AM on 26th May 2009
Once they were a must-have for every living room. But LCD and plasma TVs could be about to go the way of the cathode ray tube.
A new generation of super-slim screens will revolutionise home entertainment, according to the makers.
The OLED sets boast the thinnest TV screen created. At its narrowest point it is the width of a pound coin. And technological advances make the image far sharper than on LCD and plasma screens.
Enlarge OLED TV
The Sony XEL-1 is currently the only OLED TV on the market and priced at £3,500. The screen is just 3mm thick
The Organic Light- Emitting Diode TVs have a contrast rating of 1,000,000 to 1, about ten times sharper than most LCD screens.
The first OLED TV to reach consumers was Sony's 11in £3,489 Bravia XEL, which went on sale this year.
More...
* How to... get the most out of your WiFi
* The new generation DVD that can hold all of your movies on just one disc
Sony recently unveiled a new Walkman music and video player using an OLED screen to take on Apple's iTouch, while large-screen TVs, priced at £5,000, could be in shops by Christmas.
Panasonic is expected to launch a 40in OLED television next year and, according to online speculation, Apple will make a 15in Oled notebook on which users will be able to download movies.
Enlarge bendy OLED light
The Orgacon prototype is a flexible OLED lighting panel. Companies such as Japan's NHK are working on creating bendy TVs
Apple is also rumoured to be planning to include an OLED screen in the next generation of iTouch and iPhone devices, which could be unveiled within days.
The OLED TV uses display technology based on organic materials which emit light naturally, once an electric charge is passed through them, rather than being back-lit as in LCD and Plasma screens.
This means the screens are much thinner and use up to 40 per cent less energy.
Dark areas appear black rather than dark grey because the relevant cells are simply switched off.
sony oled
OLED screens have a contrast rating of 1,000,000 to 1, producing remarkably sharp images
Jim Clark, of retail analyst Mintel, predicted that OLED televisions would become the dominant television from 2012, when cheaper models arrive in the shops in time for the World Cup.
However, the screens have a limited lifespan. An OLED set will last 30,000 hours, about ten years for someone using the TV eight hours a day.
By contrast, a Sony LCD TV lasts twice that long.
OLED
An OLED (organic light emitting diode) is 200 times smaller than a human hair. Two layers of organic material are sandwiched between two conductors. When a current passes from the cathode to the anode a bright light is produced by the organic material
RESEARCHERS at Japan's public broadcaster NHK have developed a flexible OLED display that's 5.8in and can display moving images in colour.
The screen could one day be used as a light-weight television that could be rolled up after use.
It is currently in the early stages of development and the prototype on show at DHK shows lines that are stuck on one colour. This is because connections are vulnerable to breaking due to the flexible screen.
neat essay
SMART IDEAS / TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY
Dumping On Consumer Electronics
By Dave Jansen | Friday | 22/05/2009
We live in highly technologically advanced times. The world around us is driven by electronics, both consumer and commercial. We use them with wanton abandon and produce millions of new products every year.
The problem is, we don't generally think about what happens to the products we throw away when it's time to replace our phones, computers, MP3 players and whatnot. This rubbish is known as electronic waste (e-waste) and presents massive challenges when it comes to safe disposal and recycling.
In Australia, most of our e-waste ends up in rubbish dumps. There is no government legislation outlawing e-waste being dumped at the tip, so most of us don't give it a second thought when he put it in the trash. The concerns that many environmentalists cite is that these products contain harmful chemicals and metals such as mercury and lead as well as a range of other toxins. Once these break down and get into the soil it can have dramatic effects on the environment including health concerns if it seeps into the water supply.
E-waste is a hot topic at the moment, with many countries looking to address it in a variety of ways. In November 2008, Australia opened an automated recycling plant in Sydney which can process 20,000 tonnes of e-waste a year. However, we tend to produce around 140,000 tonnes so, while a good step, it isn't an overall solution.
Overseas, e-waste recycling programs have been put in place but even they aren't entirely sufficient. While some recycling is being done locally, a great deal of e-waste is being sent to countries like China and Pakistan where they are being broken down in unsafe and even fatal ways. There was a 60 minutes report that spoke of a village in China where a crude form of recycling was being done by impoverished workers in slum-like conditions.
Dumping On Consumer Electronics
By Dave Jansen | Friday | 22/05/2009
In Australia, there is talk of implementing an import tax on some electronics to pay for e-waste recycling costs. There is also a company called 1800ewaste that offers a recycling service for a low cost including pick up and disposal. We spoke to Geordie Gill, General Manager of the company about the services they offer and how they accomplish their recycling. He assured us that none of their waste is being sent to countries like China. A great deal of the Australian recycling is done in a plant in Adelaide with the rest being sent to SIMS, a recycling company in Europe.
"All the resources that go into electronics can be recycled but are simply thrown out each year but that isn't solely the problem", Mr. Sims said, "The government should take control of the situation and ban e-waste in tips".
He went on to say that he had been in talks with major electronics manufacturers to attempt to get them to include recycling in the ticket price of their products. He was told that the profit margins of electronics is so tight that offering a recycling service at an additional cost to the consumer would make it hard to compete in the market.
As it stands at the moment, there is no legal requirement to recycle your electronics. There are drop of points for mobile phones already in place by come phone companies and computer companies like Dell and HP offer recycling but in the end, at least for now, the responsibility lies with the consumers.
Dumping On Consumer Electronics
By Dave Jansen | Friday | 22/05/2009
We live in highly technologically advanced times. The world around us is driven by electronics, both consumer and commercial. We use them with wanton abandon and produce millions of new products every year.
The problem is, we don't generally think about what happens to the products we throw away when it's time to replace our phones, computers, MP3 players and whatnot. This rubbish is known as electronic waste (e-waste) and presents massive challenges when it comes to safe disposal and recycling.
In Australia, most of our e-waste ends up in rubbish dumps. There is no government legislation outlawing e-waste being dumped at the tip, so most of us don't give it a second thought when he put it in the trash. The concerns that many environmentalists cite is that these products contain harmful chemicals and metals such as mercury and lead as well as a range of other toxins. Once these break down and get into the soil it can have dramatic effects on the environment including health concerns if it seeps into the water supply.
