Recycle2Disposal

Sitemap News Events Legislation Articles Links Warranties   Poster	Best Practices for a Green IT Business Part 1 - Video, 60:00 Part 2 - Video 30:00 PowerPoint Presentation    Silvanus360 Recycle Software UK Presentation with Audio Silvanus360 Recycle Software US Presentation       London Metal Exchange                     http://www.metalprices.com/FreeSite/metals/cu/cu.asp#   Corporate Social Responsibility Environmental Awareness and Proactive Solutions Events   Conferences & Events . . . . Reverse Logistics Trade Show Conference & Expo February 4-5 Las Vegas, Nevada http://www.rltshows.com/v09_event.php John Mehrmann Addresses Economic Challenges at the Reverse Logistics Conference in Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 31, 2009 -- John Mehrmann presents practical solutions for coping with economic challenges at the Reverse Logistics Trade Show and Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. John Mehrmann to speak on catalysts for catastrophic economic conditions and future market trends. In a special session at RLTS, he reveals secrets for short term quick results and long term strategies to preserve profitability. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/01/prweb1932224.htm 2009 North American Plastics Recycling Conference February 24-25, 2009 Orlando, FL Greener Gadgets Conference February 27, 2009 New York, NY http://www.greenergadgets.com/ Warranty Chain Management (WCM) Conference 2009 March 10-12, 2009 Orlando, FL Professional Servicers Organization California May 12-16 Kona Kai - San Diego, CA INTEROP May 17-21 Las Vegas, Nevada The leading business technology event http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/ RLTS Amsterdam June 16-18 Amsterdam http://www.rltshows.com/amsterdam.php National Professional Service Convention August 3-7 St. Louis, Missouri http://www.nesda.com/npsc/ CompTIA BreakAway August 4 - 6 Las Vegas, Nevada http://breakaway.comptia.org/ North American Electronics Recycling Conference September 23-24 Orlando, Florida http://www.e-scrapnews.com/ RLTS Singapore September 29-30 Singapore http://www.rltshows.com/singapore.php CEA Forum October 19-22 Los Angeles, California EHX Fall Long Beach, California Convention Center AMA Trade Show Calendar American Management Association Trade Shows and Upcoming Events   ____________________   E-Waste Legislation   CompTIA sponsored Compendium of State E-Waste Laws and Environmental Resources for the United States (Feb 2009) CompTIA sponsored Compendium of Canadian E-Waste Laws and Environmental Resources (Feb 2009)   Electronics Take Back Coalition http://www.electronicstakeback.com/legislation/state_legislation.htm   EPA http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/regions.htm Office of the Federal Environmental Executive http://ofee.gov/sustain/sustainability.asp Federal Proposed http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2595/text California  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electronics/ Connecticut http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2714&Q=397482 Hawaii http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/SB2843_CD1_.htm Illinois http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/95/PDF/095-0959.pdf Maine http://www.state.me.us/dep/rwm/ewaste/ Maryland http://www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/LandPrograms/Recycling/SpecialProjects/ecycling.asp Minnesota http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/stewardship/electronics-law.cfm Missouri http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=62 New York http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/in_business/electronicslaw_reqs.shtml New  Jersey http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/recycle/Electronic_Waste/index.html North Carolina http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2007&BillID=H819 Oklahoma http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/51st/2008/2R/SB/1631.pdf Oregon http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/electronics.htm. Rhode Island http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText08/HouseText08/H7880A.htm Texas http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/P2Recycle/electronics/computer-recycling.html Virginia http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+CHAP0541 Washington http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eproductrecycle/ West Virginia http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB746%20SUB1.htm   Local governments develop TV-recycling programs A total of 11 states -- and New York City -- have so far passed laws relating to television-recycling programs ahead of the February 2009 digital-TV transition. The Consumer Electronics Association, however, does not expect landfills to be overwhelmed by analog sets because a recent survey of analog-TV households showed just 12% plan to buy a new digital TV, while 48% intend to purchase a converter box. USA TODAY (8/18) Best Buy reveals social, environmental plans Best Buy has issued a report that includes a preliminary overview of the company's environmental and socially conscious programs. "We believe we have a clear idea of what corporate citizenship means to Best Buy, and we intend to reach these aspirations through the contributions of every function, every operation, and every employee around the world," said a spokeswoman. TWICE (8/18) E-waste Legislation on the Books The following is a list and brief overview of the major e-waste recycling legislation that has been passed in other states. The California Senate has approved Assembly Bill 1391 by a 21-to-15 vote. The measure requires retailers to provide consumers, at the point of sale, with information about the California Integrated Waste Management Board (Sacramento) Web site (www.erecycle.org), which informs individuals about where and how to return, recycle and dispose of electronic devices. Retailers must provide the above information in the form of a sign, as written material, or on a sales receipt. The Assembly must agree to minor Senate amendments before the initiative can be enrolled to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Connecticut (HB 7249) Signed in July 2007, this bill creates a mandatory recycling program for discarded covered electronic devices (CEDs). CED manufacturers must participate in a program to implement and finance the collection, transportation, and recycling of these products. Municipalities arrange for collection and transportation to recyclers and recyclers bill the manufacturers. Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops Effective Date: January 1, 2009 View a copy of the final bill language. Maine (LD 1892) LD 1892, enacted in 2004, requires municipalities to send waste computer and television monitors to consolidation centers that are fully-funded by manufacturers. The manufacturers also pay to ship and recycle the electronic waste according to Maine's environmentally sound recycling guidelines. Manufacturers cover costs apportioned according to the number of their units recovered in Maine, including a share of "orphan units," (units made by manufacturers now out-of-business). Covered Devices: TVs, Computer Monitors, or anything that has a display greater than 4" or contains a circuit board Effective Date: January 18, 2006 View a summary of Maine’s e-waste law (24kb pdf) Maryland (HB 575) HB 575 established a county-by-county collection system, with the manufacturer being responsible for funding the program or creating their own plans. This law was updated with a new measure (HB 488) signed in 2007. It expands the scopes of products to include TVs and other display devices. Covered Devices: Desktop computers, personal computers, laptops and now TVs Effective Date: January 1, 2006, expires in 2010 View a summary of Maryland's e-waste law Link to updated HB 488 law. Minnesota (HF 854) Under HF 854, manufacturers of covered devices must register with the state, pay a registration fee and set up an e-waste recycling program. These manufacturers must also meet specified recycling goals, including 60 percent of the weight of covered electronic devices sold in the state by July 2008 and 80 percent each year thereafter. The producer responsibility bill was signed by Gov. Pawlenty on May 8, 2007. Covered Devices: TVs, computer monitors, laptops, computers, printers, scanners, and other computer peripherals. Effective Date: August 2007 Read final version of the law. New Jersey (A3572) This producer responsibility legislation signed in 2008 requires manufacturers of covered devices under the state's program to pay an annual registration fee and set up recycling programs. For covered electronic devices, recycling goals based on market share must be met annually and manufacturers that collect and recycle CEDs in excess of their goals may sell credits to other registered manufacturers to apply these credits to the following year's goals. Covered Devices: desktops, PCs, monitors, portable computers, TVs Effective Date: Immediately Link to the bill language for A3572. New York City (Intro. No. 728) New York City is the first municipality to pass an e-waste recycling bill, which was signed by the Mayor on April 1, 2008. The law requires manufacturers of certain electronic equipment to create a collection program for any person in the City who wants to properly discard of their electronics. The bill also bans e-waste from disposal into the City's solid waste stream. Covered Devices: CPUs, computer monitors, computer accessories including keyboards and mice, laptop computers, TVs, printers, portable music player Effective Date: Immediately Read the full bill here. North Carolina (S 1492) Signed into law in August 2007, this measure requires covered device's manufacturers to pay for the transportation and recycling costs for covered devices from collection sites. Covered Devices: Desktops, laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice Effective Date: January 1, 2009 Read the final version of the law. North Carolina House Bill 819 has passed both chambers of the Tar Heel State's General Assembly. Awaiting ratification from Governor Mike Easley, the measure amends the manufacturer-responsibility program established via the 2007 passing of Senate Bill 1492, expanding the take-back system to include televisions. The act postpones the program's commencement as well, pushing back its effective date to January 1, 2010. Oregon (HB 2626) Signed into law in June 2007, manufacturers of covered electronic devices (CEDs) register to participate in recycling programs and provide collection sites for e-waste. Manufacturer pay a fee dependent on their market share of CEDs sold in the state. The law also prohibits a collection fee for CEDs. Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, personal computers, laptops Effective Date: January 1, 2009 Read final version of the law. Texas (HB 2714) This measure was signed into law June 2007. Manufacturers of electronic devices are required to pay for collection, transportation and recycling of covered devices and can set up their own recycling take back program. Covered Devices: Desktops, laptops, monitors Effective Date: September 1, 2008 View the final version of the law. Texas e-scrap law takes effect The Lone Star State's electronics recycling law, created by last year's passage of House Bill 2714, went into effect on Monday, September 1st. The manufacturer-responsibility measure covers desktop and laptop computers, as well as computer monitors, mice and keyboards, but does not target the recovery of televisions.        The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Austin, Texas) has launched a Web site — TexasRecyclesComputers.org — where Texans can go to find out about their various e-cycling options. Virginia (HB 344) Signed on March 11, 2008, this producer responsibility bill requires manufacturers to set up a collection system for consumers to return computer equipment for recycling and reuse free of charge. Covered Devices: Desktops, Notebook computers Effective Date: July 1, 2009 Read the final version of the law. Washington (SB 6428) SB 6428, passed in 2006, would require extended manufacturer responsibility for producing and financing an e-waste recycling program, including the collection, transportation, and recycling of covered electronic products. The measure also calls for further encouragement of the design of electronic products that are less toxic and recyclable. All costs associated with the developed plan will not be passed onto Washington consumers. Covered Devices: TVs, monitors, laptops and desktop computers Effective Date: January 1, 2009 View a summary of SB 6428 Read the Chaptered Legislation The following are summaries of other states that have passed either disposal bans or studies related to electronic waste disposal. Arkansas (HB 2115) HB 2115 established a deadline for the disposal of computer and electronic waste in landfills. State agencies are required to donate or recycle all covered electronic devices. Covered Devices: Only state agency generated e-waste is covered. Equipment includes computers, computer monitors, TVs, audio and stereo equipment, monitors, computers, VCRs, keyboards, printers, telephones, fax machines Effective Date: 2008 View a copy of Arkansas' e-waste law (28kb pdf) Massachusetts Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from television and computer monitors were prohibited from all Massachusetts solid waste disposal facilities in 2000. Effective Date: April 1, 2000 Massachusetts' House Ways and Means Committee has approved producer-responsibility measure House Bill 4570. Targeting the recovery of obsolete desktop and laptop computers, printers, scanners, televisions and other video display devices, the bill has since been referred to the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee Montana (HB 555) Signed into law April 2007, this bill establishes a public education program for household hazardous waste recycling. The program will provide information for alternative disposal of HHW to landfills and options for recycling. Scope of products: Video, audio, telecommunications equipment, computers, and household appliances. Click here for the full bill language. New Hampshire (HB 1455) Law will prohibit disposing of video display devices (including CRTs) in solid waste landfills or incinerators. The State Department of Environmental Services will be required to monitor the disposal of electronic waste. Effective Date: July 1, 2007 Read the final version of the law. Rhode Island (S 2509) The Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act passed in 2006, bans electronics (including CRTs) from landfills. The law will require the Department of Environmental Management, in consultation with stakeholders, to develop the plan for effectively collecting, recycling or reusing all covered electronic products. Effective Date: July 1, 2008 View the final version of the law.   _________________ New York State Assembly Bill 9049 According to the New York State Assembly Web site, a producer-responsibility measure presented on June 22nd took all of one day to be introduced, and approved, by the New York Assembly. Passed by a 130-to-10 vote, Assembly Bill 9049 establishes a statewide electronic equipment re-use and recycling program, targeting the recovery of computers, computer peripherals, televisions, and small electronic equipment, including battery-powered portable digital music players, VCR and DVD players, digital video recorder systems, digital converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers, and electronic and video game consoles. The EPR-based program would take effect July 1, 2010, requiring OEMs to take back their weighted market share, which would be based on the manufacturer's three-year average of annual in-state sales. The program also establishes a statewide recycling and re-use goal for OEMs, which breaks down to: ·         From July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the goal being one half of three pounds per capita ·         For calendar year 2011, the goal being four pounds per capita ·         For calendar year 2012, the goal being five pounds per capita ·         For calendar year 2013, and each subsequent year, the goal would be the base weight multiplied by the goal attainment percentage (base weight being the average of the total weighted amount of weight of e-scrap collected for recycling and re-use in the prior three years). The bill, accompanied by companion measure Senate Bill 6047, has since been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.   CALIFORNIA  A.B.  19  Sponsor: Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D) Summary: Current version (May 4) enacts the "Carbon Labeling Act of 2009." Requires the state board to develop and implement a program for the voluntary assessment, verification, and standardized labeling of the carbon footprint, as defined, of consumer products sold in California. Allows a consumer product manufacturer, on a voluntary basis, to determine the carbon footprint of the product by applying the criteria and standards developed by the state board, and to include that information on the product, product packaging, and product advertising, consistent with the labeling standards developed by the state board. Current version (May 4): http: //www .legi nfo.c a.gov /pub/ 09-10 /bill /asm/ ab_00 01-00 50/ab _19_b ill_2 00905 04_am ended _asm_ v98.h tml Introduced version: http: //www .legi nfo.c a.gov /pub/ 09-10 /bill /asm/ ab_00 01-00 50/ab _19_b ill_2 00812 01_in trodu ced.p df Status: Introduced December 1, 2008. Referred to Assembly Committee on Natural Resources February 5, 2009. Hearing held, passed Committee and re-referred to Committee on Appropriations April 13. Amended April 20. Amended May 4. Hearing held and placed in suspense file May 13. Hearing held and passed Committee May 28. Passed Assembly June 2.   