Sep
27

By

Computer Recycling

Category: Computers

 

Computer Recycling

Computer and E-waste Recycling

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams around the world. Rapid technological advances mean that the average computer has a life span of less than 5 years. The problem arises at the end of its useful life and is compounded by the hazardous nature of the waste. Computers contain an array of substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium or brominated flame retardants. These have all been shown to be harmful to humans and damaging to the environment.

In New Zealand most redundant electronic equipment is being landfilled.There is no legislation or industry-related body coordinating an effort to deal with e-waste, although the Waste Minimisation Bill which will help, is currently on its second reading in Parliament (as at March 2008). The lack of available data on the amount of e-waste generated makes it hard to determine the extent of the problem. However, e-waste in New Zealand, from the Computer Access NZ Trust has quotedapproximately 830,000 new computers were sold on the New Zealand market in 2005. There are also an estimated 10 million cathode ray tubescurrently in use or stored awaiting a disposal option in New Zealand.

It has been estimated that there are ten million cathode ray tubes currently in use or stored awaiting a disposal option in New Zealand.

Millions of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) exist in New Zealand as they make up the display device in most computers and televisions. They contain within them many toxic materials as well as the lead such as barium, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Small scale refurbishment and recycling is happening at a local level, where individuals are making huge efforts to extend the usable life of equipment.Organisations epickup.co.nz  and pcrecycling.co.nz in Auckland as well as Remarkit Solutions in Wellington will take old computers for refurbishment and reuse in schools and charitable organisations. Dell has initiated a recycling program in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

For free computer pickup please click on  the request button below

 

Sep
25

By

Mobile phone recycling gets govt backing

Category: Mobile Phones

Photo / AP
Photo / AP

The Government has thrown its backing – but not its money – behind a mobile phone recycling programme.

The scheme – called RE:MOBILE – was established in 2010 by the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF) and as part of it 2degrees, Telecom and Vodafone offer bins and envelopes at their stores for people to recycle mobile phones. To date, around 900,000 phones have been collected in the scheme.

The TCF said today it wants to extend the capability of the programme, which has now been accredited by the Ministry for the Environment.

“This Government seal of approval of our programme is proof that it has met its environmental requirements for accreditation. Now anyone who wants to recycle their phone knows that they are using an approved scheme,” outgoing TCF chief executive David Stone said.

The TCF wants to increase the volume of phones being collected by almost 25 per cent a year and hope more than 292,000 come in annually by 2020.

“E-waste is a growing waste issue as New Zealanders increasingly own multiple devices, such as phones, computers and tablets,” Adams said.

“On average, New Zealanders replace their mobile phones every 18 months, leading to a significant number of phones available for reuse or recycling.

“In fact, it is estimated that each year up to three million mobile phones become obsolete in New Zealand. Of those, only about 2 per cent are recycled.

“There is significant potential for improved efficiency in the use of resources if we can capture and process e-waste,” she said.

A spokesman for Adams said the Government did not provide any funding but that the accreditation helped to market the scheme.

In the scheme, the phones are sent to Swapkit New Zealand, which collect and sort the devices into those that can and cannot be reused.

Around 80 per cent of the phones, according to the TCF, are refurbished and resold elsewhere in the world. The remainder are sent to Sims Recycling Solutions and Zero Waste NZ to be broken down and to recover components.

Around 95 per cent of these component materials can be recycled.

Stone said the scheme diverts phones from landfills.

“We hope that people will be encouraged to bring in their unwanted phones to Vodafone, Telecom and 2degrees stores around the country following the Government endorsement of this programme. Over 70% of kiwis have at least one unconnected mobile in their house, this tells us that there are many phones still lying around in people’s homes,” Stone said.

Around a third of Swapkit’s profits from phone recycling is donated to the Starship Foundation.

Swap kit undertook a survey as part of the announcement and said 81 per cent of those who took part were not sure where to recycle a phone.

Sep
25

By

E-waste fast becoming global blight

Category: Auckland, International, National

Grim study reveals demand for new products results in huge dumping of electronic equipment
Electronic scrap creates a significant recycling problem world-wide. Photo / AP
Electronic scrap creates a significant recycling problem world-wide. Photo / AP

Grim study reveals demand for new products results in huge dumping of electronic equipment

They are on our person, in our homes and in our workplaces, many of them harbouring heavy metals and toxic materials which are dangerous to people and the environment unless they are properly recycled.

Yet the soaring international demand for electric and electronic products is fuelling a global rise in e-waste, which is set to reach 65.4 million tonnes annually by 2017.

The grim forecast is from a new study, which has mapped more than 180 countries. It reveals that, in just five years, the yearly amount of e-waste will rise by 33 per cent from the 49 million tonnes of used electrical and electronic items generated last year.

Worldwide, the US is the worst offender with 9.4 million tonnes of e-waste each year, with around 26,500 tonnes being sent to poorer countries each year.

Mobile phones form the bulk of the 14 million used electronic products exported with most used phones destined for Hong Kong, and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Old computers are generally sent to Asian countries, while heavy items like TVs and computer monitors end up in places such as Mexico, Venezuela, Paraguay and China.

