The Ladies Who Launch series gives members of the Ladies Who Launch Incubator a platform for sharing their stories of giving back and doing good through their business'.
The other day I realized that the charger for my Blackberry was actually to someone else's Blackberry and that (weirdly) it wouldn't work to recharge mine. Who knows where it came from -- much less how to get it back to them -- which leaves me in a lurch trying to figure out what to do with the thing. Do you "store" it on some far away basement shelf hoping that someday, someone might ask you if you found it? Do you toss it? And what about a computer that not even the Salvation Army will take? Incubator member Krista Botsford not only has the answer but wisely has created a business built on telling the IBMs of the world (and us), exactly what to do with defunct, broken or out-of-use electronic gadgetry.
Electronic Waste: What Can Be Done?
Have you ever thought about where your old electronic devices go? What happens to discarded appliances after they are removed from your home? How can you, as a consumer, make better choices about technology and how you dispose of it?
Electronic waste (e-waste), obsolete computers, monitors, cell phones, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, etc, is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. It is also one of the most complicated. It's one thing to recycle a beverage container, yet quite another to recycle all the parts in a personal computer (PC). When we dispose of electronic items improperly, we create a dangerous situation in which hazardous materials can be released into the environment. Even with effective management and our current recycling methods, there is an increasing amount of discarded e-waste ending up in landfills and other rapidly filling waste repositories.
These days most of us are familiar with efforts to recycle paper, plastic and glass. But with the life cycle of electronics running from six months to two years, we need to do more to create comprehensive recycling programs and to educate about them.
I began my work with hazardous substances in electronic waste (e-waste) while working for IBM in 2003. I was a component engineer working in the technology and reliability department. The European Union had just implemented two directives (European laws) pertaining to electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). The two directives focused on both the waste stream for electronics and restricting hazardous substances within electronics. Both directives promote the "environmentally conscious" recycling of e-waste.
In 2005, I left IBM to pursue working in a smaller company to consult on e-waste and restricting hazardous substances in electronics. Here are some consumer actions based on what I have learned working with companies.
Actions you can take:
* Investigate the product and company for eco-offerings.
* Does the gadget come with a recycling or refurbishment plan -- is it part of the purchase price? Does the manufacturer take the old one as part of the new purchase?
* Is the product made from renewable or recovered resources?
* Is the product recyclable or made from a percentage of materials which can be recycled?
* Lead by example. Teach the young to respect technology and its impact on the environment.
* Can you replace the older item with a newer one with minimal impact?
* Is the new gadget necessary? Or is it just "nice to have"?
* Investigate upgrades or refurbished items rather than new.
* Can you trade in your old gadget towards a discount on a new one?
* Is a refurbished unit available rather than a brand-new one?
* Ask for recycling information at the town or municipality level.
* Many municipalities offer a recycling program free of charge to residents -- but may not realize the recycler they are using may also offer a program for electronics recycling. Ask your local government to inquire about an e-waste program.
It all goes back to the old saying -- "Think Global; act local." I would urge you to consider what you plan to do with the gadget you are buying replacing? Trade-in? Charity donation? Every gadget will enter the waste stream, but not every gadget needs to become part of the problem.
There was a recent article highlighting the lack of e-waste recycling happening in the United States.
For more general information on e-waste, visit www.weeeman.org. It is a website from the European Union, which is leading the electronics recycling movement. The United Kingdom has a web page which has more information from the legislative side.
For a more local focus, search on words such as e-waste, e-cycling, recycling, electronic waste adding your local area information.
Name: Krista Botsford
Boston, MA
Business: Botsford Eco-Tech Strategies (Formerly www.5-Trees.com)
Web site: www.5-trees.com
Email: kbots@5-trees.com