E-waste is a hot topic at the moment, with many countries looking to address it in a variety of ways. In November 2008, Australia opened an automated recycling plant in Sydney which can process 20,000 tonnes of e-waste a year. However, we tend to produce around 140,000 tonnes so, while a good step, it isn't an overall solution.
Overseas, e-waste recycling programs have been put in place but even they aren't entirely sufficient. While some recycling is being done locally, a great deal of e-waste is being sent to countries like China and Pakistan where they are being broken down in unsafe and even fatal ways. There was a 60 minutes report that spoke of a village in China where a crude form of recycling was being done by impoverished workers in slum-like conditions.
Dumping On Consumer Electronics
By Dave Jansen | Friday | 22/05/2009
In Australia, there is talk of implementing an import tax on some electronics to pay for e-waste recycling costs. There is also a company called 1800ewaste that offers a recycling service for a low cost including pick up and disposal. We spoke to Geordie Gill, General Manager of the company about the services they offer and how they accomplish their recycling. He assured us that none of their waste is being sent to countries like China. A great deal of the Australian recycling is done in a plant in Adelaide with the rest being sent to SIMS, a recycling company in Europe.
"All the resources that go into electronics can be recycled but are simply thrown out each year but that isn't solely the problem", Mr. Sims said, "The government should take control of the situation and ban e-waste in tips".
He went on to say that he had been in talks with major electronics manufacturers to attempt to get them to include recycling in the ticket price of their products. He was told that the profit margins of electronics is so tight that offering a recycling service at an additional cost to the consumer would make it hard to compete in the market.
As it stands at the moment, there is no legal requirement to recycle your electronics. There are drop of points for mobile phones already in place by come phone companies and computer companies like Dell and HP offer recycling but in the end, at least for now, the responsibility lies with the consumers.
australia loves china
WWW.XINHUANET.COM
>>
Australia's e-waste dumped in China
CANBERRA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Electronic waste from Australian homes such as old computers, televisions and mobile phones were dumped in China which fuels toxic pollution in the country, local media reports Friday.
The Sydney Morning Herald said illegal shipments of electronic waste from Australian homes have been seized from cargo vessels, part of a little-known smuggling trade that fuels toxic pollution in China.
Since 2008, 12 ships carrying "e-waste" have been intercepted leaving Australia for Asian ports without hazardous materials permits, including four so far this year, Australian Customs and the Department of Environment confirmed Thursday.
However, these seizures were the tip of the iceberg, recycling industry sources said.
Only about 4 percent of the nation's e-waste is recycled, the Environment Department says. Most of the rest goes into landfill, and an unknown proportion is shipped overseas illegally.
The Environment Department said it had co-operated with the Australian Customs Service to intercept ships in both Australian and foreign ports. Materials seized had been safely processed in Australia but no prosecutions for illegal shipping of e-waste had been carried out yet.
About 37 million computers have been buried in landfill around Australia, along with 17 million TVs and 56 million mobile phones, according to a report prepared 2008 by the Total Environment Center, using government data.
>>
Australia's e-waste dumped in China
CANBERRA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Electronic waste from Australian homes such as old computers, televisions and mobile phones were dumped in China which fuels toxic pollution in the country, local media reports Friday.
The Sydney Morning Herald said illegal shipments of electronic waste from Australian homes have been seized from cargo vessels, part of a little-known smuggling trade that fuels toxic pollution in China.
Since 2008, 12 ships carrying "e-waste" have been intercepted leaving Australia for Asian ports without hazardous materials permits, including four so far this year, Australian Customs and the Department of Environment confirmed Thursday.
However, these seizures were the tip of the iceberg, recycling industry sources said.
Only about 4 percent of the nation's e-waste is recycled, the Environment Department says. Most of the rest goes into landfill, and an unknown proportion is shipped overseas illegally.
The Environment Department said it had co-operated with the Australian Customs Service to intercept ships in both Australian and foreign ports. Materials seized had been safely processed in Australia but no prosecutions for illegal shipping of e-waste had been carried out yet.
About 37 million computers have been buried in landfill around Australia, along with 17 million TVs and 56 million mobile phones, according to a report prepared 2008 by the Total Environment Center, using government data.
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD STORY COURTESY JEN BARB
Plan to keep old TVs out of landfill in the digital era
Ben Cubby
May 16, 2009
Advertisement
AS PEOPLE begin the switch to digital television, recyclers are expecting a glut of analog TVs to swell the nation's already-bulging stockpiles of electronic waste.
But a new plan to make companies responsible for recycling the millions of televisions they import each year is supported by industry and environment groups.
They point out that almost all televisions, and other used electronic goods such as old computers and mobile phones, are simply dumped in landfill, where dangerous chemicals can leach out.
"The situation we have now is really a national embarrassment," said John Gertsakis, executive officer of Product Stewardship Australia, a group representing about 70 per cent of the companies that import plasma and LCD televisions.
"Most of the other [Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development] countries have systems in place, but we have seen no action yet from the Government," he said.
Australian federal and state governments will consider the scheme when environment ministers converge at the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council meeting on Friday.
The plan for electronic waste, known as e-waste, involves a levy on importers that would be used to collect and process used electronic goods. When old TVs are replaced, they could either be taken to a council depot or back to a retail service centre, where they would be retrieved and recycled.
Product Stewardship Australia says its scheme can be implemented at no cost to people buying new TVs, though it conceded that some retailers might choose to raise their prices slightly to offset the levy.
An estimated 1.5 million televisions are discarded each year, according to the Environmental Heritage and Protection Council, though that figure is thought to have risen since the data was compiled in 2004.
While many of the glass, plastic and circuitry components can be used again, only about 1 per cent or 2 per cent of these 1.5 million televisions are recycled. The recycling rate for computers is believed to be slightly higher.
"There's virtually no recycling of TVs in Australia," said the director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel. "The Government should create a level playing field, where companies that do the right thing are not penalised by paying to do so, and that would lead to a massive boost in recycling."
The NSW Opposition wants the State Government to introduce a levy if no national plan emerges from Friday's ministers' meeting.
