EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I work for an office equipment company selling copiers, fax machines, computers and printers. Each year new models come out making old ones obsolete. As a result, we have loads of trade-ins with nowhere to go. What can we do with this old equipment? — Jeff P., Worcester, MA

Electronic waste, or “e-waste” as it’s called, is a growing problem in the United States and abroad, as obsolete or broken computers and other electronic equipment are taking up increasingly precious amounts of landfill space and potentially leaking hazardous substances into surrounding ecosystems.

The nonprofit Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition reports that 70 percent of the heavy metals in U.S. landfills are from discarded electronics—even though the e-waste itself accounts for only two percent of the trash by volume. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans trash two million tons of unwanted electronics each year—six times the amount they recycle. To make matters worse, U.S. companies often ship old equipment to poor nations whose landfills and incinerators are ill equipped, subjecting already struggling populations to lead, cadmium, beryllium, and other contaminants.

So what can be done? If your old units still work but have merely been eclipsed by newer models, then by all means donate them to a needy cause that will either put them to good use or resell them to help fund their programs. You’ll earn a tax deduction for a charitable donation and, by keeping the equipment alive, prevent the manufacture of new units and thus, if ever so slightly, reduce the footprint of your operations.

But not every charity accepts old equipment, and no one wants to spend all day calling around to find one that does. A good place to look, then, is Goodwill, which will accept your equipment and then sell it through any one of its 1,500 retail stores across the country. Proceeds fund programs to help the disabled, illiterate, homeless, and those on welfare by providing job training and placement programs. The Salvation Army runs similar programs and also typically accepts donated old office equipment.

Another option is to donate your equipment to needy schools, either directly or via a service like iLoveSchools.com, which helps teachers find free supplies and equipment for their classrooms. The National Cristina Foundation also matches donated technology with needy schools and nonprofits. Also, the website GreatNonprofits.org maintains a list of charities in need of various types of office equipment. You can also offload equipment via Freecycle, a free service that helps find homes for unwanted stuff.

While finding a new home for your old gear is preferable, recycling is also an option. Recyclers harvest parts from old equipment that can be reused or resold. Several websites, including My Green Electronics, E-cycling Central, and Earth911, list electronics recyclers across the U.S. Some of these vendors will charge a small fee to recycle an item for you; others may do it for free. Also, Office Depot, Staples and some other stores will take back used electronics—even if not purchased there—usually for a small fee.

CONTACTS: Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, www.svtc.org; Goodwill, www.goodwill.org; Salvation Army, www.salvationarmy.org; iLoveSchools.com, www.iloveschools.com; National Cristina Foundation, www.cristina.org; GreatNonprofits.org, www.greatnonprofits.org; Freecycle, www.freecycle.org; E-cycling Central, www.ecyclingcentral.com; Earth911, www.earth911.org; Office Depot, www.officedepot.com; Staples, www.staples.com.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk® is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

Photo credit: George Hotelling, courtesy Flickr.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Earth Talk: Electronic “e-waste.”

Happy Happy Monday! Hope everyone is holding their own in this crazy world! This morning I bring you a company that I really owe a visit, since they are located on my own neck of the woods, Greenville, SC. Gretchen & Grace Greenwear, owned an operated by Darcy Tarr, offers a range of products like clothes, stationery, bath and home decorations to help you make your green journey more eco-fashionable.  The website is very functional with clear product images, has easy navigation and you can rest assured knowing that Darcy has researched and hand picked each item for it’s sustainability factors.

When looking thru her site I knew I had to check out this set of drink coasters:

This product is made of recycled magazines. The paper is first cut and then folded into long strips which are soaked in glue and dried. Once dry it is hand coiled, piece by piece until the desired shape is completed. 3″x3″.

