Posts Tagged ‘Waste’
WEEE Recycling: Data Destruction is Essential
May 5, 2012 | 
Author Your company data may no longer be of value to you once you have done what you need to do with it, but it is valuable to your competitors. That is why any media, from paper to Flash memory cards, that contains business data must be thoroughly wiped before disposal.
The risks of disposal of computers containing data that you may believe has been wiped but has really just been lightly erased include putting yourself or your customers at risk for identity theft as well as making data available to unscrupulous competitors. Even recycling a computer to comply with WEEE recycling regulations does not include proper data destruction techniques.
These techniques include degaussing, in which magnetic patterns that conform to actual data are realigned so that the data is inaccessible and unrecoverable, shredding, which entails shredding media into very fine bits that cannot be reassembled, and software wiping, in which all HEX values on the entire volume of a disk are overwritten using special software. In the United kingdom, such software must meet Data protection Act standards to be considered effective for data destruction.
Computers, including internal hard disk drives and other internal media storage devices, must be recycled according to WEEE regulations (EU). However, if data remains available on any part of the device before, during or after WEEE recycling procedures, it still poses a threat to your company security. Therefore, devices that hold data and are subject to WEEE recycling regulations must undergo a thorough process of data destruction before recycling can take place.
Hard drive destruction is absolutely imperative before WEEE recycling can start. This is because even when a disk drive is seemingly erased, the information on it can be recovered and made available without your knowledge. Ensuring that an expert with security cleared personnel destroys the hard drive by methods such as degaussing and shredding is the only way you can be sure that any data that was ever available on a drive that is slated for disposal can never be accessed again. Software wiping is recommended only for hard disk drives that will be reused after the data stored on them is fully destroyed.
Media tape drives are also easily accessible if they are not fully and professionally destroyed prior to disposal. Degaussing and shredding are the most recommended techniques for destruction of media tape drives.
Even CD’s and DVD’s which contain sensitive and confidential data should never be disposed of without making the data completely inaccessible. Complete physical destruction of the media through precision shredding that is offered by professional media disposal firms is the only way to ensure that data on a CD or DVD is fully inaccessible.
Flash memory cards, external memory sticks, and similar devices must also be subject to data destruction measures if they have ever held sensitive data. A specialist firm which handles data destruction should be consulted regarding such memory devices as their small size makes it very easy for them to end up in the wrong hands.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
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Tags: Business, Change, computer recycling, Data, Destruction, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Edinburgh WEEE, electrical waste recycling, Energy, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, recycle, Recycling, Reduce, Security, uk weee, Vital, Waste, waste management, weee | 
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Glasgow WEEE Recycling
What is WEEE?
The Waste Electrical or Electronic Equipment Directive requires countries to maximise separate collection and environmentally friendly processing of these items. In the UK, distributors (including retailers) must provide a system which allows all customers buying new electrical equipment the ability to recycle their old items free of charge. Those retailers must either join or set up their own take back scheme and must as a minimum offer all customers buying new electrical equipment free take back of their old electronics on a like-for-like basis.
Look for the “You can now recycle your old electricals with us” If you can’t see this take your business elsewhere.
There is so much talk these days about WEEE Recycling. But what is it exactly?
Why recycle?
End of life electronic equipment is the UKs fastest growing type of waste.
Many electrical items can be repaired or recycled, saving resources and the environment. If you do not recycle, WEEE will end up in landfill where hazardous substances will leak out and cause soil and water contamination – harming wildlife and also human health.
