Posts Tagged ‘weee’
WEEE Recycling: Data Destruction is Essential
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 gold dust 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 individuals. 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 unreadable 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.
Laptops, 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 organisations 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.
Glasgow WEEE Recycling
What is WEEE?
The WEEE 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 electronic equipment the ability to recycle their old items free of charge. Those distributors must either join or set up their own take back scheme and must as a minimum offer all customers buying new electronic 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?
Discarded electrical equipment is the UKs fastest growing type of waste.
Many electronic 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 does 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 electrical 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.
Waste Management| Made simple
Mention waste management to most people and they either don't have a clue what you are talking about, or they actually aren't interested! It just sounds a load of rubbish, what do you care what other people do with stuff they don't want? Nevertheless, once you start delving into what waste management is all about, then you realise there’s a entire cycle of events going on and it is quite an interesting topic to find out about.
Waste management is basically how rubbish and trash is disposed of without causing any harm to other people or the environment. You can find numerous aspects to waste management; these include monitoring, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal or recycling. When carried out correctly, waste management is efficient and very environmentally friendly, and in today’s world is some thing every conscientious company need to take responsibility for.
You can find specialized environmental companies that supply guidance and services for waste collection, not just 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 swiftly, transporting it to be disposed of within the correct manner, or recycled.
Some of the waste services offered to industrial clients include waste collection, recycling and disposal, hazardous waste management, emergency response, laboratory services, asbestos removal and re-Insulation.
Inside the 1st instance the environment service is concerned with monitoring, this would be to identify the sort of waste produced and in what quantity; they can then evaluate the processes they have to put into place to reduce the amount of waste produced. Records are kept to see if techniques put into place are working and, if not, methods might be changed and re-examined to make their implementation far more efficient.
Once the waste has been monitored and assessed it is time for the collection procedure. Skip bins and containers have to be emptied prior to they become too full and prevention of overspill or produce to rot is very essential. Depending on the amount of waste produced will dictate the size and number of containers required, and how often collections will probably be needed. You can find various containers for every sort of waste, some of these include 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 within the cycle is organizing the transportation of all waste products collected.Specially designed waste vehicles make scheduled collections and are responsible for safely transporting it to the landfill, or treatment site where it'll be treated and then processed for Recycling. Vehicles have to meet safety standards and be licensed for this purpose, as waste might be a health hazard and even dangerous if not handled correctly, drivers and personnel connected with the transportation are required to have the necessary training and expertise to deal with any possible danger.
Once the waste has all been collected it needs to be processed. This involves separating the waste collected, treating and then packaging the raw materials and sending the parts that may be recycled to the numerous factories which are all part of the recycling procedure. Materials that can’t be recycled will probably be transported to a landfill, and liquid and hazardous wastes will probably be disposed of safely.
Improvements and new practices in waste management and environmental solutions are within the news all of the time, thanks to research and development projects which are committed to finding far 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 like paper, glass, newspapers and plastic bags to printer cartridges, corks, mobile phones, even fluorescent lamps might be treated and re-used.
Society has experienced a massive learning curve within the fact that if we don't take action now to make certain our waste is processed correctly; nature will gladly do it for us, and in ways which might be detrimental to our environment.
Glasgow WEEE | Edinburgh WEEE | WEEE Scotland
At Go Green, we aid businesses throughout Scotland along with the UK with WEEE compliance. Lately we have been working closely with businesses in Glasgow and Edinburgh for WEEE compliance.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is the European Community directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which, together with the RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC, became European Law in February 2003, setting collection, recycling and recovery targets for all varieties of electrical goods.
The directive imposes the responsibility for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment on the manufacturers of such equipment. Those organizations need to establish an infrastructure for collecting WEEE, in such a way that “Users of electrical and electronic equipment from private households need to have the possibility of returning WEEE a minimum of totally free of charge”. Also, the organizations are compelled to make use of the collected waste in an ecologically-friendly manner, either by ecological disposal or by reuse/refurbishment of the collected WEEE.
At Go Green, we are committed to help businesses cut their electrical and electronic waste and recycle any waste in a compliant manner.
At Go Green, we offer solutions for a number of Environmental problems. Please click on the following link to contact us.
5 Steps to Effective Waste Management
5 Paths to Effective Waste Management
What is efficient 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!
Effective 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.
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.
Your WEEE and EEE Responsibilities
Considering the potential environmental impact, it is imperative that both organisations and individuals implement solutions to reduce the embodied Greenhouse Gas emissions of ICT equipment.
There is a real and potential danger for organisations to find themselves on the wrong side of the law as well as causing environmental damage through negligent e-waste disposal. Under legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), if you are a producer, re-seller or importer of electronic equipment you will have legal obligations with regard to the recycling, reuse and disposal of electronic equipment or components.