"We've got the new Rudd stimulus TVs coming in and now, with the switch to digital, we're about to see the whole national TV inventory completely turned over and at this stage the Government ought to have a clear plan for recycling them," said the Opposition's environment spokeswoman, Catherine Cusack.
But a spokesman for the state Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, said: "The NSW Government is committed to a national approach to solve the problem of e-waste. The minister will be closely examining any proposals put forward at the EPHC meeting in Hobart next week."
Ben Cubby is The Sydney Morning Herald's Environment Reporter.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/05/15/1242335888910.html
Ben Cubby
May 16, 2009
Advertisement
AS PEOPLE begin the switch to digital television, recyclers are expecting a glut of analog TVs to swell the nation's already-bulging stockpiles of electronic waste.
But a new plan to make companies responsible for recycling the millions of televisions they import each year is supported by industry and environment groups.
They point out that almost all televisions, and other used electronic goods such as old computers and mobile phones, are simply dumped in landfill, where dangerous chemicals can leach out.
"The situation we have now is really a national embarrassment," said John Gertsakis, executive officer of Product Stewardship Australia, a group representing about 70 per cent of the companies that import plasma and LCD televisions.
"Most of the other [Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development] countries have systems in place, but we have seen no action yet from the Government," he said.
Australian federal and state governments will consider the scheme when environment ministers converge at the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council meeting on Friday.
The plan for electronic waste, known as e-waste, involves a levy on importers that would be used to collect and process used electronic goods. When old TVs are replaced, they could either be taken to a council depot or back to a retail service centre, where they would be retrieved and recycled.
Product Stewardship Australia says its scheme can be implemented at no cost to people buying new TVs, though it conceded that some retailers might choose to raise their prices slightly to offset the levy.
An estimated 1.5 million televisions are discarded each year, according to the Environmental Heritage and Protection Council, though that figure is thought to have risen since the data was compiled in 2004.
While many of the glass, plastic and circuitry components can be used again, only about 1 per cent or 2 per cent of these 1.5 million televisions are recycled. The recycling rate for computers is believed to be slightly higher.
"There's virtually no recycling of TVs in Australia," said the director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel. "The Government should create a level playing field, where companies that do the right thing are not penalised by paying to do so, and that would lead to a massive boost in recycling."
The NSW Opposition wants the State Government to introduce a levy if no national plan emerges from Friday's ministers' meeting.
"We've got the new Rudd stimulus TVs coming in and now, with the switch to digital, we're about to see the whole national TV inventory completely turned over and at this stage the Government ought to have a clear plan for recycling them," said the Opposition's environment spokeswoman, Catherine Cusack.
But a spokesman for the state Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, said: "The NSW Government is committed to a national approach to solve the problem of e-waste. The minister will be closely examining any proposals put forward at the EPHC meeting in Hobart next week."
Ben Cubby is The Sydney Morning Herald's Environment Reporter.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/05/15/1242335888910.html
new scholarly journal on computing and the environment
International Journal of Green Computing (IJGC)
http://www.igi-global.com/journals/details.asp?id=34609
http://www.igi-global.com/journals/details.asp?id=34609
Sunday, May 24, 2009
AS EVER, NEOLIBERAL STATES FAIL
UK 'worst electrical recycler'
A study on recycling suggests Britons are the worst in Europe when it comes to recycling electrical equipment.
Computer manufacturer Dell found that fewer than half of UK residents regularly recycled old hardware, compared with more than 80% of Germans.
Within the UK, the Welsh are the worst when it comes to recycling technology; almost 20% have never done so.
It is thought the UK creates enough electrical waste each year to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.
Environmental consultant Tony Juniper said that lack of awareness was a serious issue.
PERCENTAGE WHO DO NOT RECYCLE E-WASTE
# Wales: 19%
# North-West England 17%
# North-East England 15%
# East Midlands 15%
# London 13%
# Scotland 13%
# East of England 11%
# South-West England 11%
# West Midlands 10%
# South-East England 9%
# Northern Ireland 7%
# Source: Dell
"Governments in every country need to make the disposal of old electrical equipment as accessible and commonplace as recycling old paper, plastics and glass," said the former Friends of the Earth director.
In early May, mobile operator 02 looked at what electrical equipment was inside a typical home. It found that there was an average of 2.4 TVs, 1.6 computers, 2.4 games consoles, 3 mobile phones, and 2.2 MP3 players.
Historic legislation
Introduced by the European Commission in 2002, although not coming into force in the UK until January 2007, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) was European legislation designed to "reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it".
Jean Cox-Kearns, recycling manager with Dell, told the BBC that one of the reasons Britain lagged was because other countries had implemented the WEEE directive two years before.
"The UK had historic legislation that they had difficulty in implementing," she said.
There are concerns that many items that are disposed of - especially computer equipment - still work but have been rendered obsolete by new technology. A number of charities actively collect IT equipment so it can be used in the developing world.
Ms Cox-Kearns acknowledged that was preferable to recycling, although she did have reservations.
"I agree we should maximise the use of computer equipment. However, we need to find out what happens to the equipment after they [the recipients] are finished with them, otherwise it is effectively dumping."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8063115.stm
Published: 2009/05/22 12:09:50 GMT
A study on recycling suggests Britons are the worst in Europe when it comes to recycling electrical equipment.
Computer manufacturer Dell found that fewer than half of UK residents regularly recycled old hardware, compared with more than 80% of Germans.
Within the UK, the Welsh are the worst when it comes to recycling technology; almost 20% have never done so.
It is thought the UK creates enough electrical waste each year to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.
Environmental consultant Tony Juniper said that lack of awareness was a serious issue.
PERCENTAGE WHO DO NOT RECYCLE E-WASTE
# Wales: 19%
# North-West England 17%
# North-East England 15%
# East Midlands 15%
# London 13%
# Scotland 13%
# East of England 11%
# South-West England 11%
# West Midlands 10%
# South-East England 9%
# Northern Ireland 7%
# Source: Dell
"Governments in every country need to make the disposal of old electrical equipment as accessible and commonplace as recycling old paper, plastics and glass," said the former Friends of the Earth director.
In early May, mobile operator 02 looked at what electrical equipment was inside a typical home. It found that there was an average of 2.4 TVs, 1.6 computers, 2.4 games consoles, 3 mobile phones, and 2.2 MP3 players.