To remind you that old electrical equipment can be recycled, it is now marked with a crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. Please do not throw any electronic equipment (including those marked with this symbol) in your bin
Types of WEEE
1. Large household appliances
Large cooling appliances, Refrigerators, Freezers, Other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food, Washing machines, Clothes dryers, Dish washing machines, Cooking, Electric stoves, Electric hot plates, Microwaves, Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food, Electric heating appliances, Electric radiators, Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture, Electric fans, Air conditioner appliances, Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment
2. Small household appliances
Vacuum cleaners, Carpet sweepers, Other appliances for cleaning, Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles, Irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing, Toasters, Fryers, Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages, Electric knives, Appliances for hair-cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and other body care appliances, Clocks, watches and equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating or registering time, Scales
3. IT and telecommunications equipment
Centralised data processing: Mainframes, Minicomputers, Printer units, Personal computing: Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), Laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), Notebook computers, Notepad computers, Printers, Copying equipment, Electrical and electronic typewriters, Pocket and desk calculators, Other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation or communication of information by electronic means, User terminals and systems, Facsimile, Telex, Telephones, Pay telephones, Cordless telephones, Cellular telephones, Answering systems, Other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications
4. Consumer equipment
Radio sets, Television sets, Video cameras, Video recorders, Hi-fi recorders, Audio amplifiers, Musical instruments, Other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and image than by telecommunications
5. Lighting equipment
Luminaries for fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households, Straight fluorescent lamps, Compact fluorescent lamps, High intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps, Low pressure sodium lamps, Other lighting or equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with the exception of filament bulbs
6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)
Drills, Saws, Sewing machines, Equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending or similar processing of wood, metal and other materials, Tools for riveting, nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar uses, Tools for welding, soldering or similar use, Equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substances by other means, Tools for mowing or other gardening activities
7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment
Electric trains or car racing sets, Hand-held video game consoles, Video games, Computers for biking, diving, running and rowing, Sports equipment with electric or electronic components, Coin slot machines,
8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)
Radiotherapy equipment, Cardiology, Dialysis, Pulmonary ventilators, Nuclear medicine, Laboratory equipment for in-vitro diagnosis, Analysers, Freezers, Fertilization tests, Other appliances for detecting, preventing, monitoring, treating, alleviating illness, injury or disability
9. Monitoring and control instruments
Smoke detector, Heating regulators, Thermostats, Measuring, weighing or adjusting appliances for household or laboratory equipment, Other monitoring and control instruments used in industrial installations (for example, in control panels)
10. Automatic dispensers
Automatic dispensers for hot drinks, Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans, Automatic dispensers for solid products, Automatic dispensers for money, All appliances which deliver automatically all kind of products.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. To find out more on WEEE Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in computer recycling, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, Green IT, landfill, London Recycle, London WEEE, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Business, computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Edinburgh WEEE, electrical waste recycling, ENVIRONMENTAL, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, recycle glasgow, uk weee, Waste, weee, WEEE Glasgow | No Comments »
Waste Management – What Happens to the Waste in your Rubbish Bin?
Each year in the UK alone, 22.5 million tonnes of waste is thrown in rubbish bins or waste bins around the home and office. All this waste has to be managed and waste management is of vital importance to ensure we are not all knee-deep in rubbish.
Waste management is becoming increasingly more important as government’s across the globe are trying to reduce the impact of waste on the environment. But what happens to all that rubbish that ends up in our waste bins and wheelie bins?
There are only really three methods for disposing of waste that we throw into our rubbish bins:
Landfill
Recycling
Incineration
And there are advantages and disadvantages in each method of waste management.
Landfills: land fills are either holes in the ground that are naturally forged such as canyons or ravines; holes forged by former industrial processes like mines or quarries; or just mounds where rubbish we place in our waste bins piles up.
Land fills are not necessarily detrimental to the environment. While they do create greenhouse gases such as methane, this is actually offering potential benefits as not only can the methane be captured to prevent it damaging the environment but also it can be used as a method of creating energy.
And while it is true that landfills can cause pollutants to enter the water table. Land fills can be covered over once used and the land can be converted into nature parks which can offset any damage the original land fill had on the environment.
Recycling: recycling is not just done at home by separating our rubbish by using a recycling bin. Much of what ends up in our conventional waste bin is now being recycled by waste management teams. And while recycling is obviously good for the environment, there are detrimental effects too. Some of our waste is exported abroad in vast quantities to be recycled but this can have harmful effects due to the carbon costs of transportation and the damage to local environment where the rubbish ends up, as often these are developing nations that have less stringent environmental rules.
Incineration: Incineration is perhaps the most environmentally unfriendly method of getting rid of the rubbish in our waste bins. Unfortunately, there are many nations that are forced to incinerate a lot of rubbish due to constraints in land space. The only alternative is to ship the rubbish abroad which is not only financially costly but also has environmental costs too.
Taking Action on Waste
Glasgow recycling is all about how we need to be taking action on waste, which is essential for our continued sustainability.