E-scrap legislation from around the nation (April 2009) Colorado House Bill 1282 was passed out of the House by a 60-to-zero vote, and has since been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The measure requires the state to create a task force to study the costs the benefits of implementing both a statewide e-scrap recycling program and a landfill disposal ban on devices covered under the plan. In Hawaii, HB 1272 is not far off from a full Senate floor vote, having recently passed its second Senate reading. The bill amends the Aloha State's present e-scrap program on several fronts, including: Redefining "manufacturer" to delete the annual sales provision; prohibiting OEMs from charging consumers a fee to recycle their used devices; and, requiring that all manufacturers have their programs fully-implemented, and operational, by no later than January 1, 2010. Also approaching a full Senate floor vote, HB 1809 amends the state recovery program to include televisions. Indiana HB 1589 is approaching its second Senate reading. The measure establishes an EPR program for video display devices generated by households, public schools and small businesses, of which OEMs must recycle at least 60 percent of the total weight of all devices sold during the most recent twelve month period for which national sales data is available. Passing out of the Minnesota Senate by a 65-to-zero vote, Senate File 1486 updates the North Star State's current program by amending reporting requirements for manufacturers and retailers of video display devices, and limiting the amount of recycled electronics which can be applied to future recycling obligations to no more than 25 percent for any program year. Hew Hampshire HB 338 has been transferred over to the Senate, and currently resides in the Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee. The measure establishes a landfill and incinerator disposal ban for video display media recorders, players and computers. Passing out of the Vermont Senate by a 23-to-four vote, Senate Bill 77 establishes an EPR program for televisions, desktop or laptop computers and monitors. The measure also creates a landfill ban for all devices covered by the program. Having been passed by both chambers of the Washington State Legislature, HB 1522 will now be enrolled to Governor Chris Gregoire for enactment. The bill amends the Evergreen State's present e-scrap program by requiring that only collectors registered with the state may take part in an OEM's program as a collector. In addition, fully functioning computers received by a registered collector may be sold or donated by the collector for re-use. However, if a computer is in need of repair, in order to become fully functional for re-use, then the repair work must be conducted by the registered collector at their place of business. ________________ E-scrap legislation from around the nation January 2009 Arizona House Bill 2194, a producer-responsibility measure modeled after Oregon's e-scrap legislation, already has received its first and second readings. Another producer-responsibility measure, Nebraska's Legislative Bill 644, was introduced and referred to the Natural Resources Committee. New Hampshire is looking to add video display media recorders, players and computers to its landfill ban, with HB 338, which is scheduled to be heard by the House Environment and Agriculture Committee on February 5th. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed companion measures Assembly Bill 3343/Senate Bill 2144, which revises the electronics recycling measure passed last year. The revisions delay the implementation date until January 1, 2011 and changes manufacturer obligations, among other changes. __________________ At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ghana's Minister of Environment and Local Government, Kojo Adjei Darko, appealed to Western nations to stop using Ghana as a dumping ground for e-waste.        According to a o a story by Joy News (Accra, Ghana), the minister said the government is considering a ban on the importation of e-scrap into Ghana, though it would not rush into such a decision. An outright import ban would negatively affect the price of computers in the West African nation, Darko noted.        Instead, the Minister stated the answer is education of those working with scrap electronics. "Once people are made aware of the hazards associated with the use of e-waste, they will know how to better handle them," said Darko, further hinting that the government may move the crude e-waste workshops already in business.        IT charity group Close the Gap (Brussels, Belgium), which seeks to "bridge the digital divide," globally, is is considering opening an arm of the organization in Uganda. The group is presently looking for partners in the East African country, as Close the Gap does not offer direct aid to any particular project, but instead provides the means for local non-profits to assist locals. Currently, the organization operates in 27 countries, including Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.        Researchers at Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan) and Daitoku Corp. (Nagoya, Japan) have developed a method for recovering iridium from used LCD panels. The process for recovering the iridium, which is used for transparent conductive films in LCD-screen televisions, involves the screens being ground and then filtered, using hydrochloric acid, before ultimately being separated with a high-performance, non-ferrous metal separator.        IT service company Wipro Technologies (Bangalore, India) has come out in favor of e-scrap legislation for the sub-continent. According to the company, it is only one of three companies in India that has a working take-back program, along with Acer Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) and HCL Technologies (Noida, India). Even Greenpeace (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) was impressed. "We welcome and appreciate Wipro's pro-law move," said Abhishek Pratap, toxics campaigner with the environmental group. "Now, the brand needs to lobby within the electronics sector and with government to make the law a reality." www.RecycleAccelerator.com   _______________________________ Articles Environmental Sustainability Revolution by John Mehrmann www.ncnonline.net National Computrade News January 2009 Edition Electronic Waste Recycling in California Gets a Big Cut by Mike Easterbrook As we approach 2009, several California state electronic waste recycling bills are set to go into effect. Also, with the switch over from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting, it is very possible that many CRT TV owners will retire their old TV and need an outlet for recycling the obsolete equipment. A national bill is looking like less of a possibility as more states adopt their own programs. The state programs are not uniform in the least, the bills are either modeled after an Advanced Recovery Fee (ARF) or they are an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill. An ARF system collects money from the consumer at the point of purchase, such as a retail outlet like Best Buy. The EPR model holds the manufacturers responsible for the recycling. Full Article   Seeing Green at the End of the Line by John Mehrmann www.RLMagazine.com August / September 2007 Edition Top 100 Warranty Providers http://www.warrantyweek.com/archive/ww20080110.html Analog to Digital Television Congress passed a federal law, the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, mandating the last day of full power analog television broadcasting to be February 17, 2009. On February 17, 2009, all television channels in the US will convert from analog to digital. What does this mean to you? WEEE and RoHS Environmental Guidelines Hazardous Substances, Electrical and Electronic Equipment have been categorized for labeling, tracking, restriction, and recycling. The objective is to promote the use of environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes. The financial burden to support this transition in production is assigned by requirements to provide adequate programs for collection, recycling, and disposal. These costs are primarily carried on the shoulders of the manufacturers and producers of the products. To remain competitive and to support the environmental initiatives, manufacturers and industry associations will need to work together and collaborate on solutions that facilitate consistent programs and processes. Reverse Logistics in Supply Chain Management The evolution of reverse logistics for manufactured products is developing in direct proportion to the rapid advancements in technology and the subsequent price erosion of products as new and improved products enter the supply chain at a faster pace. With such thin margins and so much competition, mismanagement of the supply chain can be devastating. Those organizations with the infrastructure to capture and compare the composite value of components with real time intelligent analysis and disposition based on changes in refurbishment cost, resale value, spare parts, repair and overall demand will not only become more profitable, but such flexibility and scalability will allow them to outmaneuver and eliminate the competition. The Rapid Pace of Evolution in Consumer Electronics The evolution of consumer electronics, high definition displays, digital broadcasts, displays and media is happening at an increasingly rapid pace. Advancements in technology are occurring much faster than before, reducing the time to deliver new technologies to market at an exponential rate. The algorithm for designing and delivering new technology is nearly a fifty percent reduction in time with every significant breakthrough. With such a rapid race for invention the simultaneous introduction of diverse technologies is as inevitable as price erosion and shortened life cycles for what is considered "new" in consumer electronics. Trends in Technology Garter, Inc analysts highlighted the top ten strategic technologies and trends for 2008. Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with potential for significant impact on enterprise in the next three years. Take a few moments to get familiar with the definitions of technology trends that will impact your business.       Links   Informational Sites: National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse http://www.ecyclingresource.org/   Recyclers: Electronic Recyclers International, Inc (ERI) - Recycler http://electronicrecyclers.com/   US States: California Integrated Waste Management Board http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ California Integrated Waste Management Board Maine Waste Management & Recycling Program http://www.state.me.us/spo/recycle/ Maine Waste Management & Recycling Program New Jersey: Electronic Waste Recycling Act http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A4000/3572_U1.HTM Washington State Department of Ecology http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/nav/sust.html Sustainability, Waste Reduction, and Recycling   Recycle Consulting: MICRO CONTAMINATION CONSULTING http://www.micro-contamination.com/ SOLUTIONS FOR CONTAMINATION CRITICAL PRODUCTS & PROCESSES Micro Contamination Clean Room Consulting, Training, and Custom Technology Solutions Recycling Association of Minnesota http://www.recycleminnesota.org/ The Recycling Association of Minnesota is committed to promoting resource conservation through waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting and purchasing practices using the most cost effective and environmentally sound methods available in Minnesota. IDC - GREEN IT http://www.idc.com/research/greenit.jsp Green IT is a growing, global phenomenon, with customers  seeking out IT suppliers whose offerings are more energy-efficient, more material-efficient, less hazardous, designed for greater recyclability, and supported by end-of-life recycling programs. CEA's consumer Web site, www.myGreenElectronics.org educates consumers about the responsible use, reuse and recycling of electronics and also includes a zip-code searchable database of electronics recyclers. Consumer electronics recycling will be a point of discussion at CEA's Washington Forum, to be held April 2-3, 2008, at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. In the Thursday 2-3 p.m. session, Analog Sets and Recycling, a panel of experts will discuss consumer behavior and what the CE industry is doing to educate consumers about the importance of recycling TVs. For registration information, visit www.ce.org/Events/default.asp  www.RecycleAccelerator.com Buyers and Sellers E-scrap resellers' business booms Three online consumer electronic resellers/recyclers are joining an increasingly crowded marketplace; BuyMyTronics.com (Denver), ecoNEW and OverdriveElectronics.com (Raleigh, North Carolina) are all offering solutions for those who want to sell or dispose of unwanted electronics. BuyMyTronics, also known as BuyMyBrokeniPod.com, offers money back as quickly as 48 hours for one's unwanted "Tronic." Tech trade-in program ecoNew, administered by extended service plan company N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. (Sterling, Virginia), has partnered with Office Depot (Delray Beach, Florida) to offer its trade-in program with its customers. Overdrive, which doubles as a new electronics seller, has partnered with CExchange to offer free e-cycling with cash back for items that are resold. www.RecycleAccelerator.com   Words of Wisdom   "Laughter is by definition healthy." Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize in Literature recipient "The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going." David Starr Jordan, ichthyologist and peace activist "Depend not on fortune, but on conduct." Publilius Syrus, Syrian writer of maxims "There is no failure except in no longer trying." Elbert Hubbard, American writer "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." William Blake, English poet "A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning." Billie Jean King, American tennis player "We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery." H.G. Wells, English author "When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it." W. Clement Stone, businessman and philanthropist "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." Booker T. Washington American author, educator and black leader "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." E.E. Cummings American poet "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." Andy Warhol American artist "Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition." Abraham Lincoln 16th U.S. president "Personally, I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." Winston Churchill former British prime minister "The man who has no imagination has no wings." Muhammad Ali American boxer and three-time world heavyweight champion "The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them." Robert Frost Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." Hal Borland American author "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever." Margaret Cho American comedian "Opportunities multiply as they are seized." Sun Tzu Chinese general, author of "The Art of War" "A great fortune depends on luck, a small one on diligence." Chinese proverb "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' " the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize laureate and civil rights activist "A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of." Burt Bacharach pianist and composer "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it." Albert Einstein Nobel Prize-winning physicist "If you wait for opportunities to occur, you will be one of the crowd." Edward de Bono psychiatrist and author "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Bradstreet poet "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." Steve Jobs CEO of Apple "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison American inventor 'Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." William Shakespeare English playwright "What great changes have not been ambitious?" Melinda Gates co-founder of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation "Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success." Thomas Edison inventor and industrialist "We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse." Anne-Sophie Swetchine Russian-French writer "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." Henry David Thoreau author and transcendentalist "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." Aristotle ancient Greek philosopher "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy Russian novelist and philosopher "The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B." James Yorke mathematics and physics professor "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." Marie Curie Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist "Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." Charles Dickens English novelist "Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." Benjamin Disraeli Former British prime minister "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." Robert Frost Pulitzer Prize-winning poet "A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." Steve Martin American actor "It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it." John Steinbeck American writer "Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it." Theodore Roosevelt 26th president of the U.S. "The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate." Thomas J. Watson Sr. founder of IBM "If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I'm not frightened by anyone's perception of me." Angelina Jolie actress                                 Headline News     Zylog Systems Ltd Showcases New Reverse Logistics Recycler Software at RWM in Birmingham http://www.prlog.org/10339799-zylog-systems-ltd-showcases-new-reverse-logistics-recycler-software-at-rwm-in-birmingham.html _________ Zylog Systems Ltd Showcases New Reverse Logistics Recycler Software at RWM in Birmingham http://www.free-press-release.com/news-zylog-systems-ltd-showcases-new-reverse-logistics-recycler-software-at-rwm-in-birmingham-1252707989.html   CEA, manufacturers look to improve recycling programs The Consumer Electronics Association is working with New York City officials about altering an ordinance that would have CE firms go door-to-door to pick up outdated gadgets and devices beginning July 31. In a related development, CE makers are considering filing a lawsuit against Washington state for its new electronics-waste law that requires companies to help pay for the collection and recycling of old products. The Wall Street Journal (7/2) Big Blue expands its effort to become Big Green At the Green & Beyond Summit this week in San Francisco, IBM introduced several new green IT initiatives as part of its ongoing plan to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly computing products. The announcements included a water-cooler supercomputer that serves double duty as a building water heater, improved battery technologies and new green-focused tools for software developers, among other programs. eWEEK.com (6/23) DTV transition hits, tsunami of e-cycling advice follows Last Friday, June 12th, the long-delayed transition to over-the-air digital television transmission finally occurred, followed by a flurry of press releases and announcements of reminders to responsibly recycle their televisions. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition released its second TV Recycling Report Card, which found Sony and Samsung tied for the top rating with a B- final grade. Though 10 companies received a grade of F, the ETBC sees the improvement from two years ago to be heartening. "Two years ago, no TV company had a national take-back and recycling program," according to the report. "Now, we have six TV manufacturers [LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba] and two retailers [Best Buy and Walmart] with national take-back programs, a significant improvement in only two years." The DTV transition didn't go off without a hitch, however, as a report from Nielsen found that 2.5 million U.S. households were unprepared, an improvement of 300,000 from June 7th, the last time the research group gathered data on the matter. The Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico area had the largest percentage of households not ready for the switch, with 6.9 percent of area homes unprepared. There were reports of signal loss in some major markets, including New York and Philadelphia, and Federal Communications Commissison sent agents to Chicago to investigate a high number of reported signal problems. For those who don't want a converter box, and find themselves wanting to rid their homes of their analog televisions, several interested parties on the DTV front released reminders on how to responsibly handle their unwanted TVs. The EPA exhorted consumers: Don't Kick Your TV to the Curb, eCycle Instead, while the Consumer Electronics Association issued its reminder to consumers to recycle their unwanted televisions, pointing them to their Web site www.mygreenelectronics.org, where they have a searchable database of electronics processors by zip code. In closing, we found an interesting explanation of exactly how analog transmission differs from digital. CEA calls on TV owners to dispose of old sets properly The CEA is urging owners of now-outdated analog TV sets to dispose of them properly. To help in that regard, CEA directed people to a Web site containing take-back and recycling programs offered by a host of manufacturers and retailers. Dealerscope (6/19) , TWICE (6/18) Green IT the focus of joint U.S., EU effort As part of an effort to make computers and peripherals more environmentally friendly, the European Union and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced stringent new energy standards for IT products sold in their countries. Starting next month, companies looking to secure Energy Star approval for their devices will have to meet tougher specifications designed to save a total of 22 terawatt hours over the lifetime of the approved products. The New York Times/IDG News Service (6/17) Wisconsin e-scrap bill passes Senate Senate Bill 107 passed the out of the Wisconsin State Senate by a vote of 23-to-10, now moving on to the State Assembly for consideration. The bill sets up a sales-weight-based extended responsibility program for unwanted electronics devices for the Badger State, covering laptop and desktop computers, consumer video display devices of at least four inches diagonal measurement and printers. If passed, the law would go into effect on September 1, 2009. The bill also includes a landfill ban on covered electronic devices. The world of e-scrap The UK's Environment Agency recently staged a series of raids on suspected illegal WEEE exporters last week. The Environment Agency-led operation at sites in East London and Upminster, Essex, included more than 100 people from its own ranks, as well as local and county police officers. Almost 500 storage and shipping containers were investigated, many containing WEEE that officials believe was destined for illegal export to Africa. "The Environment Agency has created a national team to stamp out this illegal trade and strong intelligence work has resulted in today's operation — the most significant action to date in investigating suspected electrical waste being shipped to Africa," an agency official told letsrecycle.com. Environmentalists in India — Greenpeace India, Toxics Link and the Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT) — are pushing for separate legislation for e-scrap management by the Indian government. Satish Sinha of Toxics Link will be at the E-Scrap 2009 Conference to present current trends on electronics recycling and disposal in world's second-most populous country. Go to www.e-scrapconference.com for more information. Goodwill and Dell add seven states to take-back program Goodwill Industries International and Dell, Inc. announced the expansion of their Reconnect free e-scrap drop-off program to seven new states. With the addition of 451 donation sites from seven statewide programs in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia — as well as recent expansions in Wisconsin — Reconnect now includes more than 1,400 Goodwill sites around the country. "Our partnership with Goodwill makes recycling incredibly convenient for consumers," says Mike Watson, senior manager of Dell Global Recycling Services. "We believe it should be as easy to recycle a computer as it is to purchase one." The Reconnect program is now available in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Last month, Dell announced a formal ban on the export of e-scrap generated by its operations, which also is in effect for any equipment collected under the Reconnect partnership. Printed wiring board price best in nine months The gross value of printed wiring board scrap bounced upwards in May to $4.12 per pound, rising 4.3 percent from April. Though the price was the best seen in nine months, it was still off 11.2 percent from May 2008 totals. This data represents the full metallic values of boards over time and are not the recycling values, as those values do not include the costs involved in actually extracting metal from boards, including freight, sampling charges, assay assessments, smelting, refining, process loss, return on investment, and penalties for various elements, including beryllium, bismuth and nickel. These values are for the estimated intrinsic metal content of recovered PC boards. Some consumers label such material as mid-value. Lower-value scrap includes monitor and television boards. Higher-value scrap includes network and video cards, and motherboards. The year-to-date average value of board scrap for 2009 is $3.95 per pound, off 16.3 percent from the 2008 average. New York City E-Waste Law goes into effect June 15 The law requires manufacturers to establish and manage e-waste disposal programs. Specifically, the regulations require that manufacturers create and pay for a program whereby city residents could mail back or drop off electronics weighing less than 15 pounds and are required under the law to collect items that weigh more than 15 pounds directly from city residents. Products for collection under the city's e-waste law include: "Computer processing units, keyboards, TVs, printers, computer monitors, laptops and portable music players." Additionally, each manufacturer is required to submit a plan to the Department of Sanitation of New York (DSNY) no later than June 15. A Web site has been established to provide information for manufacturer compliance. If you have any questions, please contact Parker Brugge. Consortium developing new eco-labeling system for TVs A consortium of consumer-electronics companies and governmental agencies is developing a new ratings system for TVs that will show consumers how energy-efficient those sets are as well as what level of potentially harmful substances went into the sets' construction. TVs with the new labeling, tentatively titled Epeat for TV, are expected to be in stores within the next 18 to 24 months. The New York Times/Green Inc. blog (5/29) Green trends sprouting new IT initiatives According to a survey commissioned by Symantec, environmentally friendly IT now tops the list of technology priorities at companies worldwide. Driven by energy cost savings and other factors, almost 97% of respondents said that their companies are considering green IT plans, while 73% said they plan to increase their spending on Earth-friendly technologies this year. In the latest Greenpeace Cool IT rankings, Sun Microsystems and IBM led the pack. ChannelInsider.com (5/27) , The New York Times/IDG News Service (5/27 Australia to get national e-scrap program Australia's Environment Protection and Heritage Council has produced what the country's environment ministers are calling a breakthrough on e-waste. Although details will not be worked out until November, all involved are confident that Australia will have a national e-scrap recycling program in place in the next six months. The eventual program is likely to cover televisions, computers, as well as other common types of consumer electronics, and will incorporate elements proven to be successful in producer-responsibility programs. Currently, only about four percent of Australia's e-scrap is recycled. The EPHC also separately backed national plans to recycle tires, mercury-containing CFL bulbs and a container deposit scheme, although each is progressing independently of the country's e-scrap bill. Alberta considers e-scrap expansion Alberta is considering an expansion of its electronic recycling program, from six types of items to as many as 60. The ambitious tenfold increase is being driven, in large part, by a recent poll of 800 Albertans, commissioned by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority, which found that 90 percent favored expanding the number of products covered. Currently, only desktop and notebook computers, monitors, peripherals, printers and televisions are covered, although a wide range of items, such as kitchen appliances, microwaves, cell phones, and A/V equipment, could possibly be included in an expansion. The most significant barrier to further action seems to be cost, with nearly all those opposed to the idea citing advanced recovery fees as their primary grievance. Estimates on fees for newly covered electronics range from 50 cents ($Cn) to $5, depending on the item. Market Research from DELL New research from Dell singles out the UK as the worst e-waste recycler in Europe. Most who responded to Dell's survey said they were unaware of recycling schemes, such as the WEEE Directive, and 85 percent said they are guided more by the media than by the government when it came to technology recycling. Only 50 percent of those surveyed recycled their old technology, compared to 80 percent of Germans surveyed … Also on the topic of Dell, the computer giant recently took top honors in the inaugural Corporate Sustainability Index, put together by market consulting firm Technology Business Research. Dell, with a score of 317.9, came out ahead of British Telecom, IBM, HP and Intel. The company was helped, in part, by its recent decision to ban all exports of electronic waste … Fines of up to $7,950 ($US) can now be levied on UK businesses who fail to meet their collection and recycling responsibilities under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations. Businesses placing batteries on the UK market must register themselves, and their compliance scheme, with the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Indiana e-scrap bill passes Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' enactment of House Bill 1589 makes Indiana the first state of 2009, and the 18th state overall, to pass extended producer-responsibility (EPR) legislation for handling e-scrap. The statewide program targets the recovery of video display devices (VDDs) generated by households, public schools and small businesses, including televisions, computers, computer monitors, peripherals, fax machines and DVD and VCR players. The weight-based measure further implements a landfill and incinerator disposal ban on all covered devices, beginning January 1, 2011. EPA extends Energy Star program to include servers In an effort to help technology buyers better identify energy-efficient systems, the EPA last week introduced its new Energy Star for Servers program. The program, which has been in the works for more than a year, covers servers with up to four processors and at least one hard drive, though the EPA said blade servers, which are excluded for now, may be added to the program later this year. Computerworld/IDG News Service (5/15) Oregon Reports Electronics Recycling Collection Numbers for YTD The 4.94 million-pound figure is ahead of projected program goals. Oregon E-Cycles’ original projection for minimum total returns for 2009 is 12.2 million pounds. For materials collected in the first quarter, televisions accounted for 55.7 percent of total pounds recycled. Monitors accounted for 33.3 percent, and computers accounted for the remaining 11 percent. DELL BANS EXPORTS OF COMPANY E-SCRAP Computer giant Dell announced a formal ban this week on the export of non-working electronics generated by the company's operations and its various take-back programs.  E-SCRAP 2009: THE LAWS OF THE LAND As more state laws governing the handling of end-of-life electronics take effect, newer laws are being passed while established programs are being updated. The regulatory morass is enough to make any e-scrap processor nervous and more than a little bit confused trying to sort it all out. Now that the U.S. Congress is beginning to show signs of life on the issue, what will the future bring for e-cycling laws around North America?  COMPUTER RE-USE ADVOCATES APPLAUD NEW WASHINGTON LAW Washington Governor Chris Gregoire's enactment of House Bill 1522 amends the Evergreen State's present e-scrap program to allow collectors registered with the state to make minor repairs to collected non-working computers. The law previously only allowed "fully-functional" computers for re-use. WISCONSIN E-SCRAP EVENT CAUSES TRAFFIC JAMS According to area reports, 15 police officers from four agencies were needed to disentangle the gridlock stemming from a May 9th free scrap electronics drop-off event. On Earth Day, a few weeks ago, a six hour event in the greater Fox Cities area collected 84 tons of e-scrap, illustrating the need for the legislation, which is modeled after Minnesota's EPR measure. NATIONAL TV RECYCLING DOWN UNDER Australian TV producers are setting up a national television collection and recycling program to be funded by the industry. Product Stewardship Australia, a manufacturer-led organization, is saying that a national collection, recycling a promotion program could be ready to go within six months.   Virginia's Computer Recovery and Recycling Act (2008) Legislation was passed in 2008 to require a computer manufacturer that in any calendar year manufactured or had manufactured computer equipment in excess of 500 units which were sold (or offered for sale) in Virginia under its brand or license to implement a recovery/recycling plan for those computers at no charge to the consumer.  The Act goes into effect on July 1, 2009. Computer Manufacturers must establish a recovery plan for their equipment in Virginia, post information about the plan on their web sites by July 1, 2009, and notify the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality of the plan postings.  Some representatives requested a form to use in this notification to the Department, and an optional form was developed for your use.  The form is available for downloading and completion (Excel format) at the following web address: www.deq.virginia.gov/ecycling in the “What’s New” box.  I hope this form helps. Please be sure to visit the Code of Virginia web site (beginning at http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+10.1-1425.27 and continuing through Section 1425.38) for the full text of the Computer Recovery and Recycling Act. Report: Retailers should maintain green efforts At the World Retail Congress, Havas Media said a survey of consumers around the world found that four out of five would reward brands that used sustainable practices and 72% would punish brands that were not making a green effort. Almost half said they would pay more for sustainably produced products. Reuters (5/6) , The Retail Bulletin (5/6) Green IT services market likely to grow, sprout new tech practices The market for environmentally conscious IT services is on track to reach $4.8 billion by 2013, according to Forrester Research, up from just $450 million in 2008. The growth comes as firms look to improve efficiency and trim IT spending by optimizing their existing assets. eWEEK.com (5/2) Government soliciting IT input on Recovery.gov stimulus site The U.S. federal government is calling on IT firms and other thought leaders to help develop features for its $84 million Recovery.gov stimulus-tracking Web site. The site, set to begin gathering spending reports from 29 federal agencies in July, will eventually be tasked with presenting acres of searchable IT data in a visually appealing format and will need innovative, scalable solutions to do so. InformationWeek (5/1) Bill seeks more detail, better reporting on government IT In an effort to improve accountability and cut down on IT spending overruns, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., has created a bill that would streamline the government's IT project management procedures. Among other things, the bill would call for quarterly reports on major projects and outside management for projects where costs exceed 20% of estimates. InformationWeek (5/1) Oregon Reports Electronics Recycling Collection Numbers for YTD 24 April 2009—The state of Oregon is reporting that since the beginning of this year close to 5 million pounds of computers, monitors and televisions have been collected. First-quarter collection and recycling totals show that the program brought in 4.94 million pounds of electronic waste, said E-Cycles Project Lead Kathy Kiwala of DEQ’s Solid Waste Program.Full Article Time to recycle my cell phone What can you do with the collection of used cell phones and accessories that have taken up residence in the junk drawer in your kitchen? CEA's Laura Hudson takes a look at several recycling options for phones and other gadgets, and shares statistics on the shockingly small number of cell phones that actually get recycled. Get the details at CEA Digital Dialogue. Going green: Good for the environment and the bottom line With part of the U.S. government's recent federal stimulus package directed to environmentally friendly technologies, more and more IT vendors are going green, focusing on everything from smart-grid power systems to digital health records. The trend could even help firms cut costs by upgrading to new, high-efficiency technologies. ChannelWeb highlights some of the IT companies embracing green technologies. CRN/ChannelWeb (4/22) Green adds bucks to corporate savings 14 April 2009—While reducing costs may not be the primary reason some companies in Asia choose to go green, there are loads of savings to be gained for businesses that are environmentally friendly, say analysts. John Brand, research director at Hydrasight, noted that until recently, the primary objectives for organizations to go green were driven by organizational marketing efforts and increasing focus on corporate social responsibility. Full Article Government launches WEEE mark II consultation 15 April 2009—UK electronics retailers and manufacturers are being urged to have their say on proposed changes to controversial e-waste legislation that would significantly tighten the regulations governing the disposal and recycling of IT and electronic equipment. The government launched a new consultation last week following EU proposals late last year that the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives be overhauled. Full Article Study: Green PC programs save businesses green With an eye toward cutting PC program costs, more businesses are embracing power management software and other green initiatives to power down PCs, monitors and peripherals, which can add up to as much as 55% of IT power consumption. "Given the recession, there is more interest in using IT to help reduce overall facility costs," said Doug Washburn, the lead analyst on the Forrester Research report that found more than 50% of businesses now have green PC programs. eWEEK.com (4/13) IBM brings a little more green to the supply chain IBM has introduced its Sustainable Procurement consulting service, which is designed to help clients keep their suppliers within compliance on a range of environmental and ethical issues. The new offering analyzes all aspects of the supply chain -- from supplies and materials to finished goods and services -- and helps companies develop their own eco-friendly guidelines. IBM discusses the new service in a podcast on its Web site. eWEEK.com (4/9) Microsoft's green guru says IT has a major role to play The IT industry can play an important role as firms look for new ways to be more environmentally aware corporate citizens, according to Rob Bernard, Microsoft's chief environmental strategist. He said data centers need to make sure they are utilizing servers at maximum efficiency, and that IT executives need viable metrics to quantitatively demonstrate their energy reduction. The New York Times/GigaOm (3/24) Retailers accept electronics for recycling Retailers including Best Buy and Wal-Mart are accepting electronics for recycling, sometimes using gift cards as incentives. The move is not only good for publicity, but increases foot traffic in the stores. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (3/19) §  HHP sells environmentally friendly laptop batteries Boston Power's Sonata batteries, which are said to have a three-year life span, are now being sold by Hewlett-Packard under its Enviro brand. The batteries work on 18 different HP laptops and are being sold for $149.99 each. InformationWeek (3/16) , CNET (3/16) Consumers desire to go green despite recession The worsening recession has not put a stop to shoppers' desire to reduce carbon emissions and become more environmentally friendly, a trend businesses should note, according to new research. The British Retail Consortium says many companies are still interested in environmentally conscious initiatives because they can save money and differentiate themselves from rivals. The Times (London) (3/17) Best Buy ramps up electronics recycling Best Buy is contracting with third-party recyclers to offer the service at all of its locations in the U.S. Customers will be able to recycle VCRs and DVD players, computers and laptops, televisions and monitors no larger than 32 inches, and electronics accessories. Dealerscope (2/18) , CEPro.com (2/18) EPA challenges manufacturers to recycle TVs As part of its Plug-In to eCycling campaign, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week launched the TV Recycling Challenge, calling on electronics retailers and TV manufacturers to increase the collection and recycling of discarded televisions. The Challenge is open to any retailer or TV manufacturer that commits to using processors that meet or exceed the EPA's Guidelines on Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic Equipment. The challenge period ends August 31st. The winner will be graded on a number of criteria, including innovation, longevity, consumer outreach, national reach and accessibility of the program and the total collection weight, as well as the applicant's adherence to responsible recycling practices. Congress begins look at e-scrap legislation Members of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology held hearings this week on a draft bill considering research into the management of end-of-life electronics. The draft legislation, "The Electronic Waste Research and Development Act," would "authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to award grants for electronic waste reduction research, development, and demonstration projects, and for other purposes." "I hope it will be a first step at the federal level in addressing the growing crisis," said committee chair Bart Gordon (D-Tennessee) in his opening statement. "The [proposed legislation] provides support for academic researchers to start tackling some of the barriers to making electronics greener." The committee heard testimony from a number of stakeholders, including Willie Cade, CEO of Chicago-based PC Rebuilders & Recyclers and Philip J. Bond, President of TechAmerica, from the e-scrap industry, Dr. Paul Anastas, director for the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale and Georgia Institute of Technology Professor Dr. Valerie Thomas from academia, and environmental advisory organizations represented, in part, by Jeff Omelchuck, Executive Director of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) for Green Electronics Council. Cade called for a robust definition of recycling, suggesting, "that the legislation includes a specific definition of "recycling" that includes reuse, refurbishment, repair, remanufacturing, material recovery, and proper disposal." Dr. Thomas echoed Cade's sentiment. "Keeping activities such as sorting and reprocessing of electronics in the urban areas where they have been used and collected can provide significant economic and social benefits," she said. "These benefits could be significantly enhanced if plans for recycling and refurbishment were incorporated into the design of the product and its supply chain." The legislation aims to bring together all facets of the electronics industry with researchers in the public and private sectors to solve the problems with end-of-life electronics. Dell expands Goodwill program, launches trade-in PC giant Dell, Inc. and charity organization Goodwill International announced this week the expansion of its ReConnect partnership, offering free e-cycling of unwanted computer equipment. The program, which is now available at more than 1,000 locations nationwide, expanded to Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Vermont. Akron, Ohio, Frederick, Maryland and New Haven, Connecticut are all new ReConnect cities. "The partnership is enabling job creation and skill training at a time when both are very much needed," said Jim Gibbons, President and CEO for Goodwill Industries International. "We commend Dell for setting a leadership example for the rest of the industry and for playing an important role in the creation of green-collar jobs." Following a successful pilot campaign, Dell this week also launched Dell Exchange, a free online trade-in system allowing customers to trade in unwanted computer equipment and exchanging them for Dell gift cards. The program, run in partnership with trade-in service provider, Dealtree, accepts many kinds of consumer electronics equipment, including desktop and laptop computers, digital cameras and video game consoles. A full list of covered materials is available here. Lastly, the company announced this week that it reached its 275 million-pound recycling goal ahead of its self-imposed schedule. ZSL's Green IT/Eco-Friendly Computing - Press Coverage in Express Computers Magazine With energy costs rising, many businesses are being forced to explore new avenues and contribute to a greener tomorrow. Technology will be a key enabler of green initiatives the network can become a platform to transform how global environmental challenges are managed. ZSL Inc has been using eco-friendly computing since its operations, eco-friendly systems and controls were installed at its new headquarters facility in Chennai. Mr. Shivkumar, Executive Vice President, says ‘These same principles are applied in the solutions designed for clients using our Greenware computing framework customized applications to manage client systems and performance and the platform created for the recycling industry.' Mr. John Mehrmann, Vice President, says ' Measuring energy usage as key metric demonstrates fiscal responsibility - as the cost savings for fuel and power during the life of the equipment have dramatic impact and contribution'. http://www.zslinc.com/Eco-friendly-computing.htm Zylog to launch Recycle Accelerator to track and recycle e-waste The ever increasing demands for consumer electronics world over, and limited supply of copper, lead, and other metals demand reusable resources. Proper handling of hazardous electronic waste is already a mounting concern for rapidly developing economies. Citing this global demand and a scalable business opportunity Zylog Systems Limited (ZSL), a leading IT solution provider from Chennai has developed an innovative IT based platform for e-waste management - ‘Recycle accelerator’. http://sreelakshmi24.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/zylog-launches-recycle-accelerator-to-track-and-recycle-e-waste/ Best Buy expands e-cycling program Consumer electronics chain Best Buy announced recently that, beginning February 15th, it is expanding its electronics recycling program to all 1,006 of its U.S. stores. The move follows a successful pilot program that had targeted 117 of its locations. At all non-California locations, a $10 recycling fee will be charged for all items with a screen, such as laptops, monitors and TVs, but the customer will immediately receive a $10 Best Buy gift card in return. The recycling program will accept many consumer electronics, including TVs and monitors up to 32 inches in viewable screen size, desktop and notebook computers, peripherals, VCR and DVD players and others. In more Best Buy news, with its chief rival Circuit City currently being liquidated, the retailer is said to be guardedly eying some of its 567 soon-to-be-vacant locations. "We are looking at some of those [stores], but our first priority is to stay cash strong," Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson told Reuters recently. "We would be more cautious than we would [be] in most environments and take advantage of less of that than we would have a year or two ago." Best Buy Announces Ambitious Recycling Program 23 January 2009—Best Buy has announced that starting Feb. 15 all of its stores will offer electronics recycling services. With the program, the retailer will accept most consumer electronics, including television sets and computer monitors up to 32 inches, CPUs, laptops and most other types of electronic equipment. Regenersis tops 2m handsets processed in 2008 22 January 2009—Regenersis, Europe’s largest mobile phone recycling and reuse provider, announced that they processed over 2 million handsets for reuse and recycling in 2008. The company supports major brands like Orange, O2, and Vodafone; major charities like Shelter, Sense and BBC Children in Need; and operates the Coolafone joint venture. IDC Awards G.R.A.D.E. Certification To Insight Enterprises, Inc. FRAMINGHAM, MASS.—21 January 2009—IDC today recognized Insight Enterprises, Inc., as a recipient of IDC’s Green Recycling and Asset Disposal for the Enterprise (G.R.A.D.E.) certification. Insight Enterprises, Inc. exceeded the minimum quantitative and qualitative criteria required for G.R.A.D.E. certification, valid for the year 2009.  Sims Recycling Solutions - Salley, South Carolina Facility Achieves ISO 14001:2004 Certification 13 January 2006—West Chicago – Sims Recycling Solutions’ wholly owned subsidiary, Global Investment Recovery, Inc., added another ISO Certificate to its growing collection with the registration of their Salley, South Carolina facility. CMS Data Services Reports Record Response to Data Media Wayne, NJ—20 January 2009—CMS Data Services announces great success for both it’s customers and the environment with it’s data media repurchase program.   WEEE changes on the way Major changes to Europe’s controversial WEEE Directive may be on the way. Among a list of revisions proposed by the European Commission are new mechanisms to clarify the scope and definitions of the Directive, harmonize producer registration and reporting requirements, and inspect member states via new enforcement powers. All of this is welcome news to critics of the Directive, who have repeatedly charged that, although well-meaning, WEEE’s actual benefit to the environment is extremely hampered by the Directive’s bureaucratic nature.        Brussels seems to have taken notice. In addition to the aforementioned changes, proposed fixes to the program also include a combined recycling and re-use target, which would help eliminate current incentives against re-use, and a change to the collection targets. Presently, the target for all Member States is 4kg/capita. The new rules would set the target at 65 percent of the average product weight on the market in the last two years, with a sliding scale to accommodate European economies of varying size.        “I think the collection target is high, but not impossible to achieve. [The target] is in 2016, so we have time to improve,” explains Federico Magalini of the United Nations University, before quickly adding that more work would be needed. “What I’m not so happy about in the current draft, is that policy makers are still far from recognizing WEEE as a societal problem. Holding different stakeholders responsible along the chain — that’s the only way to have a societal improvement.”        To download a copy of the proposed revisions to the Directive, click here. E-scrap still a growth industry Even as the nation is racked by news about companies closing factories and laying off workers, at least two e-scrap concerns are able to expand operations.        E-Structors, out of Elkridge, Maryland, has recently moved its headquarters to a new 95,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, which is more than 73,000 square feet larger than their previous building.        The company processes approximately 16 million pounds of e-scrap annually and handles both end-of-life electronic and paper document destruction at the new facility.        Another e-scrap business, Electronic Recyclers International, is expanding its headquarters facilities by leasing a new 125,440 square foot facility in Fresno, California. The recycling leader now occupies more than 200,000 square feet in Fresno alone.        ERI annually processes more than 140 million pounds of e-scrap, and can handle 20,000 pounds of e-scrap an hour with a shredder built by Wilsonville, Oregon-based SSI Shredding Systems at the new facility. Fujitsu Siemens launches green label Japanese IT manufacturer Fujitsu Siemens launched its own green labeling system, starting on products it makes from November 2008, on. The "Green IT" label ranks hardware on several criteria and issues up to three stars based on each product's performance.        In Green IT-labeled product manufacture, the program looks at whether products include BFRs, PVC or halogen as well as if recycled materials or bio-based plastics are used in manufacture.        Products receiving the label must be at least 80 percent efficient, with the highest grades being handed out for 87 to 90 percent efficiency, depending on whether power supplies are internal or external. Machines also are graded on ease-of-recyclability as well as how green its packaging materials are.        Further details are available on the Fujitsu Web site at www.fujitsu-siemens.com/greenlabel Environmental concerns play bigger role in consumer electronics The field of consumer electronics is becoming increasingly eco-friendly. Philips, like many other large corporations, has been criticized over waste disposal, energy conservation and other environmental issues. The consumer-electronics giant has since started emphasizing the idea of environmentally conscious consumers as well as responsible companies. Sony, Dell beef up recycling efforts As part of its eco-friendly Take Back recycling program, Sony announced a new service called Green Glove, in which the company will take and recycle old TVs for customers who buy a 32-inch Bravia LCD set or larger. In related green news, Dell and Staples are continuing their drop-off recycling service at the retailer's 1,500 stores in the U.S. TheRetailBRIDGE.com (11/16) , Electronista (11/14) , ElectronicHouse.com (11/14) RadioShack offers e-cycling trade-in Consumer electronics retail chain RadioShack Corp. (Fort Worth, Texas) launched a new electronics take-back program on October 28th. By logging onto the company’s Web site, consumers now can exchange their used, portable electronics for store credit, in the form of a RadioShack gift card.        Under the program, consumers simply fill out an online form describing the condition of their used product. From there, the service determines the device's trade-in value and offers participants in the continental United States the option of printing out a prepaid shipping label to mail the product back to the company. A gift card equal to the value of the returned item is then shipped to the customer within two weeks. MRM gets ready to expand In an update to a previous story, the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Co. LLC (MRM), a joint venture of Panasonic Corp. of North America (Secaucus, New Jersey), Sharp Electronics Co. (Mahwah, New Jersey) and Toshiba America Consumer Products, LLC (Wayne, New Jersey), has announced further details regarding its national expansion. Currently operating in Minnesota and Texas, MRM will begin operations in California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in November, with the company eventually expanding to all 50 states. The company hopes to build a unified recycling effort, and plans on releasing further details in the first several weeks of 2009. Toshiba Expands Recycling Program - TWICE, 10/1/2008 11:28:00 AM Irvine, Calif. — Toshiba digital products division is extending its free recycling program beyond Toshiba laptops to include many common consumer electronic products. “The growth of Toshiba’s free recycling program is a reflection of the company’s dedication to promoting responsible disposal of hazardous waste,” said Jeff Barney, general manager and VP of Toshiba’s digital products division. “Recycling items regardless of the manufacturer is a natural step for Toshiba considering the value we place on environmental responsibility.” http://www.twice.com/article/CA6601105.html?nid=2402& Industry Experts Take Center Stage at the Reverse Logistics Conference and Expo in Singapore The Reverse Logistics Conference and Expo is a showcase for Third Party Service Providers of IT, High Tech, Retail, Telecommunications, Medical, Consumer Electronics, Pharmaceutical, and Automotive. The Conference will take place at the beautiful Concorde Hotel Singapore, located in the heart of the legendary Orchard Road. The luxurious 407 room Concorde Hotel is SOLD OUT for this exciting event. http://www.prlog.org/10124402-industry-experts-take-center-stage-at-the-reverse-logistics-conference-and-expo-in-singapore.html The Reverse Logistics Association assembles an all star cast of international industry experts to address overwhelming sustainability and environmental issues and unveil supply chain solutions. (I-Newswire) - Singapore ( EBINews ) October 2, 2008 – A talented collection of leading authorities from around the globe have gathered in Singapore to participate in the Reverse Logistics Conference and Expo, October 7-9. http://i-newswire.com/pr212503.html Computer recycling now the law in Texas Companies that manufacture computers in Texas now must offer free recycling for most of their systems, thanks to a new state law that just went into effect. The Computer Equipment Recycling Program is one of the first mandated programs; most companies do it voluntarily on a national level. Electronista (9/5) Samsung announces Free recycling for US CE Products Users of most of Samsung's consumer-electronics products will be able to drop them off at no cost across all 50 states under the company's newly announced Samsung Recycling Direct program. Starting Oct. 1, Samsung will accept all but its home appliances at points to be named, as well as non-Samsung items for what the company termed a nominal fee. Digital Trends (9/3) Samsung launches take-back program Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Ridgefield Park, New Jersey) announced Samsung Recycling Direct — a free take-back and recycling system for all Samsung-branded consumer electronic equipment. The program will feature permanent drop-off locations in all 50 states.        