Historic legislation
Introduced by the European Commission in 2002, although not coming into force in the UK until January 2007, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) was European legislation designed to "reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it".
Jean Cox-Kearns, recycling manager with Dell, told the BBC that one of the reasons Britain lagged was because other countries had implemented the WEEE directive two years before.
"The UK had historic legislation that they had difficulty in implementing," she said.
There are concerns that many items that are disposed of - especially computer equipment - still work but have been rendered obsolete by new technology. A number of charities actively collect IT equipment so it can be used in the developing world.
Ms Cox-Kearns acknowledged that was preferable to recycling, although she did have reservations.
"I agree we should maximise the use of computer equipment. However, we need to find out what happens to the equipment after they [the recipients] are finished with them, otherwise it is effectively dumping."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8063115.stm
Published: 2009/05/22 12:09:50 GMT
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
new survey results on investment in africa
Hi Toby
I'm reaching out to you because I thought you and the readers of Green Citizen would be fascinated by what my firm has recently uncovered about the attitudes toward corporate investment in Africa among leading U.S. corporations -- according to senior officers of 30 American Fortune 100 corporations we interviewed. Why has Africa not attracted more interest from the U.S. business community? We have collected all of the answers and case studies into a news release introducing a study that launched today commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.usafricainvestment.com
We're very excited about the revelations in this paper and would love it if you could let your readers know about what we've uncovered through a post or a tweet. If you are able to post please let me know so that I can share it with the team. If you have any questions or would like to speak to the partners who wrote this paper, let me know and I will set it up.
Thank you so much,
Fabiane
--
Fabiane Dal-Ri
fabiane@usafricainvestment.com
I'm reaching out to you because I thought you and the readers of Green Citizen would be fascinated by what my firm has recently uncovered about the attitudes toward corporate investment in Africa among leading U.S. corporations -- according to senior officers of 30 American Fortune 100 corporations we interviewed. Why has Africa not attracted more interest from the U.S. business community? We have collected all of the answers and case studies into a news release introducing a study that launched today commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.usafricainvestment.com
We're very excited about the revelations in this paper and would love it if you could let your readers know about what we've uncovered through a post or a tweet. If you are able to post please let me know so that I can share it with the team. If you have any questions or would like to speak to the partners who wrote this paper, let me know and I will set it up.
Thank you so much,
Fabiane
--
Fabiane Dal-Ri
fabiane@usafricainvestment.com
Monday, May 18, 2009
kendall barnes finds interesting youtube video
I happened to go to YouTube this morning and saw them advertising a bunch of
videos to help "Clean Congo" from toxins in cell phones and computers, which is
good. But I was just wondering why the concentration on Congo? What about all
of the other countries that get e-waste dumped on them? Why couldn't they have
just had a "Clean E-waste From All Countries" campaign? I just don't get it, maybe
I'm missing something.
-Kendall Barnes
P.S. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=q55DJIclsnM&feature=featured
videos to help "Clean Congo" from toxins in cell phones and computers, which is
good. But I was just wondering why the concentration on Congo? What about all
of the other countries that get e-waste dumped on them? Why couldn't they have
just had a "Clean E-waste From All Countries" campaign? I just don't get it, maybe
I'm missing something.
-Kendall Barnes
P.S. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=q55DJIclsnM&feature=featured
Saturday, May 16, 2009
FRENCH REVELATIONS ON THE DANGERS OF CELL PHONES
Le point sur...
La peur du portable
Le «Grenelle de la téléphonie mobile» inauguré mercredi dernier s'annonçait musclé. Et puis l'ambiance a changé après les déclarations d intention des trois ministres Roselyne Bachelot, Nathalie Kosciusko- Morizet et Chantal Jouanno «d'interdire la commercialisation des portables pour les moins de 6 ans et d'encadrer leur utilisation pour les moins de 12 ans». «Manifestement, on a franchi une étape. Il y a une réelle prise de conscience sur la dangerosité des mobiles», confie Stéphen Kerckhove, de l'association Priartém, pourtant très remontée contre le gouvernement. Il était temps : c est en 2005 que l' Afsset (Agence française de Sécurité sanitaire de l'Environnement et du Travail) suggérait de prendre ces mesures et d'engager une campagne de prévention sur le port de l'oreillette. Une recommandation alors tombée dans l'oreille d'un sourd. Depuis, les premières études nationales de l'enquête «Inter phone» sont venues confirmer les risques. Au bout de dix ans d'utilisation, le risque de déclencher des neurinomes de l'acoustique (tumeur bénigne) est multiplié par quatre. Risque accru aussi pour les tumeurs cérébrales et de la glande parotide. Et pourtant certains opérateurs continuent de faire de la pub sur Google pour des «mobiles adaptés aux enfants». Tandis qu'un fabricant espagnol met sur le marché en janvier dernier un vrai portable, au look de jouet, pour les 6 ans ! Reste la question des antennes-relais, dont la dangerosité est controversée mais qui mettent les opérateurs en grande difficulté. Les décisions judiciaires de démantèlement d'antennes au nom du droit constitutionnel à «vivre dans un environnement équilibré et favorable à sa santé» risquent de se multiplier. Et, comme l'a noté Stéphen Kerckhove lors de la réunion de jeudi, «les baux signés voilà dix ou quinze ans par les particuliers ou les copropriétés pour installer une antenne sur leurs toits arrivent à échéance et beaucoup pourraient ne pas être reconduits» du fait de l'inquiétude de l'opinion. Si les opérateurs souhaitent garder le maillage de leur réseau, ils ont donc intérêt à donner des gages. A rassurer. Après tout, les associations ne demandent pas une éradication. Mais le «redéploiement» de 10% des antennes les plus fortement émettrices. Et le passage, qui peut être progressif, à un taux de 0,6 volt par mètre. Une norme déjà en vigueur en Autriche.