We consume natural resources at an unsustainable rate and contribute unnecessarily to climate change. there are many facilities in and around Glasgow which can help you recycle your waste.
Failing to recycle means that most of our waste ends up in landfill, where biodegradable waste generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. And much valuable energy is used up in making new products which are later disposed of, also contributing to climate change.
That people produce waste is a fact of life we cannot change. However, we can change how much we produce, how we manage it and what we do with it. Indeed, managing waste in a sustainable way, optimising recycling and re-use, as well as limiting production, forms a core part of Government policy to protect the environment.
Recycling is a way every individual can help the environment every day – and it is easier to do than it has ever been. Indeed, the latest figures show that in general we have not only met, but exceeded, our targets for recycling and composting household waste.
Moving to more sustainable waste management requires enormous changes: new facilities, new skills, new investment and new attitudes. As such, there are immense challenges ahead for Government, local authorities, and the public.
Although waste awareness initiatives are not a new concept, engaging the public remains a high priority; only then can we hope to encourage more householders to use more recycling facilities, more of the time.
At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in carbon emissions, computer recycling, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, ghg emissions, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, landfill, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle UK, recycling, Skip Hire, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, electrical waste recycling, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Recycling, Waste, waste Glasgow, waste management | No Comments »
Waste Management| Made simple
Mention waste management to most folks and they either don't have a clue what you're talking about, or they genuinely aren't interested! It just sounds a load of rubbish, what do you care what other folks do with stuff they don't want? However, once you commence delving into what waste management is all about, then you realise there’s a whole cycle of events going on and it's quite an fascinating topic to discover about.
Waste management is essentially how rubbish and trash is disposed of with out causing any harm to other people or the environment. You'll find several aspects to waste management; these contain monitoring, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal or recycling. When carried out correctly, waste management is efficient and extremely environmentally friendly, and in today’s world is something every single conscientious business really should take responsibility for.
You'll find specialized environmental firms that offer guidance and services for waste collection, not only for householders, but also for industries and companies. They're experienced in all areas of waste management solutions and will remove all your waste efficiently and speedily, transporting it to be disposed of inside the correct manner, or recycled.
A few of the waste services provided to industrial clients contain waste collection, recycling and disposal, hazardous waste management, emergency response, laboratory services, asbestos removal and re-Insulation.
In the very first instance the environment service is concerned with monitoring, this is to identify the kind of waste produced and in what quantity; they can then evaluate the processes they need to put into place to decrease the quantity of waste produced. Records are kept to see if strategies put into place are working and, if not, methods may be changed and re-examined to make their implementation a lot more efficient.
Once the waste has been monitored and assessed it's time for the collection process. Skip bins and containers need to be emptied just before they become too full and prevention of overspill or produce to rot is quite critical. Depending on the quantity of waste produced will dictate the size and number of containers needed, and how often collections is going to be required. You'll find various containers for every kind of waste, some of these contain drums for hazardous liquid waste, tanks for acid or caustic waste, collection bins for e-waste and bulk bins and skip bins for construction site waste.
Next inside the cycle is organizing the transportation of all waste items collected.Specially created waste vehicles make scheduled collections and are responsible for safely transporting it to the landfill, or treatment site where it will be treated and then processed for Recycling. Vehicles need to meet safety standards and be licensed for this purpose, as waste may be a health hazard and even harmful if not handled properly, drivers and personnel connected with the transportation are needed to have the necessary training and experience to deal with any potential danger.
Once the waste has all been collected it needs to be processed. This entails separating the waste collected, treating and then packaging the raw materials and sending the parts that may be recycled to the several factories which are all component of the recycling process. Materials that can’t be recycled is going to be transported to a landfill, and liquid and hazardous wastes is going to be disposed of safely.
Improvements and new practices in waste management and environmental solutions are inside the news all the time, thanks to research and development projects which are committed to discovering a lot more efficient and secure ways of disposing of waste. There are numerous issues which are recyclable now that just a couple of years ago would have been thrown into a rising landfill, everyday items such as paper, glass, newspapers and plastic bags to printer cartridges, corks, mobile phones, even fluorescent lamps may be treated and re-used.
