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Old Analog TV Can Be Recycled

What Manufacturers Need To Know About Weee: The Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment Directive

What Manufacturers Need To Know About Weee: The Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment Directive - By: Sandra Noble

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Union aims at minimization of the impact of e-waste (discarded or end-of-life electrical or electronic equipment [EEE]), on the environment by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfills. It is closely linked to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC which seeks to limit the presence of six hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment.

There are several categories of electronic waste or e-waste that fall under the WEEE Directive: large and small household appliances as well as consumer products are included. E-waste in this directive means electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) designed for use with voltage ratings of up to 1000V ac or 1500V dc. Hence manufacturers of most electronic consumer goods used in day to day life, fall under the purview of the directive. Since the consequences of non-compliance are serious (including possible ban on doing business in EU countries), manufacturers need to be conversant with the WEEE and the related RoHS directives.

The WEEE Directive seeks to minimize the environmental impact of e-waste by mandating its collection, treatment, recovery and/or recycling should be facilitated and financed by producers. It also proposes that consumers be able to return their waste equipment free of charge. Manufacturers, therefore, need to assess the impact of these requirements and initiate appropriate action for implementation.

This involves setting up collection centers for e-waste, arrangements for transportation to the recovery and/or recycling centers, facilities for recycling and determination of final disposal options. Recovery and recycling of electronic waste is specialized work and recycling plants must conform to certain minimum standards.

Operation of captive recycling facilities may be both uneconomical and beyond the core competence of equipment manufacturers. Hence suitable tie-ups with external recycling establishments may need to be entered into by manufacturers, either singly or through collective arrangements. The foregoing are post-sales activities.

It is very important for a manufacturer to also understand the importance of certain pre-sales actions which impinge upon compliance significantly. These are actions at the design and manufacturing stages.

First is the effort to design equipment which can be dismantled into the smallest possible parts and components. This will facilitate recovery of the parts for reuse; a more economical proposition than say, recycling.

Second, manufacturers must ensure labeling of products is in line with the requirements of the WEEE Directive including a "Do Not Landfill" note.

Third, reduction of hazardous material content in the product greatly reduces the need for expensive recovery efforts. It also contributes to overall environmental conservation. For this reason, the importance of RoHS compliance of products and processes cannot be over emphasized. The sooner manufacturers recognize this fact; the better their profits will be long term.

The WEEE 2002/96/EC Directive is not a law and individual EU member states are to incorporate its provisions into their own legislations. Since differences in the laws across the EU member states are inevitable, multi-national manufacturers may need to develop innovative compliance solutions.

Further, the WEEE Directive is based on Article 175 of the EC (European Community) Treaty - the Treaty establishing the European Union. This allows member states to include additional products as long as they countries adhere to European Community laws governing overall trade and commerce within and beyond the EU. Manufacturers must stay abreast of more environmentally sound practices and current WEEE changes. They also need to be aware of the implication of such changes on their businesses.

Manufacturers have obligations that go beyond the production of electrical and electronic equipment. If they are doing business in the United Kingdom or the European Union (EU), manufacturers must make it convenient for consumers to dispose of that equipment in an environmentally friendly way. And the manufacturers are on the hook for the costs.

Sandra Noble, president, Noble & Associates Consulting: I.T. Strategy Analysis/Assessments, Software Evaluation ERP/Oracle/SAP and the cure for Post Implementation Distress

Noble Finances: A/R Financing, Equipment Leasing and Lawsuit Funding

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

How To Dispose Of E-waste Effectively

How To Dispose Of E-waste Effectively -
By: Neil Maycock

Environmental concerns play a bigger part in our life now then they ever did. One of these concerns is what to do with our electronic waste or e-waste. Computer recycling is the answer.

Rather than disposing of computer parts in land fills, computer recyclers can strip the workable parts of a computer and make working models, while others parts are safely disposed of. Below is a list of computer parts and the safest way to dispose of them.

There are a number of reasons why some computer users may be reluctant to recycle there old equipment:
Security Most computer recovery companies offer a service called data wiping. They will completely erase any data on disk drives or components for your security
Number Of Items Bulk Items can be collected by a collection agency. This will solve any transportation problems when recycling computer parts.