Guillaume Malaurie
Le Nouvel Observateur
La peur du portable
Le «Grenelle de la téléphonie mobile» inauguré mercredi dernier s'annonçait musclé. Et puis l'ambiance a changé après les déclarations d intention des trois ministres Roselyne Bachelot, Nathalie Kosciusko- Morizet et Chantal Jouanno «d'interdire la commercialisation des portables pour les moins de 6 ans et d'encadrer leur utilisation pour les moins de 12 ans». «Manifestement, on a franchi une étape. Il y a une réelle prise de conscience sur la dangerosité des mobiles», confie Stéphen Kerckhove, de l'association Priartém, pourtant très remontée contre le gouvernement. Il était temps : c est en 2005 que l' Afsset (Agence française de Sécurité sanitaire de l'Environnement et du Travail) suggérait de prendre ces mesures et d'engager une campagne de prévention sur le port de l'oreillette. Une recommandation alors tombée dans l'oreille d'un sourd. Depuis, les premières études nationales de l'enquête «Inter phone» sont venues confirmer les risques. Au bout de dix ans d'utilisation, le risque de déclencher des neurinomes de l'acoustique (tumeur bénigne) est multiplié par quatre. Risque accru aussi pour les tumeurs cérébrales et de la glande parotide. Et pourtant certains opérateurs continuent de faire de la pub sur Google pour des «mobiles adaptés aux enfants». Tandis qu'un fabricant espagnol met sur le marché en janvier dernier un vrai portable, au look de jouet, pour les 6 ans ! Reste la question des antennes-relais, dont la dangerosité est controversée mais qui mettent les opérateurs en grande difficulté. Les décisions judiciaires de démantèlement d'antennes au nom du droit constitutionnel à «vivre dans un environnement équilibré et favorable à sa santé» risquent de se multiplier. Et, comme l'a noté Stéphen Kerckhove lors de la réunion de jeudi, «les baux signés voilà dix ou quinze ans par les particuliers ou les copropriétés pour installer une antenne sur leurs toits arrivent à échéance et beaucoup pourraient ne pas être reconduits» du fait de l'inquiétude de l'opinion. Si les opérateurs souhaitent garder le maillage de leur réseau, ils ont donc intérêt à donner des gages. A rassurer. Après tout, les associations ne demandent pas une éradication. Mais le «redéploiement» de 10% des antennes les plus fortement émettrices. Et le passage, qui peut être progressif, à un taux de 0,6 volt par mètre. Une norme déjà en vigueur en Autriche.
Guillaume Malaurie
Le Nouvel Observateur
Friday, May 15, 2009
the idiocy of federalism--folks, this must be national!
REUTERS
ndiana Mandates E-Waste Recyling
Fri May 15, 2009 11:44am EDT
Indiana became the first state to pass a major electronics recycling law in 2009 as Governor Mitch Daniels signed HB 1589 into law Wednesday, making Indiana the nineteenth state to pass a law creating a statewide e-waste recycling program. Eighteen of these 19 states, including Indiana, have adopted "producer takeback" laws, requiring the manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of old products.
The Indiana law is similar to the law passed in 2007 by Minnesota, and requires manufacturers of video display devices (TVs, monitors, and laptops) to collect and recycle 60% by weight of the volume of products they sold in the previous year in Indiana. After the first two years, manufacturers who fail to meet those goals will pay an additional recycling fee for every pound they fall short of their goal.
While the goals are based on sales of video display devices, the program allows consumers, public schools and small businesses to recycle a larger group of products for free, including TVs, computers, laptops, keyboards, printers, fax machines, DVD players, and video cassette recorders. The program begins collection in April 2010.
"With the signing of HB 1589, Indiana has become a leader among states working to regulate electronic waste," said Carey Hamilton, Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC). Hamilton went on to say, "Because of this law, more of our electronic waste will be safely recycled as opposed to land filled, incinerated or exported. We also believe that HEA 1589 will lead to the creation of new green jobs, including sorting, processing, and recycling jobs in Indiana."
The Indiana Recycling Coalition has championed producer responsibility in Indiana as a practical and effective way to reduce electronic waste. They presented this issue to the legislature's Environmental Quality Service Council in October 2008, and led support for the bill throughout the session.
Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, said, "We are already seeing that states which adopted strong laws that include collection goals or convenient recycling standards are getting excellent participation from consumers, who are bringing back their old products in record numbers."
E-waste recycling laws are under consideration in several states, including Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Utah. Hawaii, Missouri, and Texas are considering laws that would add televisions to their current laws, which only cover computer recycling.
The states which have passed e-waste recycling laws are:
2003 California
2004 Maine
2005 Maryland
2006 Washington
2007 Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, North Carolina
2008 New Jersey, New York City, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, Missouri, Hawaii, Rhode Island Illinois and Michigan
2009 Indiana
Earlier this week, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) was praised for instituting the 'highest standard' on e-waste, banning the export of non-working electronics to developing countries.
ndiana Mandates E-Waste Recyling
Fri May 15, 2009 11:44am EDT
Indiana became the first state to pass a major electronics recycling law in 2009 as Governor Mitch Daniels signed HB 1589 into law Wednesday, making Indiana the nineteenth state to pass a law creating a statewide e-waste recycling program. Eighteen of these 19 states, including Indiana, have adopted "producer takeback" laws, requiring the manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of old products.
The Indiana law is similar to the law passed in 2007 by Minnesota, and requires manufacturers of video display devices (TVs, monitors, and laptops) to collect and recycle 60% by weight of the volume of products they sold in the previous year in Indiana. After the first two years, manufacturers who fail to meet those goals will pay an additional recycling fee for every pound they fall short of their goal.
While the goals are based on sales of video display devices, the program allows consumers, public schools and small businesses to recycle a larger group of products for free, including TVs, computers, laptops, keyboards, printers, fax machines, DVD players, and video cassette recorders. The program begins collection in April 2010.
"With the signing of HB 1589, Indiana has become a leader among states working to regulate electronic waste," said Carey Hamilton, Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC). Hamilton went on to say, "Because of this law, more of our electronic waste will be safely recycled as opposed to land filled, incinerated or exported. We also believe that HEA 1589 will lead to the creation of new green jobs, including sorting, processing, and recycling jobs in Indiana."
The Indiana Recycling Coalition has championed producer responsibility in Indiana as a practical and effective way to reduce electronic waste. They presented this issue to the legislature's Environmental Quality Service Council in October 2008, and led support for the bill throughout the session.