Society has experienced a enormous learning curve inside the fact that if we don't take action now to make certain our waste is processed properly; nature will gladly do it for us, and in ways which may be detrimental to our environment.
Posted in computer recycling, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Energy, Food Recycling, Food Waste, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, landfill, London Recycle, London WEEE, Packaging Waste, Plastic Recycle, Plastic Recycling, Plastic waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle London, Recycle UK, recycling, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, Waste Plastic, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Basics, computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Efficiency, electrical waste recycling, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, environmental management, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, ISO14001, London recycling, Management, Recycling, Reduce, Reducing, uk recycling, uk weee, Waste, waste management, waste recycling, weee | No Comments »
Increased fine for Company Charged with breaching waste regulations
A FIRM who broke waste dumping laws had their fine increased more than 11 times to £90,000 recently.
The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh upheld a challenge brought by the Crown over the level of the sentence imposed on Doonin Plant.
They were originally fined just £8000 for breaking environmental laws as they dumped waste at Bardykes bing between Blantyre and Cambuslang, Lanarkshire.
Lord Clarke said the conduct of the company had involved “a blatant and complacent disregard” of its responsibilities.
The judges said they were satisfied that the original fine was unduly lenient.
(source Daily Record)
Could this be just the start of increased fines for companies flouting the environmental regulations?
Posted in computer recycling, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Energy, Environmental accounting, Food Recycling, Food Waste, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, London Recycle, London WEEE, Packaging Waste, Plastic Recycle, Plastic Recycling, Plastic waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle London, Recycle UK, recycling, Skip Hire, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste, Waste management, Waste Plastic, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Business, computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Edinburgh WEEE, Emissions, Energy, fines, Footprint, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, Waste, waste management, waste permits | No Comments »
New Plastic Recycling Discovery!
A new method has been developed to recycle plastic which would normally end up in landfill.
At persent approximately 12% of plastic found in household plastic and packaging is currently processed.
Now, however, a process has been developbed by Warwick University which could mean 100% of this type is waste can be recycled.
Municipal plastic solid waste is often too time-consuming and labour intensive to separate and clean and ends up going straight to landfill rather than being recycled.
Engineers at the University have invented a process that can cope with every piece of plastic waste and can even break some polymers, such as polystyrene, back down to its original monomers.
The researchers have devised a unit which uses pyrolysis (using heat in the absence of oxygen to decompose of materials) in a ‘fluidised bed’ reactor.
Tests have shown that the researchers have been able to literally shovel in to such a reactor a wide range of mixed plastics, which can then be reduced down to useful products. Many of these products can then be retrieved by simple distillation.
The products the Warwick team have been able to reclaim from the plastic mix include: wax that can be then used a lubricant; original monomers such as styrene that can be used to make new polystyrene; terephthalic acid which can be reused in PET plastic products, methylmetacrylate that can be used to make acrylic sheets, carbon which can be used as Carbon Black in paint pigments and tyres, and even the char left at the end of some of the reactions can be sold to use as activated carbon at a value of at least £400 a tonne.
This research could have a significant impact on the budgets of local authorities and produce considerable environmental benefits.
The lead researcher on the project, University of Warwick Engineering Professor Jan Baeyens, said:
“We envisage a typical large scale plant having an average capacity of 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.
“In a year tankers would take away from each plant over £5 million worth of recycled chemicals and each plant would save £500,000 a year in land fill taxes alone.
“As the expected energy costs for each large plant would only be in the region of £50,000 a year the system will be commercially very attractive and give a rapid payback on capital and running costs.”
The work will be of great interest to local authorities and waste disposal companies who could use the technology to create large scale reactor units at municipal tips which would produce tanker loads of reusable material.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in carbon emissions, carbon reduction, Climate Change, CO2, computer recycling, CRC, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Energy, Food Recycling, Food Waste, Footprint, ghg emissions, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, London Recycle, London WEEE, Packaging Waste, Plastic Recycle, Plastic Recycling, Plastic waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle London, Recycle UK, recycling, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, Waste Plastic, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Benefits, Business, Change, Climate, computer recycling, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, electrical waste recycling, Emissions, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, household plastic, London Plastics, London Recycle, plastic recycling, Plastics, Recycling, Reduce, Renewable, Uk Plastic recycling, UK Plastics, warming, Waste, waste plastic | No Comments »
5 Steps to Effective Waste Management
5 Paths to Efficient Waste Management
What is effective waste management?