Non-Samsung-branded electronics may be dropped off for a nominal, weight-based fee, to be paid at the processor's location. Samsung has partnered with such processors as Sims Recycling Solutions (West Chicago, Illinois), CRT Processing LLC (Janesville, Wisconsin), eco | International LLC (Vestal, New York) and JFRC, LLC (Wheaton, Minnesota).        In addition to the permanent drop-off locations, Samsung will sponsor free e-scrap collection events in all 50 states, and allow for free drop-off of Samsung-branded equipment at non-Samsung-sponsored events, as well.        The company says that it will only "utilize recyclers that do not incinerate, landfill, or export toxic waste to developing countries," and that its program can be tracked on the Web site.        A full list of participating locations will be available when the program launches on October 1st.        The Consumer Electronics Association (Arlington, Virginia) issued a release applauding the Samsung Recycling Direct program. "Like other consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers who have adopted similar practices, this program demonstrates the company's commitment to environmental sustainability," said Parker Brugge, CEA's vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability. The green movement hits the computer industry Computer and ancillary product makers such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo are joining the growing ranks of companies that are developing greener, more energy-efficient goods, according to this article. Dell's new, sleek Studio Hybrid, for instance, incorporates recycled parts and runs on 70% less energy than traditional PCs. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. Partners with Close the Loop Inc. to Create "Zero Waste to Landfill" Recycling Program IRVINE, Calif.—19 Aug 2008—Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) today announced a partnership with Close the Loop Inc. (CtL), a world-class recycler of imaging consumables, to create the “Zero Waste to Landfill” recycling program. Scheduled to launch on Oct. 1, this program is TABS’ most comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative to date, allowing for the 100-percent recycling of collected consumable supplies. CtL’s customized collection program for TABS provides the company with recyclable collection boxes and supplies, freight, transportation, and recycling services for its toner bottles, laser cartridges, drum units, toner bags, and other bulk imaging consumables. “Toshiba’s partnership with Close the Loop furthers the company’s commitment toward serving as responsible stewards of the environment by focusing on the three R’s—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” said Tom Walter, director, Aftermarket Sales, Marketing and Operations for TABS. “One of the most rewarding results of this recycling initiative is that 100-percent of consumable imaging products collected will never make it to a landfill, ensuring minimal negative impact on the environment.” Canadian mob turns to e-scrap According to a recent report by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (Ottawa) — Canada's national intelligence agency — organized crime in the Great White North has been increasingly turning to the illegal sale and exportation of scrap electronics to developing countries.        According to the agency's 2008 Report on Organized Crime, the illegal trafficking of e-scrap has grown in recent years, and the CISC expects the trade to peak between 2009-2011, due to the switch-over from analog-to-digital television broadcasting in the U.S. and Canada.        The fact that criminals are targeting waste electronics is stark evidence as the scrap's rising value in the global economy. "If it was not lucrative, organized crime groups would not be involved in it," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner William Elliott.        The report further warns that "incorrect handling of some e-waste, such as obsolete disk drives, could be illicitly obtained by organized crime to collect and exploit government, corporate or personal information." Ingram Micro Launches Service Identifying Green Computer Products SANTA ANA, Calif.—5 August 2008—Ingram Micro Inc.), the world’s largest technology distributor has launched a service to help resellers easily identify “green” electronic products. EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) managed by the nonprofit Green Electronics Council, is an environmental rating system that evaluates desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on 51 environmental performance criteria. Blancco and Sun Microsystems Partner to Deliver Secure and Flexible Data Erasure Solutions SANTA CLARA, Calif.—5 August 2008—Blancco Ltd., the global leader in data erasure and end-of-lifecycle solutions, today announced that Sun Microsystems will license Blancco’s data erasure software. Under terms of the agreement, Blancco and Sun will work together to develop a global standards-based solution designed to help customers manage their data center assets within their corporate policies and in adherence with regulatory guidelines. E-Waste: New Threat To The Environment Is Fixed By Online Company NEW YORK—6 August 2008—On average, 400 million units of consumer electronics a year will be scrapped during the rest of this decade, according to a report by the International Association of Recyclers. Discarded computers, monitors, televisions and other consumer electronics (e-waste) are the fastest growing type of waste according to the EPA, and 40% of heavy metals such as mercury and lead in landfills comes from consumer electronics, or e-waste. One online company is helping people keep those devices out of the dumps. Ghana: Who is to Blame for the E-Waste Menace? 11 August 2008—The dumping of electronic waste on Ghana by the industrialized countries has reached disastrous proportions, as each week several container loads of obsolete, computers and television sets are cleared at the Tema Harbour and driven into town with fanfare. Electronics Recycling Plant Opens in Kenya 11 August 2008—A coalition of not-for-profit and government organizations has opened an electronics recycling facility in Embakasi, Kenya, that is being billed as the first of its kind in East Africa. Turtle Wings Expands Nest 12 August 2008—Turtle Wings Electronics Recycling and Data Killers are delighted to announce the opening of their new facility which will allow them to expand our domestic de-manufacturing process and the hiring of a new salesperson. Turtle Wings is a woman-owned, hub-zoned company that provides electronics recycling services and data destruction services to nationwide customers. Turtle Wings, which holds government contracts, has always been committed to providing superior customer service and the highest level of data protection CEA promotes the DTV transition and electronics recycling during annual meeting of state legislators CEA exhibited at the 2008 Legislative Summit for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The annual event brings together 6,000 people, including state legislators and legislative staffers from around the country. During the event, CEA talked with legislators and their staff about the transition to digital television and how consumers can recycle their electronics. Learn more about CEA's policy advocacy. FCC/EPA joint fact sheet highlights CEA's myGreenElectronics.org The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) have joined forces to provide consumers with additional resources to ease the transition to digital television. Besides information on the transition itself, the joint FCC/EPA fact sheet encourages consumers to recycle their old TVs and recommends visiting CEA's myGreenElectronics.org for electronics-recycling locations and information on "green" products. Best practices for greening your company Green is global these days, and there are unparalleled opportunities right now for the consumer-electronics industry. While some larger companies have adopted and continue to engage in green business practices, many more companies are in need of information, tools and strategies on how to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. Attend CEA Industry Forum to listen in as experts discuss best practices and success stories of similar companies in size and volume, which have excelled at greening their own operations and products and how they've sold their successful message back to their customers. ET IT INTELLIGENCE CONCLAVE 2008 Recycling E-waste Who would think that e-waste can inspire community harmony. Speaking at the IT Intelligence Conclave, John Mehrmann, vice president, business development, and Ananth Chaganathy, senior vice president Enterprise Solution, of Zylog Systems were optimistic that combined efforts of manufacturers, government, recyclers, collectors and buyers of downstream materials can tackle the burgeoning piles of e-trash in India. In return, job opportunities expand as demand for workforce increases, it was noted. Already the worldwide revenue for e-waste recycling is set to touch $11 billion in 2009. The increasing use of consumer electronics in India has triggered the need to start managing domestic e-waste, before the problem escalates to mountains of trash. As Mr Chaganathy pointed out, with limited resources in hand, there's no option but to recycle and reclaim the waste. Discarded hardware finds a substantial place in the growing market for second hand products at global auctions and sales. So, even though black and white desktop screens might have lost love with the US market, they are now being revamped for use in the African subcontinent. India, too, needs to strengthen its e-recycling capabilities for ensuring environment sustainability, felt Mr Mehrmann. There is a growing urgency for government to work with the various components of this informal sector to encourage awareness and come up with solutions for e-waste dumping in the country. Mehrmann suggested that by bringing together collectors and manufacturers, government can tighten the procurement channel and facilitate optimal re-use of e-waste. Interactions between these two units can supply requisite data to the manufacturers for efficient refurbishment of e-waste. Government also needs to shoulder the responsibility of educating the consumer on disposal and reuse. On the issue of legislations, Mr Mehrmann suggested that India can take look at similar efforts made by its global counterparts. Just like the RoHS legislation, that restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products, India should eliminate poisonous wastes, and adopt eco-friendly e-waste disposal operations. Such an effort will also ensure positive visibility for the government, he added. Illinois likely next to get e-cycling law Illinois appears likely to become the next U.S. state to implement a statewide comprehensive take-back program for the recovery of used consumer electronics. An Illinois General Assembly source informed E-Scrap News that manufacturer-responsibility measure Senate Bill 2313 was to be pushed back to the Assembly's November veto session. The delay was in order for the Senate to take action on House Amendment No. 2, which updated several bill provisions, including requiring the state to post on its Web site a list of registered manufacturers that had not met their annual recycling and re-use goal for the previous program year. The Senate, however, did not wait until wintertime, as a required three-fifths vote was achieved on July 10th by a unanimous 42-to-zero decision. Having now passed both assembly chambers, the measure will be transferred to Governor Rod Blagojevich, where it is hoped he will make the Lincoln State the eighth state this year to enact a program for scrap electronics. If approved, the program will target the recovery of desktop, personal and laptop computers, computer monitors, printers and televisions, as well as other display devices News from across the pond The United Kingdom’s WEEE headaches continued in July, as Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (London) Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks initiated a review of the entire WEEE system on July 9th. Although Wicks commended a high per-capita collection rate — UK citizens recycled just under nine pounds of electronics per person — he simultaneously chided the difficulties in evidence trading between compliance schemes. An evidence trading opportunity earlier in the month allowed six compliance programs, which had been lacking evidence, to acquire the necessary information from Electrolink (Grafton, Australia); however, this action was several weeks past the June 16th compliance deadline. Even companies that met their obligations prior to the original June deadline are unhappy with the current program. Valpak (Stratford-upon-Avon, England) has publicly advocated a system where enforcement agencies play a larger part in moderating the various compliance schemes. Wicks’ announcement was followed the next day by a meeting of the WEEE Advisory Board, which examined various problems facing compliance schemes, including shortages of WEEE collectors, facility excess, individual producer responsibility and re-use. The advisory board reports directly to BERR, issuing one full progress report annually. Elsewhere in the UK, an electronics recycling facility managed by Viridor (St. Helens, England) caught fire on the morning of June 10th. Although the blaze warranted the mobilization of 10 fire crews, no injuries were reported and Viridor does not anticipate a disruption to its services. CEA sees $42B growth in global sales in 2009 Spending on consumer electronics goods will rise by $42 billion next year to reach revenue levels of $700 billion worldwide, according to a Consumer Electronics Association forecast. Portable navigation devices are expected to grow the most, with revenue to increase globally by nearly 20% this year, followed by laptop computers (15%) and mobile phones/smartphones (14%). American City Business Journals/Atlanta Zylog to launch e-waste management software this year NEW DELHI: IT solutions provider Zylog Systems will launch a new software to manage electronic waste in the next three-four months. Zylog Systems Vice-president John Mehrmann said the software is primarily aimed at creating a database of products to be recycled and information on partners involved in the process. Zylog to launch e-waste management software Monday , July 07, 2008 at 1113 hrs IT solutions provider Zylog Systems will launch a new software to manage electronic waste in the next three-four months. Zylog Systems Vice-president (Business Development) John Mehrmann said the software is primarily aimed at creating a database of products to be recycled and information on partners involved in the process. The Chennai-based company expects to launch the software, 'Recycle Accelerator', in the country during October-November. The new product would help in connecting all the partners, including manufacturers, recyclers, collectors and buyers of the materials for reuse, he added. Zylog to launch e-waste management software Press Trust of India / New Delhi July 07, 2008, 17:35 IST: IT solutions provider Zylog Systems will launch a new software to manage electronic waste in the next three-four months. The new product would help in connecting all the partners, including manufacturers, recyclers, collectors and buyers of the materials for reuse The Economic Times Zylog's recycle accelerator as appeared in The Economic Times entitled 'Zylog plans e waste software this year' dated 08.07.08 The Hindu Business Line : Zylog software solution to track, recycle e-waste Chennai, July 4 Chennai-based Zylog Systems Ltd has developed a software solution for tracking and (hence) recycling, e-waste. To develop the product, Zylog spent a million dollars (Rs 4 crore) and roped in a ‘reverse logistics’ expert, Mr John Mehrmann, who had over two decades of experience working for Toshiba. Manufacturers are responsible for managing effective recycling programs, but lack reporting by product, since most incoming goods are only tracked by weight. Manufacturers have not yet created systems to authorize and regulate collectors and recyclers, Mr Mehrmann told Business Line. The future versions of Recycle Accelerator will enable call centers to refer consumers to a collaborative network of collectors and recyclers. Manufacturers will be able to track products received and the effectiveness of recycling. Government agencies will have the ability to audit compliance, track performance, and identify abuse or precious metal theft, he said. John Mehrmann and Ananth Chaganty of ZSL Inc Address the Future of Green Technology at SINOCES Washington, DC (PRWeb) June 30, 2008 -- CEA to showcase the Future of Green Technology products and solutions with The Green Zone at the 2008 China International Consumer Electronics Show (SINOCES). Zylog Systems Limited (ZSL Inc) executives circumnavigate the globe to encourage the use of technology as a means to enable collaborative sustainability solutions. Hazardous Light Bulbs http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg Green Technology Exhibit Opportunity at China's Largest Consumer Technology Event - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), in a partnership with Vogel Burda Media (VBM), is pleased to provide your company with an opportunity to gain critical global exposure by showcasing your latest green technology products at a new green technology exhibition (the ‘Green Zone’) at the 2008 SINOCES, July 10-13, 2008, at the Qingdao International Convention Center, Shandong Province, Qingdao, China. CEA is offering members this opportunity on a complimentary basis. For more information, please contact Joanne Sonenshine. New and Improved myGreenElectronics.org Check out the new and improved www.myGreenElectronics.org! Updates include: 1.    Expansive and updated green products database now with active serial/model numbers, pictures of each product and ENERGY STAR/EPEAT logos 2.    Recycling zip code locator now with easy-to-read maps and more locations than ever before. Questions? Contact: Joanne Sonenshine Revision of the Joint Industry Guide for Material Composition Declaration Underway JIG version 101A – a well-recognized chemicals/materials declaration standard, will be revised to address future chemical declaration requirements such as the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances (“REACH”) Regulation, which will have a significant impact on the consumer electronics industry. Common industry-wide approaches, such as the new JIG, which helps to manage REACH and other materials restrictions, can improve the protection of human health and the environment through better and more consistent identification and reporting of chemical substances contained in electronic products. Additional Links:  Joint Press Release 04/10/08 Contact: Joanne Sonenshine Mandated Energy Use Limits Proposed in California The California Energy Commission is amending its Appliance Efficiency Regulations during 2008 and will be considering whether to impose a mandatory energy use limit on digital televisions. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the Natural Resources Defense Council and 3M have urged the commission to regulate the active mode energy use of TVs. Contact:  Doug Johnson John Mehrmann and Mark Balinski of ZSL are Featured Speakers at Reverse Logistics Show in Amsterdam In answer to the growing need for a Green Solution to the issue of sustainability, ZSL will debut a preview of Recycle Accelerator, the globally interconnected technology solution. Recycle Accelerator enables collectors to connect easily and efficiently with recyclers. Manufacturers and government agencies benefit from audit and reporting functions. Vendors and component manufacturers have access for bidding on export of the raw materials in a unique solution that integrates all of the supply chain constituents. Coming flood of TVs stirs recycling efforts Recycling centers and landfills across the country are preparing for a surge of unwanted sets in coming months. Next February, most broadcasts will be available only in digital form. As a result, sets that rely on antennas to receive over-the-air analog signals will no longer work on their own. At the same time, prices of digital sets continue to drop, encouraging consumers to upgrade. US Postal Service Introduces Recycling Program 18 March 2008—The United States Postal Service has launched a pilot program that allows customers to recycle small electronics and ink cartridges by mailing them at no cost. Through the Postal Service’s “Mail Back” program customers can obtain free envelopes, located in all 1,500 post offices. They can mail back cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players—without having to pay for postage. PC Magazine's Green Facts 17 March 2008—48 clean-tech tips and facts for you. Read them all! In 2007, companies with an enviro-tech focus received $3.95 billion in venture funding, a 38 percent increase over 2006. IT asset recovery (selling refurbished PCs)—is now a $6 billion-a-year business. (TheDailyGreen.com).The “phantom load”—electricity consumed by “switched-off” appliances like TVs, radios, the microwaves—can add $200 a year to your bill. (Cornell University, via TheDailyGreen.com) Panasonic Uses Catalytic Reaction to Decompose Plastics Into Harmless Gas for E-Waste Recycling Osaka, Japan—26 February 2008—Panasonic, by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, today announced that the company has developed together with Kusatsu Electric Co., Ltd. a recycling technology that enables the recovery of metals from plastic-coated wires and plastics used in electric and electronic equipment without causing hazardous side-effects. Using the catalytic properties of titanium oxide (TiO2), the innovative technology facilitates recovery of inorganic substances such as metals by transforming organic substances such as plastics into harmless gases Reuse, recycle, restore: Surplus Exchange helps reduce used electronics' impact on planet 22 February 2008—Bob Akers of The Surplus Exchange gets annoyed when his neighbors kick a Nintendo to the curb because Mario has lost his bounce or when businesses send their spent computers to recyclers that might ship them overseas. Sprint Nextel dials up effort to connect to sustainability 22 February 2008—Amy Hargroves stepped into her full-time green suit in September as manager of corporate social responsibility for Sprint Nextel Corp. Samsung Starts its Own Recycling Program 19 February 2008—Samsung has announced its own recycling program in Canada. The program, called Samsung Take Back and Recycling Program, will be a free service that lets customers return empty Samsung-branded toner cartridges for laser and multi-function printers. Discarded computers and cellphones an EPA concern 16 February 2008—Call it Styrofoam for the 21st century. With only one in four Americans recycling e-waste, said Staples spokesman Mike Black last week, discarded electronics have become a burgeoning concern for private companies and public health groups. EU RoHS under review 15 February 2008—”The RoHS Directive is dynamic! Don’t miss to monitor future changes!” “This was and is our mantra when we counsel clients on the RoHS Directive. In fact, change is a built-in fixture in the directive that restricts the use of six hazardous substances—lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and the flame retardants PBB and PBDE in electrical and electronic equipment since July 1, 2006. UK SMEs clueless about WEEE recycling 13 February 2008—Only 12% of SMEs could name the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations unprompted and just a third of them had heard of the regulations when they were named, according to a survey commissioned by environmental guidance web site www.netregs.gov.uk. Sims Adds Canadian Electronics Recycler to Portfolio 13 February 2008—Sims Recycling Solutions, which only recently entered the electronics recycling industry with several acquisitions, announced that it is acquiring Accu-Shred, a Canada-based electronics recycler. Study Reveals Public Concern about Global Warming is High But Awareness about Reducing and Reusing Waste is Low  (CIWMB News Release, Feb 13, 2008) That New Fangled Light Bulb Unlike traditional light bulbs, each of these spiral bulbs has a tiny bit of a dangerous toxin — around five milligrams of mercury. P&G making its green efforts easy on consumers 8 February 2008—Procter & Gamble Co. has learned a few important lessons in innovation over the decades, and one is that pure do-goodedness does not sell a diaper. New use for old plastic 8 February 2008—The owner of a recycling center in south Sacramento wants to start a factory at McClellan Business Park that would turn clean, recycled plastic into food packaging. Dealing with the devil: Could REACH be better than ROHS? 5 February 2008—It’s not clear what the right metaphor is for choosing between regulation under Restriction on Hazardous Substances (ROHS) or REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals)... Is advocating REACH over ROHS akin to “Dealing with the Devil?” or is it more like “the enemy of your enemy is your best friend?” Or has IPC, in advocating regulation under REACH over ROHS, failed to heed the old adage, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t?” HP Recycles Nearly 250 Million Pounds of Products in 2007--50 Percent Increase over 2006 5 February 2008—HP HPQ today announced it recycled nearly 250 million pounds of hardware and print cartridges globally in its fiscal year 2007—an increase of approximately 50 percent over the previous year and the equivalent of more than double the weight of the Titanic. Only 9.4% Work To Reduce eWaste Of U.S. consumers who bought new cellular handsets in the fourth quarter of 2007, only 9.4 percent recycled their old phones. But, according to a new survey from iSuppli’s ConsumerTrak service, that is double the rate that they recycled in the third quarter. MUST SEE: Growing Trend To Point Our Cell phones' Environmental Impacts Interesting video about recycling cell phones Blogs Already Picking Up This Trend Green technology isn’t exactly filled with tales of heart-stopping adventure and miscreant behavior, but a new series of environmental videos sure makes it sound that way. MEN Shares Their Take On eWaste Computer technology is advancing so fast that old hardware quickly becomes completely obsolete. The “e-waste” from this constantly evolving field is wreaking havoc on the environment, both here and abroad. Fujitsu Announces "'Pervasive Green" Initiative in Retail Industry FRISCO, Texas—14 January 2008—Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. today announced its “Pervasive Green” initiative in the retail industry, a company-wide mission to develop and promote products that are both created and used in an environmentally friendly manner. TV smashed? Don't bring it for recycling 5 February 2008—Electronic recycling depots across Nova Scotia are being told they cannot accept badly damaged televisions, computer monitors or laptops. WeRecycle! Announces NAID Certification 28 January 2008—WeRecycle! Inc., based in Wallingford, Conn., a provider of IT asset recovery and recycling services, has announced that its Meriden, Conn., processing facility has been certified by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) for mobile computer hard drive destruction. John Mehrmann and Michael Moore Take the Stage at RLA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada—23 January 2008—Two respected names in the industry will appear on stage at the Reverse Logistics Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Refurbishing an old approach to PC recycling 16 January 2008—There is an easy, cheap, and environmentally friendly way to recycle PCs, cell phones, and other electronics, according to Jeff Ziegler, CEO of Austin’s TechTurn: reuse them. Recyclers form MyBoneYard for Obsolete Electronics 11 January 2008—Two recyclers and a promotions company have formed MyBoneYard.com, which they are billing as “a first-of-its-kind Web site designed to provide consumers and big box electronics retailers an alternative to traditional electronics recycling.” The Crusade Against "E-Waste" 10 January 2007—James Burgett is on a one-man crusade to attack so-called “e-waste”—the tons of computers and other electronic gadgets that people throw out. “I have a profound disgust with waste,” said James Burgett. At CES Vendors Say; Analog TV Will Create eWaste Crisis Electronics titans at the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show united to combat “e-waste” as the deadline nears for US residents to replace analog televisions with digital models. EPA seeks new life for old cell phones 7 January 2008—The way the Environmental Protection Agency sees it, one discarded cell phone is like one vote: on its own, it cannot do much harm or good, but the cumulative effect can pack a wallop. Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba Join Hands To Meet Recycling Requirements LAS VEGAS—6 January 2007—Three leading electronics brands have established a new electronic product recycling management company, Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (MRM), to manage collection and recycling programs in the United States. The new company’s first activities are focused on providing cost effective services to manufacturers who must satisfy the recently enacted requirements in Minnesota for the recycling of used electronic products. Properly handling end-of-life IT assets With major OEMs arguing about who recycles the most electronics and with e-waste legislation on the rise across the world, green computing is a hot topic. However, many companies are still in the dark about how to properly get rid of old IT equipment in an environmentally friendly way that also ensures the secure destruction of sensitive data. eWaste Risk Harms China The highway of poisoned products that runs from China to the United States is not a one-way street. America ships China up to 80 percent of U.S. electronic waste—discarded computers, cell phones, TVs, etc. Last year alone, the United States exported enough e-waste to cover a football field and rise a mile into the sky. Technology Conservation Group, Inc. (TCG) Expansion 2 January 2008—Technology Conservation Group, Inc. (TCG), an electronic recycler with headquarters in Lecanto, Florida, is proud to announce expansion of their worldwide operations to include an 25,920 square foot facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Further, TCG has relocated their Oregon facility; with a new address 11749 NE Marx St Bldg 8, Portland, OR. 97220.\ Taking on the E-Waste Problem 31 December 2007—Ongoing growth in volumes and disposal rates of electronic waste and scrap pose consumers, governments and industry with a growing threat to environmental health and safety. In its 2002 report “Exporting Harm,” the Seattle arm of the Basel Action Network revealed that about 80 percent of electronic waste brought to recyclers in the US is in fact not recycled here but exported to Asia, most likely China, where “it is melted down in primitive, environmentally damaging conditions including the cooking and melting of computer circuit boards in vast quantity.” Automated E-waste Shredding System Operational Topeka, KS—25 December 2007—Asset LifeCycle, LLC (ALC) is pleased to announce the completion of its greatly anticipated Automated Electronic Waste (E-waste) Destruction/Shredding System. New Law Requires Recycling AUGUSTA, Maine—Mainers who’ve been tossing their old cell phones in the trash or slipping them into desk drawers to be forgotten will have a new alternative as of the new year: A state law will require retailers to collect used cellular telephones at no charge for recycling E-Waste Issues Become Personal IN the end, all it took was a single “wafer-thin mint” to explode Mr. Creosote, the obese Monty Python character who couldn’t stop eating.             Green Warranties: While product warranties are focused on repairs at the beginning of a product's life, anti-pollution efforts aim to reduce energy usage over the full life of a product while recycling efforts are focused on waste disposal at the end of a product's life. Warranty can have an indirect but meaningful effect on energy usage. And as end of life recycling options turn into requirements in more states and countries, the price of what is essentially an end of life extended warranty will be added to the price of a product. Like the bit of money collected to encourage the recycling of beverage bottles and cans, the recycling fees being imposed on computer sales in places such as California are designed to change consumer habits. But rather than returning the money as a reward for recycling, these funds are meant to finance the actual recycling operation. Meanwhile, in the name of energy efficiency, products such as light bulbs -- which are usually considered consumables and are therefore not typically covered by written warranties -- are coming to market with multi-year warranties as a requirement of their energy-efficient branding. For instance, the compact fluorescent bulbs that can take the place of an incandescent bulb are commonly sold with a two-year warranty. This guarantee, as well as the promise of lower energy usage, are intended to encourage purchases. Going Where Warranties Have Never Gone Before In last week's newsletter on the greening of automotive warranties, we wrote about a similar phenomenon taking place with new fuels made from wood, waste, corn, or sugar cane. While plain old gasoline and diesel fuel have no written warranties, some of the new biofuels do. It's all done in the name of reassuring the customer that these new environmentally-friendly fuels won't ruin their engines -- a fear virtually unknown with gasoline and diesel customers thanks to long-used quality standards. In a way, the new energy-efficient branding is a kind of warranty in and of itself. To qualify an appliance for the Energy Star logo, for instance, the product must meet certain criteria, including energy usage. In the aerospace industry, these performance warranties are common, guaranteeing X units of fuel usage per Y units of distance traveled. If those criteria are not met, the buyer can make a warranty claim for the difference. In the consumer world, we're not sure how real these warranties really are. Would a refrigerator manufacturer be liable if a unit used more than the specified kilowatt-hours per year? Do consumers really expect to collect on a two-year warranty if their fluorescent bulb fails after 18 months? Do the manufacturers even set aside reserves at the time of sale to cover these future costs? Meanwhile, a few U.S. states and numerous European countries have already begun collecting a recycling fee every time certain types of new products are sold. The fee is meant to cover the cost of recycling a product at the end of its life. Are these also warranties? Or because of the fee collected, perhaps they're extended warranties? Look at it this way. An extended warranty contract is priced and sold separately from the product, and typically guarantees a free repair for the first few years of that product's life. A recycling contract is "sold" (really, it's imposed) at the time of sale, to finance and guarantee the collection of a waste product once the owner has determined that repairs are no longer desirable. So they're both guarantees of a response by a manufacturer and/or retailer, but one is sold for repairs at the beginning of life while the other is "sold" for the disposal at the end of life. Energy usage calculations and energy-efficiency branding are nothing new, but in this era of high energy costs and dire predictions about global warming, they've taken on more important meanings. And in different cases, warranties can work with or work against those ratings. The 13 SEER Standard In the U.S., for instance, the federal Department of Energy assigns an efficiency rating known as a "seasonal energy efficiency ratio," or SEER, to each central air conditioning unit. The SEER rating is calculated by dividing total energy input (measured in watt-hours) into the total cooling output (measured in British thermal units or BTU). The 10 SEER standard became the U.S minimum for central air conditioning units in 1987, meaning that each unit produced 10,000 BTUs per kilowatt-hour of energy usage. In January 2006, the 13 SEER standard became the new benchmark, resulting in units that are 30% more efficient than 10 SEER. However, the cost of the units themselves was a bit more than before as well. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute estimated increases of three to eight percent in equipment costs between 10 SEER and 13 SEER, which because of the projected 30% savings in electricity would pay for itself in about 3.5 years of lower running costs. More importantly, the electricity not generated and the power plants not built would reduce nitrous oxide emissions by up to 85,000 metric tons and would reduce carbon emissions by up to 33 million metric tons, the EESI estimated. So where do you send the bill if the unit uses only 20% less electricity per year? It should be sent, one would guess, to the same federal office that pays consumers when their new vehicles don't live up to the advertised spec. That is to say, 13 SEER is merely a laboratory calculation, and not a real world guarantee. And nobody is going to pay a warranty claim for higher-than-expected electricity bills. There's also been a problem with repairs and upgrades, caused primarily by the gradual unavailability of SEER 10 spare parts. It's now been two-and-a-half years since the last 10 SEER units were manufactured, so the availability of spare parts for aging but still functional 10 SEER units is an increasing concern. Furthermore, with so-called "split system" central air heating and cooling units, there are frequently both indoor and outdoor components. And an indoor 10 SEER unit may not be compatible with an outdoor 13 SEER unit. So if the outdoor unit cannot be repaired with 10 SEER spare parts and is instead replaced with a 13 SEER unit, that may require modifications or even a full replacement of the perfectly good indoor unit to ensure compatibility. The complicating factor could be the existence of a home warranty policy, which will cover repairs and replacements of defective items, but may not pay for the replacement of perfectly good components that need to be replaced solely for the sake of compatibility. Yes, we will pay for the defective outdoor unit, but no we will not pay for the replacement of the perfectly good evaporator coil indoors. The only thing wrong with it is it won't work with the new outdoor unit. There also may be a space issue, in that the replacement unit may be larger than the 10 SEER unit it replaces. And of course, a 10 SEER replacement unit would not be an option. No new 10 SEER units can be manufactured, though existing inventory can still be sold off. Home warranty policies are being amended to make sure the customer understands that the administrator won't always cover the total cost of a complete replacement of a central air conditioning unit, even if the reason for the replacement is an inability to repair. The Energy Star Logo In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy created the Energy Star program, which helps consumers to spotlight energy-efficient appliances and electronics while they're shopping. The EPA estimates that over 2,000 manufacturers have voluntarily qualified some 40,000 products since the program's inception. And in the past 16 years the Energy Star designation has spread to numerous countries in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. By purchasing appliances and electronics that carry the Energy Star logo, consumers are told they will save money on electricity, which in turn reduces the need for power plants to burn fossil fuels. The EPA estimates that in 2007, consumers' use of Energy Star appliances reduced their utility bills by some $16 billion, which in turn prevented the release of some 40 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by power plants. It was the equivalent of taking 27 million cars off the road, the EPA estimated. It's easy to find comparably-priced Energy Star products, in the sense that the designation does not always mean a higher price. And of course, 13 SEER products, while they might have been initially priced higher than 10 SEER units, might not always cost more. New technologies may cost more when they're new to the market, but it may not always be so. And while one would expect Energy Star units to carry longer warranties, this does not always seem to be the case. For instance, Whirlpool sells 11 washing machines that are Energy Star qualified. List prices range from $700 for the HW0050P to $1,500 for the WFW9600T, but all 11 models are covered by a one-year limited warranty in the U.S. and Canada. Non-Energy Star units carry the same warranty. Whirlpool also sells 30 refrigerators with the Energy Star qualification and 10 Energy Star dishwashers. All are covered by a one-year limited warranty in the U.S. and Canada. Non-Energy Star units have the same warranty. It was only with room air conditioners that we found a difference in warranty durations. Whirlpool sells four room air conditioner models that are Energy Star qualified: the ACU088PR, ACU108PR, ACU109PR, and the ACU129PR. All four have an output of between 8,000 and 11,600 BTUs, and all four carry a five-year full warranty in the U.S. and Canada. Some of Whirlpool's non-Energy Star models carry five-year warranties on the compressor, evaporator and condenser, but the rest of the unit is covered by only a one-year warranty. So in that sense, the buyer of an Energy Star air conditioner would save money on electricity and get a longer warranty. But all four models are designed for through-the-wall installations. And none of the portable or window-sized units are Energy Star compliant. Energy Star Requirements What does it mean to be Energy Star qualified? Within each product category, appliances and electronics that beat the average energy usage rating by a certain percentage can qualify for the Energy Star designation. For dishwashers, an Energy Star unit must beat the average by at least 25%. For refrigerators, the minimum needed to qualify is 15% below the average. For televisions, the minimum energy savings needed to quality is 30%. For central air conditioning units to gain Energy Star certification, they must be rated at least 14 SEER (or 10% more efficient than the 13 SEER minimum). An Energy Star low slope roof must be made of materials that initially reflect more than 65% of solar energy (measured in watts per square meter), and must still reflect more than 50% of the sunlight after three years. An Energy Star high slope roof must reflect 25% initially and at least 15% after three years. As far as warranty, an Energy Star roof needs to have a product warranty that is comparable to one given with a company's non-Energy Star products. In other words, it can't be shorter, but it can be the same. There is no requirement that it be longer, and as far as we can tell, the loss of reflectivity after three years would not be grounds for a warranty claim. However, there are some instances where warranties are mandated where none have been before, or long warranties are required. In addition to other requirements, Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs must carry a two-year written warranty to be eligible. Incandescent bulbs usually last only half a year, so this warranty is promising a product life at least four times as long. GE Consumer & Industrial sells a 20-watt compact fluorescent bulb backed by a five-year warranty. So it's guaranteed to last perhaps ten times longer than its non-warranted incandescent equivalent, which by the way would use 3.75 times as much electricity to create as much light. Other compact fluorescent bulbs tout lifespans up to seven years, but without the written warranty for any but the first two years. To collect on a replacement of a prematurely failed bulb, the consumer must send GE a copy of the packaging's bar code and a dated register receipt. Pack rats may rejoice, but how many typical consumers will save both of these required items for five years? For a pack of bulbs? The point is, these guarantees of longer life and lower electric bills may have more impact on the store shelf -- convincing skeptical consumers to give the weirdly-shaped bulbs a chance -- but they may have as much impact in a financial sense on a manufacturer as, say, software warranties. There are other instances where Energy Star certifications include mandatory warranties. For instance, the motor in Energy Star ceiling fans must be warranted for at least 30 years, and any included lighting fixtures must be warranted for at least two years, but the warranties on other components can be as short as one year. Furnace Makers Opposed to Minimum Warranties But then there are also cases where the Energy Star standards-makers first specified warranties and later backed away. For furnaces, the current requirement for Energy Star certification is simply that the product must be sold with a manufacturer's warranty. Its duration and exact terms and conditions are left to the manufacturer to decide. Initially, the U. S. Department of Energy planned to include a minimum warranty duration requirement that ranged from six to fifteen years for different types of furnaces, heat exchangers and water heaters, but lately they seem to have dropped the plan in the face of industry opposition. In comments filed with the U. S. Department of Energy last year, A.O. Smith president Ajita Rajendra wrote: "A.O. Smith understands the intent of the minimum warranty to be to insure quality and reliability to the consumer. Unfortunately, warranty does little to insure quality or performance and may jeopardize the Energy Star reputation. If an unreliable product is certified under the Energy Star program and the manufacturer subsequently goes out of business or refuses to honor the warranty, the reputation of the Energy Star brand will be severely damaged. "Many in the energy efficiency community have complained that water heaters are sold at retail on the basis of length of warranty and not energy efficiency or features. The use of a minimum warranty in Energy Star will just promulgate the competition on the basis of warranty rather than performance or value. "In reality, a warranty is just insurance which adds to the price a consumer must pay for the product. Warranty features are best determined by competition in the free market and should not be dictated by regulation or standards. "A. O. Smith believes the minimum warranty requirement should be dropped from the Energy Star criteria for residential water heaters." Ervin Cash, executive vice president of Rinnai Corp., made similar assertions in his comments regarding Energy Star criteria for whole-house gas tankless water heaters: "Warranty language should be excluded. Energy Star is designed to encourage more Americans to adopt more energy efficient products. It is an ill-conceived notion to think that attaching warranty language will instill consumer confidence. Consumer confidence is earned by the manufacturer developing the trust of the consumer based on actual product performance and actual product reliability. The DOE cannot develop consumer confidence with a warranty term, but the DOE will drive the cost up by mandating a commercial term. This will make energy efficient products less affordable, not more affordable. Let market forces, product performance, and manufacturers earn consumer confidence and determine their own commercial terms. Keep Energy Star focused on energy efficiency. "If warranty is to be included, it must state that it is a limited warranty, and it must state that the limited warranty is on the heat exchanger only. Warranties throughout the gas whole-house tankless water heater industry are always limited warranties and limited to the heat exchanger only." Officially, the Energy Star furnace criteria have been "under revision," for more than a year. But considering that the initial documents specified minimum warranty durations while the latest drafts did not, it seems unlikely that they'll creep back into the final documents. No Enforcement Mechanism Other industry comments spotted an enforcement problem. While the initially-proposed Energy Star standard would require warranties of minimum duration, the government would not step in to make sure those warranty obligations were honored, and it would not step in to manage the warranties of companies that go out of business. This, according to comments made at an EPA forum by Earl Jones of GE Consumer & Industrial, made the proposed minimum warranty requirement "a meaningless gesture." Of course, that's the case with most any consumer product. If the manufacturer denies a claim, or if a manufacturer goes out of business and is therefore unavailable to honor a claim, there's no government-run warranty fund of last resort to which customers can turn, as there may be with certain pensions or insurance policies. Failing companies usually take their warranties with them to the bottom, giving some so-called "lifetime warranties" a more finite term. In fact, in one case a retailer claimed that a change in ownership had voided all the "lifetime warranties" it once issued for replacement automotive batteries and other products. With computers and peripherals, as well as with many other types of office equipment, much of the power-saving effort boils down to the creation of systems that shut themselves off when not in use. One estimate suggests that 95% of the time, the typical computer printer is not in use. Yet it might be left on simply so it won't return an error message when a page to print is sent its way. Screensavers on PCs save screens, but they don't save electricity. However, a group based in California's Silicon Valley, the Video Electronics Standards Association, has created a Display Power Management Standard, which creates a common definition of low power states for the computer display industry. Any monitors that are said to be VESA DPMS-compliant will go into a standby mode after a user-specified period of inactivity. But there's the catch: the user needs to turn on this feature, and needs to learn to tolerate the slight delay while waiting for the screen to warm back up. European Standards In Europe, the situation is quite different. There are numerous standards bodies, and there are numerous standards. TCO Development, a unit of the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (the TCO, or Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation), has set ergonomic and environmental standards for PC monitors, printers, office equipment, mobile phones, and office chairs. To qualify for TCO labeling, products must meet requirements for low energy consumption, low emissions of dust and ozone, low noise levels, low electric and magnetic fields and strict requirements concerning the dispersal of environmentally hazardous substances from manufacturing and recycling processes. TCO Development strives to set standards for ergonomics and ecology in addition to emissions and energy usage. The group's labeling overview for IT and office equipment is online at: http://www.tcodevelopment.com/pls/nvp/Document.Show?CID=1200&MID=1171 Specifications for printers and monitors also set standards for electrical and magnetic radiation. Approximately 50 percent of all display models manufactured in the world are TCO-labeled, the group estimates. Display manufacturer Planar Systems, which covers its LCD monitors with a three-year warranty, has met TCO standards for more than a decade, meeting TCO '95, TCO '99, and TCO '03 labeling requirements in successive product generations. In a 2003 news release Planar said the then-new "TCO '03 ergonomics guidelines for LCD monitors call for products to meet a minimum height adjustment range of 4.3 inches to adapt to users of different statures and eliminate eye and neck strain often caused by an improperly positioned monitor." The European Union has itself been much more aggressive than the U.S. government when it comes to setting mandatory minimum warranties. While in the U.S. the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act governs the format, definitions, and disclosures of product warranties where they exist, it doesn't actually require that warranties must be offered in the first place. In contrast, Article 5 of the EU Directive 1999/44/EC on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees mandates a minimum guarantee of two years' time from the delivery of the goods, and that directive applies to both energy-efficient as well as inefficient consumer products (although some member states have taken their time to actually implement it). The directive goes as far as to say that poorly-written user manuals are themselves a product defect which can result in a warranty claim. WEEE Is Not Child's Play The existence of Directive 1999/44/EC makes it less necessary for energy-saving efforts such as Energy Star to even think about mandatory minimum warranty durations. But of course, in Europe as well as in the U.S., manufacturers are free to offer five-year or even ten-year warranties on their products, if that is what it takes to convince skeptical consumers (e.g. hybrid car batteries) or to satisfy anti-pollution regulators (e.g. exhaust emissions equipment). The EU's WEEE directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (Directive 2002/96/EC) mandates that member states must create separate collections for scrap electronics and/or encourage the opening of public collection points where consumers can drop off their scrap electronics free of charge. The WEEE directive covers appliances, computers, telecom equipment, consumer electronics, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment, medical devices, and monitoring and control instruments. Member states were directed to begin separate collections and manufacturers were directed to begin paying for collections or drop-offs in 2005, and by 2006 these efforts were supposed to result in the recycling of at least 4 kg per EU inhabitant per year. The governments of the 27 EU member states are required to encourage consumers not to dispose of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste, and manufacturers are required to properly mark electrical and electronic equipment which could otherwise end up in rubbish bins. And governments must publish statistics on the weight or unit count of WEEE products sold and collected each year, so the EU can monitor compliance. WEEE Financing Requirements To comply with WEEE, manufacturers will also have to reserve funds for the end of life processing, similar to what they now do for product warranties. According to an EU summary of the WEEE legislation, "When a producer places a product on the market, he must furnish a guarantee concerning the financing of the management of his waste. Such a guarantee may take the form of participation by the producer in financing schemes, a recycling insurance or a blocked bank account." Reuse, recycling, and recovery programs are also encouraged for parts and components. More specifically, manufacturers will be required to produce "electrical and electronic equipment which take into full account and facilitate their repair, possible upgrading, reuse, disassembly and recycling." Also, the directive mandates that each manufacturer "should be responsible for financing the management of the waste from his own products," and "should be able to choose to fulfill this obligation either individually or by joining a collective scheme." The EU had earlier passed Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, which mandates a similar collection scheme on automakers. And then there are other directives governing the use and disposal of batteries and specific pollutants and hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. In February 2003, the EU issued Directive 2002/95/EC on the "Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment," also known as the RoHS Directive. We're not sure how this relates to warranty, except in cases where there was a very good reason to use one of the banned substances to prolong life or improve performance. And, in fact, the RoHS statutes include a very long list of exceptions for cases where the use of substances such as mercury are permissible. In addition to the EU, other countries planning implementation of RoHS restrictions include China (last year's Clean Production Promotion Law and Solid Waste Prevention and Control Law), Japan (Green Procurement), and South Korea. Several U.S. states including California have implemented their own RoHS rules, though there's still no federal law. Other Recycling Laws In the U.S., mandatory recycling and fund collection schemes are widespread for beverage bottles, but remain relatively rare for most other consumer products. But there are at least two states that have mandated the recycling of computers and TVs. In the state of Maine, under an e-waste law that went into effect in 2006, all computer central processing units, monitors, and televisions generated by households must be recycled. But as of yet, there's no money collected at the time of sale to make this happen. In 2003, California established an electronic waste recycling program for TVs, monitors, computers, portable DVD players, and other video displays that collects a fee at the time of sale. Since January 1, 2005, California retailers have collected an Electronic Waste Recycling Fee of $6.00 for new units with monitors under 15 inches diagonally, $10.00 for screens over 35 inches, and $8.00 for screens in between 15 and 35 inches. The funds go into an Electronic Waste Recovery and Recycling Account managed by the California's Board of Equalization,and will be used to pay authorized collectors and recyclers. Sales of used equipment, as well as video displays installed within medical equipment, vehicles, or household appliances (washers, ovens, etc.), are not subject to the fee. In other states and some cities, separate garbage collections are common for bottles, paper waste and large items such as furniture and appliances, but mandatory recycling laws are uncommon, and the imposition of mandatory fees collected at the time of sale are rare. However, private industry is beginning to fill the void, with retailers, manufacturers and in some cases the extended warranty companies that already work with them at the beginning of a product's life stepping in to offer a bounty or at least a store discount for each recycled item brought back to them. We'll have more to say about this new trend in a separate article next week.   