Barbara Kyle, National Coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, said, "We are already seeing that states which adopted strong laws that include collection goals or convenient recycling standards are getting excellent participation from consumers, who are bringing back their old products in record numbers."
E-waste recycling laws are under consideration in several states, including Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Utah. Hawaii, Missouri, and Texas are considering laws that would add televisions to their current laws, which only cover computer recycling.
The states which have passed e-waste recycling laws are:
2003 California
2004 Maine
2005 Maryland
2006 Washington
2007 Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, North Carolina
2008 New Jersey, New York City, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, Missouri, Hawaii, Rhode Island Illinois and Michigan
2009 Indiana
Earlier this week, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) was praised for instituting the 'highest standard' on e-waste, banning the export of non-working electronics to developing countries.
GOOD STORY FROM AUSTRALIA
Plan to keep old TVs out of landfill in the digital era
Ben Cubby
May 16, 2009
Advertisement
AS PEOPLE begin the switch to digital television, recyclers are expecting a glut of analog TVs to swell the nation's already-bulging stockpiles of electronic waste.
But a new plan to make companies responsible for recycling the millions of televisions they import each year is supported by industry and environment groups.
They point out that almost all televisions, and other used electronic goods such as old computers and mobile phones, are simply dumped in landfill, where dangerous chemicals can leach out.
"The situation we have now is really a national embarrassment," said John Gertsakis, executive officer of Product Stewardship Australia, a group representing about 70 per cent of the companies that import plasma and LCD televisions.
"Most of the other [Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development] countries have systems in place, but we have seen no action yet from the Government," he said.
Australian federal and state governments will consider the scheme when environment ministers converge at the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council meeting on Friday.
The plan for electronic waste, known as e-waste, involves a levy on importers that would be used to collect and process used electronic goods. When old TVs are replaced, they could either be taken to a council depot or back to a retail service centre, where they would be retrieved and recycled.
Product Stewardship Australia says its scheme can be implemented at no cost to people buying new TVs, though it conceded that some retailers might choose to raise their prices slightly to offset the levy.
An estimated 1.5 million televisions are discarded each year, according to the Environmental Heritage and Protection Council, though that figure is thought to have risen since the data was compiled in 2004.
While many of the glass, plastic and circuitry components can be used again, only about 1 per cent or 2 per cent of these 1.5 million televisions are recycled. The recycling rate for computers is believed to be slightly higher.
"There's virtually no recycling of TVs in Australia," said the director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel. "The Government should create a level playing field, where companies that do the right thing are not penalised by paying to do so, and that would lead to a massive boost in recycling."
The NSW Opposition wants the State Government to introduce a levy if no national plan emerges from Friday's ministers' meeting.
"We've got the new Rudd stimulus TVs coming in and now, with the switch to digital, we're about to see the whole national TV inventory completely turned over and at this stage the Government ought to have a clear plan for recycling them," said the Opposition's environment spokeswoman, Catherine Cusack.
But a spokesman for the state Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, said: "The NSW Government is committed to a national approach to solve the problem of e-waste. The minister will be closely examining any proposals put forward at the EPHC meeting in Hobart next week."
Ben Cubby is The Sydney Morning Herald's Environment Reporter.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/05/15/1242335888910.html
Ben Cubby
May 16, 2009
Advertisement
AS PEOPLE begin the switch to digital television, recyclers are expecting a glut of analog TVs to swell the nation's already-bulging stockpiles of electronic waste.
But a new plan to make companies responsible for recycling the millions of televisions they import each year is supported by industry and environment groups.
They point out that almost all televisions, and other used electronic goods such as old computers and mobile phones, are simply dumped in landfill, where dangerous chemicals can leach out.
"The situation we have now is really a national embarrassment," said John Gertsakis, executive officer of Product Stewardship Australia, a group representing about 70 per cent of the companies that import plasma and LCD televisions.
"Most of the other [Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development] countries have systems in place, but we have seen no action yet from the Government," he said.
Australian federal and state governments will consider the scheme when environment ministers converge at the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council meeting on Friday.
The plan for electronic waste, known as e-waste, involves a levy on importers that would be used to collect and process used electronic goods. When old TVs are replaced, they could either be taken to a council depot or back to a retail service centre, where they would be retrieved and recycled.
Product Stewardship Australia says its scheme can be implemented at no cost to people buying new TVs, though it conceded that some retailers might choose to raise their prices slightly to offset the levy.
An estimated 1.5 million televisions are discarded each year, according to the Environmental Heritage and Protection Council, though that figure is thought to have risen since the data was compiled in 2004.
While many of the glass, plastic and circuitry components can be used again, only about 1 per cent or 2 per cent of these 1.5 million televisions are recycled. The recycling rate for computers is believed to be slightly higher.
"There's virtually no recycling of TVs in Australia," said the director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel. "The Government should create a level playing field, where companies that do the right thing are not penalised by paying to do so, and that would lead to a massive boost in recycling."
The NSW Opposition wants the State Government to introduce a levy if no national plan emerges from Friday's ministers' meeting.
"We've got the new Rudd stimulus TVs coming in and now, with the switch to digital, we're about to see the whole national TV inventory completely turned over and at this stage the Government ought to have a clear plan for recycling them," said the Opposition's environment spokeswoman, Catherine Cusack.
But a spokesman for the state Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, said: "The NSW Government is committed to a national approach to solve the problem of e-waste. The minister will be closely examining any proposals put forward at the EPHC meeting in Hobart next week."
Ben Cubby is The Sydney Morning Herald's Environment Reporter.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/05/15/1242335888910.html
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
AdAge STORY ON GREEN MED PROD
N.Y. Production Studio Designs in Green
The Lab Takes Simple, Eco-friendly Steps to Offset Its Carbon Footprint
By Marissa Miley
Published: May 12, 2009
New York creative production studio The Lab is leading the way when it comes to green business. For several years, the Chelsea-based company has been working to offset its carbon footprint, and now it's moving to make a positive impact on the environment.
"The approach we take is to make sure we zero out our influence," says Julian Schlaver, VP-chief strategic officer, of his company's philosophy.