There is more to waste management than collecting rubbish and dumping it at landfill. Although this is a vital step in the process, there is a lot more to it!
Efficient Waste Management is a system : Monitoring, Collection, Transportation, Processing, Disposal / Recycle. Through these steps a company can effectively and responsibly manage waste output and their positive effect they have on the environment. Not to mention the potential to save/make money from waste sources.
Monitoring is identifying the waste management needs, identifying recycling opportunities and ways to minimize waste output, and reviewing how waste minimization is progressing. Through keeping records of the different waste streams, a customer can see the results of their efforts in becoming more environmentally friendly, and a more efficient business.
Collection involves the logistical organization to guarantee that bin containers will not overfill and waste sit time does not become too long. The correct bin container size and service frequency is a must to prevent overspill or excessive smell. The correct bins for different wastes must be available with sticker and bin colour identification. Locks, chains, lids and bars prevent public access and non-trained personnel putting rubbish in the incorrect bins.
Cooperation between the waste company and customer is vital. Bins must be accessible to the truck driver at the agreed times. Access to work premises outside work hours will cause an issue if unaddressed. Bin wheels can allow customers to move bins from convenient areas to serviceable locations.
Transportation is the organizing of waste transport vehicles with the authorization and ability to transport the specified wastes from a customer’s work residence to landfill or processing plant. A waste must be transported by the vehicle designed for it. For example, general waste requires a vehicle with thicker compacter walls, to that of a cardboard and paper waste transporting vehicle. Therefore, a customer may require a series of vehicles to meet their waste management needs.
Vehicles, drivers, and companies need licenses and approval to transport waste. EPA standards need to be upheld as well as General Public Safety. Safety standards are vital to the transportation of clinical and hazardous wastes. Drivers must undergo training for emergency circumstances that may arise.
Processing involves the separation of recyclables for treatment, and then after treatment are packaged as raw materials. These raw materials are sent to factories for production. Non-recyclable wastes by-pass this step and are delivered straight to landfill or processing plants. Liquid and hazardous wastes are delivered to treatment plants to become less hazardous to the public and environment.
Disposal / Recycling is the disposal of non recyclables into landfill. Landfill sites must be approved by legal authorities. Legal authorities guarantee that specific wastes are buried at the correct depth to avoid hazardous chemicals entering the soil, water tables, water systems, air, and pipe systems.
In this step the raw materials made from recyclables are produced and sold as products on the market. Companies can purchase such products to further sustain the environment and natural resources.
In conclusion, waste management is a science that addresses the logistics, environmental impact, social responsibility, and cost of an organization’s waste disposal. It is a detailed process that involves human resources, vehicles, government bodies, and natural resources.
Learn more about waste management by contacting Be Seen Go Green.
Posted in Carbon accounting, carbon emissions, Carbon footprint, Carbon management, carbon reduction, Climate Change, CO2, computer recycling, CRC, CSR, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Energy, Food Recycling, Food Waste, Footprint, ghg emissions, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, Green IT, Packaging Waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle UK, recycling, Skip Hire, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE UK, wheelie bin | Tags: Business, Change, Climate, computer recycling, Corporate, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Effective, electrical waste recycling, Enterprise, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, Footprint, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, Green, Management, recycle edinburgh, recycle glasgow, recycle London, Recycle UK, Recycled, Recycling, Steps, Waste, waste management, weee | No Comments »
WEEE Compliance, there is no option
The purpose of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste. The WEEE directive protects landfills and regulates the disposal of end-of-life electrical or electronic equipment (EEE) also known as e-waste. The related RoHS Directive strives to limit the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of electronic equipment.
The WEEE Directive provides a guide for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The “polluter pays” principle means collection and recovery is largely at the manufacturer’s expense. Specified products include such things as large and small household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer equipment, IT and telecommunications equipment.
Reduction of hazardous material content in products at the manufacturing stage will reduce the content of such pollutants in electronic waste. This will enhance the economic feasibility of recycling. Hence RoHS compliance, which in any case is needed for doing business in the EU, is the first important element for any effective recycling. Increased efforts to design products that facilitate recycling of WEEE components and materials are extremely beneficial.