This line was so intriguing to me since it really closed the loop on reduce, recycle, reuse.  The package arrived in a timely fashion and the coasters were so cool and a great conversation piece. The only downside to the coaster that I found was you can’t use them for a sweaty drink.  The glue that holds the strips together does get gummy.  I definately need to put my thoughts together and figure out what I could use to give these some sort of clear coating (like an apoxy minus the death by fumes… any thoughts?).

Above all Darcy has followed my business goal, figure out what you love to do and do well, and grow your business green! I love that!

Darcy is giving one of my readers a $25.00 gift certificate to Gretchen & Grace additionally ALL of my readers can use coupon code EcoOfficeGals until 07/15/09 for 25% off their purchase! So, go do as many of the below as you wish and leave a separate comment for each one. Good Luck!!

• Visit Gretchen & Grace let us know what you would love to try.
• Visit Gretchen & Grace, subscribe to their newsletter and comment here that you did.
• Follow Gretchen & Grace on Twitter and comment with your Twitter name.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.
• Tweet this giveaway
• Stumble this giveaway
• Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway.
• Subscribe to my feed to stay up to date with the latest from Eco-Office Gals.
• Buy anything from Gretchen & Grace (don’t forget to use your coupon code) and comment 5 times that you did! (I will confirm)

One winner will be chosen on Wednesday 6/17/09. Please don’t forget to leave a separate entry and any entries that show obvious laziness i.e. a simple “Thanks for the great giveaway” will not be published therefore not counted. It’s just not fair for the people that do know how to follow simple directions. US residents only. Thanks!

Here are your random numbers:

94

Timestamp: 2009-06-18 12:53:48 UTC

Congrats Kathy Pease! Headed over to give you a shout now!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Flaunt It! Monday: Gretchen & Grace

Good Monday Morning! Today I am doing a double review and giveaway. It was just meant to be, these products came together by fate. See first, I was introduced to ecosmart world products. They make non-toxic eco-friendly whiteboard markers. As much as I would’ve liked to do a review their product I had nothing to use them on so I had to decline. Fast forward a few weeks and Jaysond of ScienceAide introduces me to their reusable scratch pads. Hello?? So here they are let’s check them out!

I was introduced to this super awesome reusable scratch paper from ScienceAide. I love using this whiteboard scratch paper while on the phone with clients or doing internet research. Just write, erase and reuse, over and over.

Then Eco Smart World has these equally great refillable dry erase pens. These dry-erase pens are recyclable, refillable and xylene free (one of the most toxic chemicals in the world and found in most disposable dry-erase pens) Each starter kit is equivalent to 246 pens

The kit also comes in 6 colors with refill ink and they don’t stink! Yah, you know that nasty dryerase pen stink! Apparently that comes from the toxic xylene.

Now as much as I love these two products I have to admit I haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to use them.  Yep, the girls have taken them over, I have 1 sheet for me… that’s it.  But on the other hand I’m not having to dig up used paper for them to color on, right?

Ok, so 1 winner gets the whole deal, the scratch sheets and the pens!

• Visit ScienceAide or ecosmart world read and learn, then comment here about a point that interested you.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.
• Tweet this giveaway
• Stumble this giveaway
• Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway.
• Subscribe to my feed to stay up to date with the latest from Eco-Office Gals.

A winner will be picked randomly on 3/25/09. Leave a separate entry for each one you do and US residents only, please. Good Luck!

Here are your random numbers:

36

Timestamp: 2009-03-26 01:02:23 UTC

Congrats christopher h

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Flaunt It! Monday: ScienceAide & ecosmart world

So, what will your Green Steps be for 2009?  I have the 3 R’s covered for 2009:

• Reduce – buy a reusable coffee filter and reduce paper waste.
• Reuse – Work at remembering my reusable shopping bags when I go to the store!
• Recycle - I would like to try to start a compost pile.  I’d love to have one of those cool expensive tumblers, but I guess I’ll go the old fashion route.

What green steps will you try to make in 2009? Please share by leaving a comment below!  All the best in 2009!

Jen

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Your Green Steps for 2009?