The Lab has incorporated a number of eco-friendly practices into its business. It recently moved into new offices on the West side and, in choosing and decorating, made sure that there was substantial natural light -- enough for half of the company to work without using artificial light. Mr. Schlaver also says that the power The Lab does need comes from wind sources, and that most sources are local.
"Addressing the energy consumption was a no-brainer for us, in terms of making a difference," he says. In addition to its energy-saving efforts, The Lab relies on special Technotrash Cans to discard industrial products such as computers, ink cartridges and wires. The Sammamish, Wash.-based company that provides these bins, GreenDisk, partners with for-profit and nonprofit organizations across the country to build a web of recycling opportunities in the workplace.
"You can pretty much dispose of anything there," Mr. Schlaver says, estimating that The Lab recycles 60 pounds to 100 pounds a month with the program. He adds that GreenDisk sorts through the materials and provides an accounting so The Lab and its clients are ensured of the destruction of intellectual property.
This year, The Lab has started a new environmental initiative, working with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees. Pledging $2 for every proof it makes, thelab donated money to plant 25,000 trees, which translates to about 182 tons of clean air, Mr. Schlaver says.
Mr. Schlaver says the costs for going green are minimal, both in terms of time and money. "It's just sort of something we wanted to do. It was the right thing to do," he says. "[These] were things that were easy to establish, easy to maintain and make sense."
So why aren't more companies following in The Lab's carbon-free footsteps? Mr. Schlaver isn't sure. He says he hopes that more agencies and clients will catch on soon.
"Collectively if everyone could do something like that, we'd have a huge impact," he says. "It's not much of a burden."
The Lab Takes Simple, Eco-friendly Steps to Offset Its Carbon Footprint
By Marissa Miley
Published: May 12, 2009
New York creative production studio The Lab is leading the way when it comes to green business. For several years, the Chelsea-based company has been working to offset its carbon footprint, and now it's moving to make a positive impact on the environment.
"The approach we take is to make sure we zero out our influence," says Julian Schlaver, VP-chief strategic officer, of his company's philosophy.
The Lab has incorporated a number of eco-friendly practices into its business. It recently moved into new offices on the West side and, in choosing and decorating, made sure that there was substantial natural light -- enough for half of the company to work without using artificial light. Mr. Schlaver also says that the power The Lab does need comes from wind sources, and that most sources are local.
"Addressing the energy consumption was a no-brainer for us, in terms of making a difference," he says. In addition to its energy-saving efforts, The Lab relies on special Technotrash Cans to discard industrial products such as computers, ink cartridges and wires. The Sammamish, Wash.-based company that provides these bins, GreenDisk, partners with for-profit and nonprofit organizations across the country to build a web of recycling opportunities in the workplace.
"You can pretty much dispose of anything there," Mr. Schlaver says, estimating that The Lab recycles 60 pounds to 100 pounds a month with the program. He adds that GreenDisk sorts through the materials and provides an accounting so The Lab and its clients are ensured of the destruction of intellectual property.
This year, The Lab has started a new environmental initiative, working with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees. Pledging $2 for every proof it makes, thelab donated money to plant 25,000 trees, which translates to about 182 tons of clean air, Mr. Schlaver says.
Mr. Schlaver says the costs for going green are minimal, both in terms of time and money. "It's just sort of something we wanted to do. It was the right thing to do," he says. "[These] were things that were easy to establish, easy to maintain and make sense."
So why aren't more companies following in The Lab's carbon-free footsteps? Mr. Schlaver isn't sure. He says he hopes that more agencies and clients will catch on soon.
"Collectively if everyone could do something like that, we'd have a huge impact," he says. "It's not much of a burden."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
DELL SPEAKS
05.12.2009 12:02 pm
Dell adopts plan to prohibit “e-waste” from going to developing countries
By: Kim McGuire
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Environmentalists cheered a new policy formulated by Dell that prohibits electronic waste from being sent to any developing country.
Specifically, Dell will not export - directly or via vendors in its recycling downstream - any non-working electronic product from developed nations to developing nations for recycling, re-use, repair or disposal.
“Even though US laws don’t restrict most exports, Dell has decided to go well beyond these inadequate regulations,” said Jim Puckett, director of the Basel Action Network, a global e-waste group. “Dell deserves high marks for leading the way as a responsible corporate citizen with their new e-waste policy.”
The amount of e-waste in the country is exploding as the technology continues to crank out better products.
According to EPA, about 2.2 million tons of electronics waste were scrapped in 2005. All but a fraction of that amount was dumped in landfills across the country, the agency estimates.
But a 2008 federal study found that a substantial amount of e-waste ends up in China and India where they are often handled and disposed of unsafely.
The moral of that story is consumers should be savy when it comes to choosing a company that recycles electronics.
Here in Missouri, e-waste recycling options continue to grow. Check out the list of companies that have registered for Missouri Department of Natural Resources and be prepared to ask questions about where the waste stream. A good company will know where all the materials they take end up.
Dell adopts plan to prohibit “e-waste” from going to developing countries
By: Kim McGuire
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Environmentalists cheered a new policy formulated by Dell that prohibits electronic waste from being sent to any developing country.
Specifically, Dell will not export - directly or via vendors in its recycling downstream - any non-working electronic product from developed nations to developing nations for recycling, re-use, repair or disposal.
“Even though US laws don’t restrict most exports, Dell has decided to go well beyond these inadequate regulations,” said Jim Puckett, director of the Basel Action Network, a global e-waste group. “Dell deserves high marks for leading the way as a responsible corporate citizen with their new e-waste policy.”
The amount of e-waste in the country is exploding as the technology continues to crank out better products.
According to EPA, about 2.2 million tons of electronics waste were scrapped in 2005. All but a fraction of that amount was dumped in landfills across the country, the agency estimates.
But a 2008 federal study found that a substantial amount of e-waste ends up in China and India where they are often handled and disposed of unsafely.
The moral of that story is consumers should be savy when it comes to choosing a company that recycles electronics.
Here in Missouri, e-waste recycling options continue to grow. Check out the list of companies that have registered for Missouri Department of Natural Resources and be prepared to ask questions about where the waste stream. A good company will know where all the materials they take end up.