CRT Monitors Perhaps one of the most difficult computer part to dispose of safely is the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor. The problem with crt monitors is the amount of lead in them. There is over four pounds of lead in them. In most countries now it is illegal to dispose of electronic waste at landfills. There are few obvious reasons for this, one of them is that the lead can actually poison drinking water. The best option is to contact a computer recycling program who can take your old monitor off your hands. These are usually donated to charities or schools, and in some situations you may even receive cash for your old equipment.

Cadmium Those unwanted chips and semi-conducters found in mainboards, memory and other electronic cards such as graphic cards contain a high level of cadmium. This has long life span of thirty years and can cause kidney problems. Computer recycling facilities are the safest way to dispose of these, without polluting the environment or risking human or animal life.

Other computer parts such as batteries, motherboards and components can contain Mercury. This is very harmful if not disposed of correctly. In fact it is alleged that this can be more poisonous than arsenic.

Most electronic recycling centers are very flexible in the way the handle collections. They can pickup, have drop in centers or in some areas, events are held where people can bring there electronic items to a designated area. This is very handy to business and universities who may want to dispose of items in bulk.


Environmental concerns play a bigger part in our life now then they ever did. One of these concerns is what to do with our electronic waste or e-waste. Computer recycling is the answer.

Neil Maycock writes articles on Canada Computer Recycling

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

E - Waste

Get Rid Of E-waste By Reusing, Donating, Or Recycling Computers

Get Rid Of E-waste By Reusing, Donating, Or Recycling Computers –

By: Adriana Noton

Have you ever been to the basement of your office building and seen hundreds of obsolete or broken computers sitting in the hallway? What do you do with those CRT monitors you have at home after you replace them with flat screens? What do you do with all of that e-waste? Previously, many people would just toss the computer or monitor in the trash. Thankfully, recycling computers is now easy even for the home user.

Computer technology changes faster than we can keep up. That coupled with the lower cost of computers means that we are replacing obsolete machines at an alarming rate. Why is it important to recycle? If not disposed of properly, computers can turn into toxins or carcinogens when left to rot in a dump. This causes materials such as lead and mercury, to seep into the soil and invade the water table.

Computers contain many resources that can be removed during the recycling process and eventually reused. These elements include tin, silicon, and plastic. Some reclaimed minerals, such as copper and gold, are too valuable to be left in a landfill.

For consumers, recycling e-waste is becoming more and more convenient. One popular method is donation. You can give your computer to a charity. Some common organizations that use the donated computers include libraries, foster homes, animal shelters, or community centers. This helps a cause, and will help you get a bit of a tax break at the end of the year.

Before purchasing a computer, consumers should research to see if the manufacturer offers some type of recycling or take back program. Most of the major manufacturers do offer some sort of program. They will typically require consumers to mail in their obsolete equipment or arrange for a pickup from the company. Some programs are free, while others will charge you a nominal fee if the machine is not their brand.

Companies may also exchange your old computer for a new one. If the computer is still in good working condition, the manufacturer will refurbish the old machine and offer it for sale at a discounted rate. These typically come with some sort of warranty for the new owner. This program is helpful to those that may otherwise not be able to afford a computer.

Businesses, unfortunately, do not have as easy of a time with getting rid of their bulk e-waste. Most manufacturers have corporate recycling programs but will not take back bulk computers that are not theirs. This typically leads business to contact third-party e-waste recycling companies to handle their bulk waste. Corporations must be careful, however. Even if they contract out their e-waste recycling, they are still held responsible if the computers are not disposed of properly.

People may view e-waste recycling and disposal as unnecessary. However, when you think of the number of toxins we are adding to our environment everyday, recycling is vital. By doing a little research and maybe making a trip to a store or post office, you can do your part to help our environment.

Have you ever been to the basement of your office building and seen hundreds of obsolete or broken computers sitting in the hallway? What do you do with those CRT monitors you have at home after you replace them with flat screens? What do you do with all of that e-waste? Previously, many people would just toss the computer or monitor in the trash.

At low prices and with such convenient access, computer recycling is an economically viable option for those seeking quality technology. Another recommended alternative is renting computers calgary, which allows users to conserve money and test the platform first-hand.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com