Recycling is one of several waste disposal options. Its effectiveness depends, to a large extent on the type of material to be recycled and the availability of appropriate technology. E-waste such as a computer can be discarded by the original users, but it may still be perfectly functional equipment. In this case material recovery and reuse is a better alternative than recycling. In fact the reuse of waste electrical and electronic equipment is the preferred economic option.
Recycling is technology and material specific. It is mandatory to collect electronic waste separately from municipal waste. While primary administrative responsibility lies with the state, manufacturers have an important role in educating customers on proper waste disposal. The WEEE directive mandates collection of electronic waste at the manufacturer’s cost. Manufacturers must not only ensure that convenient collection points are set up for consumers but must also make provisions for the transportation of the waste materials to the recycling plant.
The WEEE directive mandates that recycling sites should conform to certain minimum standards to prevent adverse environmental impact when treating waste EEE. In most cases, it will not be feasible for a single manufacturer to operate its own recycling center.
Throughout the WEEE recovery chain, producers are required to finance the cost of e-waste collection from consumers; transportation to the recycling center; treatment; recovery and disposal. Producers will generally need to collaborate with other manufacturers to collectively bear the cost for the recycling and waste disposal obligations.
The WEEE and the RoHS are here to stay and further strengthening of environmental regulations is inevitable. One such step is the impending Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), regulations which beacme effective from June 1, 2007 within the European Union. The REACH regulation will control the use of a very wide range of chemicals and is not limited only to the electronics sector.
With these legislations it is important to adopt a proactive approach, ensuring compliance by producers, distributors and end users alike, of the WEEE electronic recycling directive.
This will surely provide the producers and distributors with increased competitiveness, within a competitive market, differentiating themselves from those who continue to break the law.
At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in carbon emissions, Carbon footprint, computer recycling, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, Food Recycling, Food Waste, Footprint, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, Glasgow waste, glasgow weee, Green IT, Iso14001, landfill, London Recycle, London WEEE, Packaging Waste, Plastic Recycle, Plastic Recycling, Plastic waste, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle London, Recycle UK, recycling, Skip Hire, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, Waste management, Waste Plastic, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE London, WEEE UK | Tags: Business, Complying, computer recycling, Country, Directive, edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh Recycling, Edinburgh WEEE, electrical waste recycling, Electronic, Emissions, Enterprise, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, glasgow eee, glasgow recycle, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, Recycling, Reducing, Waste, weee, weee edinburgh, WEEE Glasgow, WEEE London, WEEE Recycle | No Comments »
Why Recycle My Computer?
Electronic rubbish, and computer equipment in particular, is a rapidly expanding stream of UK waste. Low prices allow consumers to replace “gadgets” often, and rapid technological change means there are always newer, better, more powerful products on the market. The result is a burgeoning computer waste mountain. For example up to 30 million “obsolete” PCs are discarded annually in the USA alone.
Why is it important to recycle computer equipment?
Also known as e-waste, discarded computer equipment comprises monitors, printers, hard drives and circuit boards. Such items should on no account be thrown out with your household rubbish because they contain toxic substances, and are effectively hazardous waste. E-waste often ends up in the developing world, and the UN’s Environment Programme is alarmed by the amount of electronic goods which is improperly disposed of overseas. There is increasing concern about the pollution caused by hazardous chemicals and heavy metals in Africa, Asia and South America.
| What’s in my PC? | |
| Material | Proportion |
| Plastic Ferrous metals Non-ferrous metals Electronic boards Glass |
23% 32% 18% 12% 15% |
A single computer can contain up to 2kg of lead, and the complex mixture of materials make PCs very difficult to recycle.
This is why the WEEE regulations came in to being, imagine what would happen if we continued to send
the above to landfill?
At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in computer recycling, Edinburgh Recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, eee, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, Recycle Edinburgh, Recycle UK, recycling, UK Recycle, UK WEEE, weee, WEEE Edinburgh, WEEE UK | Tags: edinburgh recycle, Edinburgh WEEE, electrical waste recycling, glasgow eee, glasgow recycling, glasgow weee, recycle edinburgh, recycle glasgow, Recycling, uk weee, Waste, weee, weee edinburgh, WEEE UK | No Comments »