IMPORTANT NEW INFO
Published in
Electronics
Published on May 12th, 2009
E-Waste Recovery Rates Increase
by Lori Brown
The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) recently released its 2008 per capita collection index (PCCI) for electronics recycling, showing a 7 percent increase in recovered e-waste from 2007. The PPCI is designed to measure changes in the amount of recovered electronics collected in six representative electronics recycling programs across the U.S.
“We have been gathering these numbers from the same collection programs for the last three years in order to measure the overall trends,” says NCER Executive Director Jason Linnell. “As anyone who runs electronics collection programs will tell you, volumes are increasing.”
asfj sdflasdfj klasdjf akldsjflasdj fls
Electronics that are diverted to landfills can leak hazardous materials like lead, cadmium and mercury into the environment and air. Photo: electronicsrecycling.org
The jurisdictions represented in the PCCI include the states of California, Maine and Delaware, as well as municipalities in Minnesota, Connecticut and Virginia.
Although the PCCI is based on six specific programs, the results suggest a similar trend in electronics recycling nationwide.
“Our PCCI indicated a 23 percent increase in pounds collected from 2006 to 2008,” continues Linnell. “This suggests that consumers with access to these recycling programs are participating in increasing numbers and volumes; and we expect to see these collection rates continue to increase as consumers become more aware of options for recycling electronics through industry voluntary and state-mandated programs.”
The 2008 statistics were announced at the 2009 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Electronics Recycling Summit. ISRI is a private, non-profit trade association, representing more than 1,600 companies that deal in scrap commodities including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, electronics, rubber, plastics, glass and textiles.
Although electronic waste only accounts for 1 to 4 percent of municipal waste, it may lead to as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills.
Lori Brown
Electronics
Published on May 12th, 2009
E-Waste Recovery Rates Increase
by Lori Brown
The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) recently released its 2008 per capita collection index (PCCI) for electronics recycling, showing a 7 percent increase in recovered e-waste from 2007. The PPCI is designed to measure changes in the amount of recovered electronics collected in six representative electronics recycling programs across the U.S.
“We have been gathering these numbers from the same collection programs for the last three years in order to measure the overall trends,” says NCER Executive Director Jason Linnell. “As anyone who runs electronics collection programs will tell you, volumes are increasing.”
asfj sdflasdfj klasdjf akldsjflasdj fls
Electronics that are diverted to landfills can leak hazardous materials like lead, cadmium and mercury into the environment and air. Photo: electronicsrecycling.org
The jurisdictions represented in the PCCI include the states of California, Maine and Delaware, as well as municipalities in Minnesota, Connecticut and Virginia.
Although the PCCI is based on six specific programs, the results suggest a similar trend in electronics recycling nationwide.
“Our PCCI indicated a 23 percent increase in pounds collected from 2006 to 2008,” continues Linnell. “This suggests that consumers with access to these recycling programs are participating in increasing numbers and volumes; and we expect to see these collection rates continue to increase as consumers become more aware of options for recycling electronics through industry voluntary and state-mandated programs.”
The 2008 statistics were announced at the 2009 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Electronics Recycling Summit. ISRI is a private, non-profit trade association, representing more than 1,600 companies that deal in scrap commodities including ferrous and nonferrous metals, paper, electronics, rubber, plastics, glass and textiles.
Although electronic waste only accounts for 1 to 4 percent of municipal waste, it may lead to as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills.
Lori Brown
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MORE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY JISM
--from Motorola--a report worth reading and engaging
http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Corporate/US-EN/corporate-responsibility/cr/cr-home.html
http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Corporate/US-EN/corporate-responsibility/cr/cr-home.html
Friday, May 1, 2009
IT BUSINESS EDGE ON MAY DAY!
State Electronic Recycling Laws Becoming Norm; Nothing Yet at Federal Level
Posted by Lora Bentley May 1, 2009 1:34:38 PM
Earlier this week, I spoke with Matt Decareau, director of business development for recycler M&K Recovery Group. The computer-recycling specialist reports that it "recycled and reclaimed 600,000 pounds of copper-related materials" in 2008.
Moreover, the increased demand for recycling services, driven in large part by corporate America's need to "go green," prompted the company to expand operations in both its Texas and Massachusetts locations. For one week in April, M&K also extended its hours and offered free and discounted electronics recycling in honor of Earth Day. VP Bill Rockett said then, "“It is vital to the health of our community and the global environment that electronic scrap is kept out of landfills... We’re proud to do our part in helping our community do the right thing by recycling their unwanted electronics in an environmentally responsible manner."
Though there is no federal mandate concerning e-waste recycling, at least 21 U.S. states have their own recycling measures on the books, and several have bills pending at one stage or another of the legislative process. (The Electronics Takeback Coalition maintains this list of state recycling laws and where they are in the process. California's is reportedly the most stringent.)
With the new administration's push for sustainability and all the green initatives that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Decareau says the government is in a position to enact federal recycling requirements -- especially with the switch to digital television upon us. However, he says, "Unfortunately, the state of the economy might interfere with making that a priority."
Posted by Lora Bentley May 1, 2009 1:34:38 PM
Earlier this week, I spoke with Matt Decareau, director of business development for recycler M&K Recovery Group. The computer-recycling specialist reports that it "recycled and reclaimed 600,000 pounds of copper-related materials" in 2008.
Moreover, the increased demand for recycling services, driven in large part by corporate America's need to "go green," prompted the company to expand operations in both its Texas and Massachusetts locations. For one week in April, M&K also extended its hours and offered free and discounted electronics recycling in honor of Earth Day. VP Bill Rockett said then, "“It is vital to the health of our community and the global environment that electronic scrap is kept out of landfills... We’re proud to do our part in helping our community do the right thing by recycling their unwanted electronics in an environmentally responsible manner."
Though there is no federal mandate concerning e-waste recycling, at least 21 U.S. states have their own recycling measures on the books, and several have bills pending at one stage or another of the legislative process. (The Electronics Takeback Coalition maintains this list of state recycling laws and where they are in the process. California's is reportedly the most stringent.)
With the new administration's push for sustainability and all the green initatives that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Decareau says the government is in a position to enact federal recycling requirements -- especially with the switch to digital television upon us. However, he says, "Unfortunately, the state of the economy might interfere with making that a priority."
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