Another contributor to the global e-waste mountain is China, producing around 7.3 million tonnes a year and ranked second in the world after the US for its volume of e-waste.

Britain is another major contributor, ranking sixth in the world in terms of the total amount – creating around 1.4m tonnes of waste a year.

From unwanted flat-screen TVs to mobile phones, from fridges to microwaves, the UK is the worst offender in the EU.

A new report by Wrap (Waste & Resources Action Plan), an independent body created by the British Government to promote recycling, reveals that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of e-waste are being dumped in landfills across the country.

Wrap is now working with a number of leading retailers and manufacturers to develop a Sustainable Electricals Action Plan. This aims to improve the sustainability of electrical products by developing industry standard guidance on design and buying specifications for major household appliances aimed at extending their life.

 

Sep
24

By

A solution for old computers

Category: Computers, Uncategorized

 

Individuals and businesses can drop off their old computers and mobile phones at a somewhat leisurely pace in Tauranga from Monday.
Tauranga-based company Computer Recyclers has organised an eWeek to replace the eDay event that was scrapped by Environment Bay of Plenty earlier this month.
If successful, the week-long event, which has the support of Environment Bay of Plenty and the Tauranga City Council, could be held more regularly.
Neale Overend, owner of Computer Recyclers, said his staff had received calls from more than 60 people who were frustrated the eDay hadn’t gone ahead as expected.
“There was a lot of disappointment but the problem with eDay was that businesses couldn’t recycle their electronic waste.
“During eWeek, we’re allowing businesses to come down and dispose of their e-waste if they want to.”
The drop-off point is at 124 Aerodrome Rd. It will operate from 8am to 5pm from November 29 to December 3.
In keeping with the popular style of eDay, motorists can simply drive in and remain in their vehicles while a team of 18 volunteers pick up their unwanted items.
Neale says anything that plugs into a computer can be dropped off – hard drives, printers, keyboards, mice and monitors. Mobile phones and LCD TVs will also be accepted.
Last year, Environment Bay of Plenty and local councils spent $29,000 on eDay events.
The cost of Tauranga’s eDay event at Baypark Stadium, where 56 tonnes of e-waste was dropped off, was $17,000.
The other $12,000 was spent on other eDay events in Whakatane and Rotorua.
Neale says spreading the event over five days will be more convenient for users.
“People will have more time to get in, they won’t have to panic or wait in long queues and there will be less of a traffic problem.”
After eWeek, Neale and his team will sort through the tonnes of electronic equipment and identify anything that can be repaired and reused.

“We will reuse what’s viable and give it to schools or community groups.”

Sep
24

By

Ewaste set to blow-out with no dumping

Category: E-waste Recycling, Uncategorized

A spiralling electronic waste (ewaste) problem could see nearly four million television sets and personal computers — each containing toxic cathode ray tubes — dumped in the next few years, a new report says.
The eDay New Zealand Trust’s report was released in the wake of a decision by the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund to deny funding for this year’s eDay waste collection.
“Our desire for the latest gadget has resulted in this huge environmental crisis in New Zealand and the world,” trust chair Laurence Zwimpfer said.
“Computer sales are on the increase and we are facing a disposal deluge of CRT TVs with the imminent switch to digital television in September 2012.”
The trust has called on the industry and the Government to work together to solve the increasing problem through a national co-regulatory ewaste product stewardship based recycling scheme.
“We are not talking about heavy handed government intervention. We’re calling on the Government to give the IT and TV industries a clear commitment to support an industry managed scheme with the necessary regulations to ensure all suppliers and importers contribute equitably to the costs of a national recycling scheme,” Mr Zwimpfer said.
The news of the funding denial was a “huge blow to the 60 communities that participated in eDay last year and have been encouraging their citizens to store their ewaste for this year’s event, that is now not likely to happen”, he said.
However Mr Zwimpfer said the eDay Trust would continue to look for alternative ways to provide a free ewaste disposal service to communities until product stewardship was in place.

– HAWKES BAY TODAY

Sep
24

By

Helping solve e-waste crisis

Category: E-waste Recycling

The launch of an e-waste service in Masterton is a step in the direction of finding a viable, long-term solution to electronic waste, says Councillor Chris Peterson.

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in New Zealand, with about 80,000 tonnes being disposed of each year.

The new e-waste service is available at the Wairarapa Resource Centre. Residents can drop off their old computers, printers, fax machines and other unwanted electronic items for recycling.

Mr Peterson, who is on the resource centre committee, said e-waste contained some “nasties” and toxic chemicals, and New Zealanders were producing “mountains of the stuff”.

“A landfill is not a good place for it.”

He said many electronic gadgets were manufactured using expensive and rare resources.

Mr Peterson said the council wanted to raise awareness and provide a year-round service.

“I used to be involved with eDay, a day once a year where we could take all your [electronic] stuff for free.

“The Government realises that one day a year isn’t going to do it, they’re trying to encourage facilities that run over the year,” he said.

He said council was subsidising the service, which cost $10 per television and $5 for other items.

It is anticipated an increased subsidy on TVs will be available in the coming weeks, which will allow them to be recycled at the $5 rate. The service began on Tuesday.

– WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE

Sep
24

By

Computer Recycling and Disposal Tips

Category: Computers

Wait…don’t throw that old computer in the landfill! Recycling or reusing computers is easy and good for the environment.

Seventy-five percent of all obsolete computing equipment is currently in storage. In other words, it’s gathering dust in that unused office, shoved under a desk somewhere, or being used as a plant stand in the corner. But good options for disposal and recycling of old computers abound.

The following are EasyTech’s top tips for safely getting rid of unused computer equipment. You’ll free up storage space while helping our environment stay clean and green.

Computer Recycling

Many of the basic components in an old computer can be reused. This includes plastic from keyboards, metal from computer housing, and glass from older monitors. At the same time, toxic substances in computers like lead and cadmium need to be kept out of landfills and groundwater. Since January 2012, Staples has recycled more than five million pounds of electronics.

Fortunately, computer recycling is now an easy option in most communities. Many towns have public drop-off stations for your unused equipment, while computer retailers such as Staples offer free recycling as well. These recyclers will ensure electronic equipment and batteries are responsibly reused.

Computer Reuse

Recycling your old computers is a great choice when they are broken and beyond repair, but equipment that still works can be sold or donated to charity. Many schools, churches, and other community organizations will be happy to take your computers when your office decides to make an upgrade. In fact, computers that are broken yet repairable are often welcomed by these kinds of institutions. (Be sure to ask before donating equipment that is not in working order.)

Another option, offered by Dell and Goodwill, is called the Dell Reconnect program. This service is a residential computer-recycling program that offers recyclers the opportunity to drop off old gear at Goodwill locations. This free service is tax deductible and not only are you recycling gear, you’re also giving the community an opportunity to use technology they might otherwise be unable to afford.

Selling your outdated computing equipment is another option. Many businesses may be surprised to know that their unwanted computers can be listed on popular classified ad sites and turned into a bit of extra cash. Just because you might not need those old computers doesn’t mean someone else might not, and if that’s the case there are effective recycling programs out there like Gazelle that actually pay you fairly well for your gear when it’s no longer wanted.

Computer Upgrades

We all like brand new things—new cars, new houses, new computers. But before you decide on junking your old computer equipment, find out whether component upgrades might be a better option. The addition of more memory or storage, or adding better graphics capability, can give an old computer new life. RAM upgrades might save you money and reduce your impact on the environment.

You might also be able to use some of the components in your old computers with your newer systems. Old hard drives can serve as data storage or backup receptacles. Your old monitor can be hooked up in tandem with a new monitor for extra viewing area (a dual monitor setup often provides small business users with a productivity boost. Want to know how? It’s a snap! Just follow these official dual-monitor setup instructions from Microsoft).

Before You Recycle

Proper computer disposal means being careful of our environment. It also means being careful with the data those old computers contain. You don’t want customer or financial information getting into the wrong hands when you dispose of your computers.

Erasing files from your computer won’t be enough to keep a determined data thief from getting at your information. Data-wiping software can make information retrieval more difficult, although even this might not stop a sophisticated crook.

If you are donating or selling old computers and they contain sensitive information, you might consider removing the hard drive first and disposing of it separately. Retailers that offer computer recycling usually ensure that data is effectively destroyed in their disposal process, so this is a good option when privacy is a concern.

Sep
23

By

Old mobiles phones won’t go to waste

Category: E-waste Recycling

Old Mobile phones can now be recycled at Vodafone, 2degrees and Telecom stores across the Bay under a new recycling scheme.

Environment Minister Amy Adams yesterday announced the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum’s (TCF) old mobile phones recycling programme had received government recognition.

The scheme, known as RE:MOBILE, is the first product stewardship scheme dealing with e-waste was accredited under the Waste Minimisation Act.

RE:MOBILE aims to increase the number of phones collected annually for reuse or recycling to nearly 300,000, reduce the number of mobile phones going to landfill by 2 per cent, and reduce the number of old phones stored at home by 10 per cent by 2020.

Ms Adams said Old Mobile phones was a growing issue as New Zealanders increasingly own multiple devices, such as phones, computers and tablets.

“On average, New Zealanders replace their old mobile phones every 18 months, leading to a significant number of phones available for reuse or recycling.

“In fact, it is estimated that each year up to three million old mobile phones become obsolete in New Zealand. Of those, only about 2 per cent are recycled,” she said.

Ms Adams said there was significant potential for improved efficiency in the use of resources if New Zealanders can capture and process e-waste.

“Voluntary schemes, such as the  mobile phone scheme, are helping New Zealanders recycle resources wisely and raise awareness of the opportunities to do more to minimise waste.”

Vodafone, Telecom and 2degrees have in-store recycling bins around New Zealand where people can drop off their old mobile phones.

They also offer a free mail-in service for old phones, and there are regular community-based recycling campaigns.

The old mobile phones are sorted into those that can be sold overseas for reuse and those suitable for recycling.

Old Mobile phones are sent to local recyclers for dismantling before the parts are sold overseas.

The scheme covers mobile and smart phones, their batteries and accessories such as chargers, data cables and head-sets.