New regulations have been introduced to tackle the growing amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe, and in the UK alone; we throw away around 2 million tonnes of WEEE every year, much of which ends up in landfill. The regulations aim to ensure that more WEEE is separately collected for treatment and recovery, and less goes to landfill.
The regulations apply to all companies who import, manufacture, or re-brand electrical equipment in the UK; these companies are known as “producers”. They also affect everyone who uses, sells, treats or disposes of WEEE. They affect the way WEEE is disposed of by setting treatment standards and recycling targets and, importantly, by making producers, rather than end-users, pay for its treatment and recycling in most cases.
Implications for Business Users
Shifting the burden of payment for the treatment, recycling and disposal of WEEE from end-users to producers will have a significant impact on purchasing and disposal arrangements.
Responsibility for Business WEEE
If you bought equipment before 13 August 2005, and are replacing it with new equipment fulfilling the same function, then the producer of the new equipment is responsible for the collection, treatment and recycling of the old equipment, regardless of whether they were the original manufacturer. If you bought the equipment before 13 August 2005 and do not replace it, then you are responsible for financing and arranging treatment in accordance with the WEEE Regulations and existing waste management legislation, including the Duty of Care and the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
If you bought electrical equipment after 13 August 2005, then the producer of that equipment is responsible for its collection, treatment and recycling when you dispose of it. If you lease or rent equipment, the producer is usually responsible for its disposal. The regulations allow producers and business users to agree ‘alternative arrangements’, whereby the business user agrees to take on some or all of the future costs of the end-of-life treatment of the equipment he buys. This is a commercial decision that you will need to make and is likely to form part of the normal negotiating processes for supply contracts in the future.
Collection Arrangements
WEEE from business users may be collected by the obligated producer or the compliance scheme working on its behalf. WEEE may either be collected directly from your premises or you may be asked to take the WEEE to a local collection facility (which should be easily accessible to you).
What You Need To Do
Think about the environmental consequences before deciding to replace equipment. Do you really need to buy a new product? Your equipment could be upgraded or you could buy a refurbished product instead. If you have working equipment that you no longer need, think about passing it on to others instead of throwing it away. Remember to take account of the WEEE Regulations when entering into commercial negotiations and procurement decisions concerning EEE.
If you are buying electrical products from a distributor or other intermediary, make sure that you obtain the producer registration number for the equipment being supplied so that you know who to contact to arrange disposal at the end of its life. Suppliers of EEE should always be able to provide this on behalf of producers.
If the producer is responsible for disposal, establish whether it is the producer or the producer’s compliance scheme who will be arranging for disposal, and whether collection will be from your premises or a local collection facility. Organisations will also need to be aware of their responsibilities under other waste management legislation, such as the Duty of Care and the Specialist Waste Regulations
For further information on WEEE & EEE please Contact Us
WEEE-waste Continues to Grow
Scotland WEEE-waste Continues to Grow
Technology advances have proved to be beneficial for the entire world but it has also given us a menace in the form of weee-waste. With the increasing use of electronic devices and electrical equipment, the collection of weee-waste is also mounting.
WEEE-waste or electronic waste is a term used for those electronic equipment that has reached its end of life in the hand of its current user. These devices when disassembled or destroyed are either taken for reuse or slated for hazardous disposal. Some of the electronic waste can be recycled, while those which cannot be reused is categorised as “waste”.
E-Waste Market Size
The global market of electronic waste is estimated to be £2 billion, and it is predicted to increase at average annual growth rate of 8.8%.
Due to the rising demand of high value engineered plastics, the recycled plastics sector will register the maximum revenue growth. It will grow at 10.2%
The recycled metals market will continue to be dominated by the growth in metals mined from end of life electronic waste, growing at an of 8.1%.
Percentages are approximate.
Recycled glass is low valued hence the recycled glass market continues to be stagnant.
Reasons for Increasing WEEE-Waste
Due to the increasing areas of information society and the dependency of businesses on computer and Internet, the weee-waste has been mounting. Wee e-waste is the fastest growing segment of the waste stream. WEEE-waste has been mounting rapidly with the rise of the information society. In developed countries, e-waste constitutes approx 2% of solid waste but it is expected to grow. The developing countries including, China will be the fastest growing segment of the weee-waste market. The electronic waste in developing countries has the potential to triple the amount of current rates of weee waste.
The rising mount of electronic waste isn’t going to be cut any time soon without businesses and consumers facing up to their responsibilities.
Electronic equipment sales, along with that the rate of obsolescence of electronic equipment is increasing. The life-cycle of the electrical and electronic equipment are shortening. The life period of a television set is reduced to 10 years while that of a computer remains only 2-3 years. All the above mentioned facts are equally responsible for the rising e-waste. In spite of such horrendous situation manufacturers and governments have not kept pace with electronic waste policy and practice. Eventually a high percentage of electronics are ending up in the waste stream releasing harmful toxins into the environment.
At BE Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.