Green Warranties, Part Three: To help the environment, extended warranty administrators are stepping up to offer customers gift cards in return for their waste computers and cameras and more energy-efficient replacements for their unrepairable home appliances. Extended warranty companies are beginning to take leadership in efforts to recycle electronics and encourage the use of more energy-efficient appliances. Home Warranty of America Inc. is allowing its customers to pay an optional $75 "GreenPlus" fee to secure an endorsement to their policies that ensures their appliances will be replaced with Energy Star rated models. NEW Customer Service Companies Inc. (a Warranty Week sponsor) is working with Sam's Club to allow members to collect a gift card as a reward for sending in their computers and cameras for recycling. The latter program, run under the brand name of ecoNEW, allows Sam's Club members to send in any of seven different types of electronic equipment for free recycling. But if the item contains parts or components that can be resold or reused in current generations of equipment, the customer could qualify for a gift card valued from $4 all the way up to $1,124. The European Union seems to have anticipated these kinds of recycling rewards. In the EU's WEEE directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (Directive 2002/96/EC), the actual wording used to describe the cost of recycling is thus: "private households should be able to return their waste at least free of charge." Turning Trash Into Cash In other words, WEEE discourages payments by the household to the recycler, but actually permits and encourages payments by the recycler to the household. If no money changes hands, that's fine too. But by repeating the key phrase "at least free of charge" four times in the directive, we think the EU is encouraging money to change hands in the form of a bounty paid by the recycler. The ecoNEW program, however, is a U.S.-only effort. Sam's Club is the only NEW client taking part in the program right now, though others could join at any time. Jamie Breneman, NEW's communications manager, said the program was created to combat not only the amount of electronics junk accumulating in people's closets, but also the growing volume of junk finding its way into landfills. The problem is, consumers don't know the value of some of the spare parts in their junk, and don't have a realistic avenue open to them for sales of used electronics (eBay and Craig's List notwithstanding). "A lot of this product has value, whether it's going into the resale market, or whether it's getting stripped down for component-level parts," she said. "You think about all of those products out there that are breaking down, and there's not a good parts source for them. So we're able to populate the parts channel. And then also, you can smelt it down and reuse it to make new materials." Breneman stressed that NEW will have an "absolute no landfill policy," even when it will cost the company to recycle the unit. She said NEW also will not ship units internationally for others to dispose of in less than environmentally friendly ways. "So if we're not reselling it, it isn't going to become someone else's problem," she added. Although Sam's Club is the only announced ecoNEW partner right now, Breneman said both retailers and manufacturers are preparing to do likewise. And although Sam's Club is an online/UPS-only effort with no in-store drop-off options, others may allow that. Some retailers, in fact, may create high profile drop-off events in certain cities and towns -- a garage sale in reverse -- encouraging consumers to recycle their electronic junk at least free of charge and possibly, in return for a gift card. New Focus on the Environment This environmental focus on the part of the extended warranty companies is a relatively new phenomenon. NEW first announced the availability of the ecoNEW program at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and announced Sam's Club as its first ecoNEW client at the end of April. Home Warranty of America announced the GreenPlus option at the beginning of March. Home Warranty of America's GreenPlus option provides replacement of appliances and home heating systems with new Energy Star rated units, once it has been decided that the old unit cannot be repaired. To qualify for the Energy Star designation, products must use significantly less electricity than is typical for their category, and must meet other criteria as well (see Warranty Week, May 21 for more details). Product types eligible for the GreenPlus option include: Dishwashers Refrigerators Clothes Washers Heating Systems (with 90% efficiency) Water Heaters (with a tankless water heater) Ovens, Ranges & Cook Tops The option can be added to a home warranty policy for an additional $75 fee. Home Warranty of America has made the option available to consumers through its real estate agent channel (which sell policies to consumers buying or selling a home) as well as through direct-to-consumer sales (for those purchasing or renewing a policy on their own). Most of the company's home warranty policies include a 13 SEER equipment upgrade clause as a standard feature. In addition, Home Warranty of America also sells a "13 SEER Modifications" option for an additional $50 or $75 fee (depending upon the state where the home is located), which can cover the cost of moving a unit, cutting through the foundation, or any other alterations that would have to be made above and beyond the replacement of the actual unit. The idea is to replace old and less energy-efficient HVAC systems with units meeting U.S. Department of Energy criteria for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of 130% (13 SEER). To qualify for an Energy Star rating, an HVAC system must meet a ratio of 14 SEER (see Warranty Week, May 21 for more details). Online Only Right now, the Sam's Club Trade-In and Recycle Program is available only to Sam's Club members who have registered at samsclub.com. However, the transaction itself will be negotiated and completed between the customer and ecoNEW, without any further involvement from Sam's Club. The Web site is operated by NEW. But the gift cards can be traded for Sam's Club merchandise or used to pay membership fees. It has no expiration date. Items cannot be returned in person to a Sam's Club location. Instead, they must be shipped to ecoNEW via UPS, using a prepaid shipping label that ecoNEW will email to the customer. Only one item may be shipped per box, because each returned item is issued a unique voucher and tracking number to insure traceability in transit and to speed identification once received at the ecoNEW warehouse. After a customer submits all the required information on the ecoNEW Web site, NEW will send an initial email message to the customer. Within this first email will be a unique link which the customer must click to confirm their email address. Immediately after confirming their email address, ecoNEW will generate a second email containing a pre-paid UPS shipping label, which the customer must then print out and bring to a UPS Store, along with the unit to be returned. While the UPS staff will be available to help with the packaging of the unit, the cost of packing materials must be paid by the customer. If the product appears to have been damaged in transit (i.e. the box it's in appears to have been damaged), ecoNEW will resolve the matter by making a claim to UPS. However, if the box is not damaged, but the unit inside is, ecoNEW will contact the customer to resolve the matter. Trade-in values assume the unit is in operable condition. ecoNEW asks the customer to describe specific defects or damages to the product, so that appropriate deductions can be made. If ecoNEW determines that the actual condition differs materially from that described by the customer, it reserves the right to recalculate its value using the deduction schedule available to the customer at the time a quote was obtained. If the customer disagrees with this recalculation, ecoNEW will return the item to the customer at no cost. Trade-in values will be updated on a monthly basis. However, all trade-in values quoted to potential customers will remain valid for 10 days. After that time period expires, a new quote will need to be obtained. Once a quote has been obtained, and ecoNEW has sent a shipping label, the customer has 30 days to return the product. If 30 days passes and no product has been received, ecoNEW reserves the right to recalculate its trade-in value. According to the ecoNEW Web site, "All equipment received by ecoNEW will either be reconditioned or recycled. Some equipment may be sold into the secondary, or used, marketplace, in its whole machine form and some equipment may be disassembled and sold off as usable service parts. Recycled equipment will be broken down into its raw material format and used to produce new materials." Data Destruction The ecoNEW program is currently accepting returns of used computers, camcorders, digital cameras, flat screen monitors, video game consoles, and digital music players. While some of the newest and most feature-rich models can command payments of up to $1,124 (for the Sony HVR-V1U camcorder), many of the oldest and outdated units command a trade-in price of $0. Printers will be accepted for free recycling, but will not be eligible for a gift card. CRT monitors will not be accepted at all. Customers are asked to delete all of their personal data files before sending in their old units. Some of these units may need only minor repairs before they're resold to others as used merchandise. And while that may not be an issue with music files, it could cause some problems with the documents typically left on the hard drives of discarded computers. On the ecoNEW Web site, the company "strongly recommends that you back up your data and/or erase the data from your products hard drive or memory. ecoNEW will make reasonable efforts to erase all data from any product that is submitted through the program, but cannot make any guarantee in this regard. Any files or data left on your product may be accessible to others if the data is not erased. ecoNEW shall not be responsible for the loss, safekeeping, or maintenance in confidence of any data resident on the trade-in products. "If applicable, please consult your products operating system software manual for recommendations on backing up or deleting files, or contact your operating system software manufacturer for suggestions on how to secure personal data. "ecoNEW employs a program that is certified for compliance with the rules mandated by the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DOD 5220.22-M) to completely erase and make irretrievable any information contained on a fixed or removable hard disk drive. "All addressable locations on the hard drive are overwritten with a character, then its complement character, then a random character, and then verified. This process is outlined in DOD 5220.22-M Sanitization Schedule. This process is sufficient for all governmental information deemed Classified, Sensitive, and Secret. "Drives that malfunction in a way that makes it impossible to access and destroy the data are noted by serial number and sent for destruction. All tasks in this regard are performed in a controlled and secure environment." Placing a Value on Recycling In a very meaningful way, the prices listed below for computers and camcorders make a statement about the current value of the units in terms of the scarcity and usability of the spare parts, as well as the relative value and quality in some cases of the brands themselves. Sony camcorders, for instance, seem to command a premium price for trade-ins, while for other camcorders the brand name doesn't seem to matter. And in the case of monitors, which one might have suspected were interchangeable commodities, the lack of brand-based pricing differentials seems to confirm that suspicion. The actual prices offered for laptop and desktop computers tend to depend upon two factors: the central processing unit (CPU) and the presence of a hard disk drive. It doesn't seem to depend much upon the brand of the computer itself, although of course different manufacturers favored different CPUs. In general, the oldest Pentium and AMD K6-based units fared worse when it came to trade-in value, while the newest and fastest Intel Core Duo processors used in the custom-built Alienware gaming computers commanded the highest trade-in prices. Within each family of CPUs, the faster the processing speed, the higher the price offered. All the prices below reflect the inclusion of a salvageable hard drive; its absence could reduce the trade-in price all the way to $0. Looks Like New Data in the charts below was collected from the Sam's Club Trade-in and Recycle Program Web site on May 30, 2008. In all cases, we assumed we were pricing complete units with typical configurations in a gently used condition. The actual prices offered to Sam's Club members are likely to change in the future based upon market conditions. Table 1 ecoNEW Trade-in Prices for Laptop Computers   Laptop CPU Lowest Price   Highest Price   Athlon 4 $56 $100   Athlon XP $96 $120   Athlon XP-M $96 $120   Athlon $100 $120   Athlon 64 $100 $140   Athlon 64 Mobile $100 $140   Mobile Celeron $88 $88   Celeron $8 $116   Celeron M $100 $116   Celeron M Centrino $112 $140   Celeron D $136 $164   Core Solo $176 $232   Core Duo $220 $360   Core 2 Duo $360 $440   Duron $0 $56   Mobile Duron $72 $72   K6-2-P $0 $0   K6-III+ $0 $0   K6-III-P $0 $0   K6-2 $0 $32   K6-2+ $0 $32   Motorola Dual-Core PowerPC G5 $0 $0   Motorola Power PC G3 $16 $32   Motorola Power PC G4 $24 $56   Motorola PowerPC G5 $64 $120   Motorola PowerPC $32 $144   Motorola Power PC G4 (2 CPU) $160 $240   Motorola Power PC G5 (2 CPU) $160 $320   Pentium $0 $0   Pentium II $0 $0   Pentium MMX $0 $0   Pentium III $0 $56   Pentium III-M $0 $56   Pentium M $60 $112   Mobile Pentium 4 $120 $176   Pentium 4 $128 $196   Pentium 4-M $128 $196   Pentium M Centrino $152 $300   Mobile Sempron $0 $0   Sempron $140 $140   Turion 64 $128 $128   Xeon 5100 Dual-Core $0 $0 There were only about half as many CPUs listed for desktop units as there were for laptops, and prices were much lower. For instance, not one desktop unit on the ecoNEW price list below would fetch more than $100. Once again, the CPU type and speed seemed to matter more than the brand name of the computer, so we'll list them that way. Table 2 ecoNEW Trade-in Prices for Desktop Computers   Desktop CPU Lowest Price   Highest Price   Athlon $0 $12   Athlon 64 $12 $24   Athlon FX $24 $24   Athlon XP $28 $40   Athlon X2 $48 $76   Celeron M $0 $16   Celeron $0 $24   Core Solo $32 $40   Core Duo $48 $48   Core 2 Duo $56 $72   Duron $0 $0   Motorola PowerPC G3 $6 $9   Motorola PowerPC G4 $9 $24   Motorola PowerPC G4 (2 CPU) $12 $26   Motorola Dual-Core PowerPC G5 $37 $52   Motorola PowerPC G5 $48 $78   Motorola PowerPC G5 (2 CPU) $52 $78   Pentium $0 $0   Pentium II $0 $0   Pentium III $0 $12   Pentium M $8 $48   Pentium 4 $12 $56   Pentium D $32 $56   Xeon 5100 Dual-Core $44 $48   Xeon 5300 Dual-Core $60 $60   Xeon $24 $80 The old-style tube monitors are not currently accepted for recycling by ecoNEW. Printers are accepted for free recycling, but there are no printers that will command a trade-in price. Flat screen monitors, however, are gladly accepted. And once again, the actual brand of the monitor matters little. So what we've done here is to reduce the offerings to a series of screen sizes, measured diagonally in inches. Table 3 ecoNEW Trade-in Prices for Flat Screen Monitors Monitor Size Price   up to 15" $0   16" $8   17" $12   18" $20   19" $28   20" $52   21" $64   22" $76   23" & up $92 Camcorder trade-in prices were similarly generic, with one exception. While the price offered for most brands depended less on the brand and more on the recording format, the prices listed for Sony camcorders were model-specific. So we'll list them in two groups: everyone else and Sony. Table 4 ecoNEW Trade-in Prices for Camcorders Camcorder Type Price   Analog 8mm $4   Analog Super VHS-C $4   Analog Super VHS $4   Analog VHS $4   Analog VHS-C $4   Analog Hi-8 $16   Digital Digital 8 $24   Digital MiniDV $24   Digital DV $32   Digital DVD $60   Digital HDD 20 GB $60   Digital MicroMV $60   Digital Memory Stick Pro Duo $80   Digital HDD 30 GB $92   Digital HDD 40 GB $112   Digital HDD 60 GB $160 Sony makes digital camcorders powered by four different recording formats: an internal hard drive, Memory Stick flash memory, MicroMV tape, and MiniDV tape. Any hard drive-powered Sony model is going to command a trade-in value of $200 to $400, while a tape-based Sony camcorder can fetch anywhere from $100 to over $1,100. There was only one Memory Stick model listed on the ecoNEW Camcorder Value Estimator Web page, but it commanded a respectable $300 trade-in value. Table 5 ecoNEW Trade-in Prices for Sony Camcorders Camcorder Type & Model Price Hard Drive-based Units $   Sony DCR-SR220 $204   Sony DCR-SR300C $228   Sony HDR-SR5 $228   Sony HDR-SR10 $240   Sony HDR-SR1E $279   Sony HDR-SR11 $288   306;Sony HDR-SR8E $306   Sony HDR-SR12 $324   Sony HDR-SR7 $390 Memory Stick Pro Duo-based Unit     Sony HDR-CX7 $300 MicroMV-based Units     Sony DCR-IP5 $96   Sony DCR-IP7 $96   Sony DCR-IP220 $98   Sony DCR-IP1 $152 MiniDV-based Units     Sony DCR-PC101 $106   Sony DCR-TRV80 $128   Sony DCR-HC90 $130   Sony DCR-PC9 $138   Sony DCR-TRV50 $157   Sony HDR-UX7E $189   Sony DCR-DVD200E $190   Sony DCR-DVD908 $192   Sony HDR-UX1 $192   Sony HDR-UX10 $192   Sony DCR-DVD403 $199   Sony HDR-HC9 $216   Sony DCR-HC1000 $221   Sony DCR-TRV830 $223   Sony HDR-HC7E $228   Sony HDR-UX20 $240   Sony DCR-TRV900 $262   Sony HDR-SR1 $279   Sony DCR-TRV70 $329   Sony DCR-TRV950 $332   Sony DCR-PC1000 $344   Sony HVR-A1E $384   Sony DCR-VX1000 $430   Sony DCR-VX2000 $488   Sony DSR-PD150 $556   Sony DSR-PD170P $612   Sony DCR-VX2100E $720   Sony HVR-Z1E $787   Sony HDR-FX1E $855   Sony HDR-FX7 $929   Sony DSR-250P $978   Sony HDR-FX1 $982   Sony HVR-V1U $1,124 Digital camera prices depended heavily upon the make and model of the unit, resulting in lengthy price lists that we won't repeat here. In general, the least valued point-and-shoot digital camera brands included Agfa, Cool-Icam, D-Link, JVC, Largan, Microtek, Oregon Scientific, Sipix, Umax, and Yashica, according to the ecoNEW Value Estimator. The point-and-shoot camera brands that commanded the highest prices included Canon, Casio, Kodak, Leica, Minox, Nikon, Norcent, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony. Those that fell somewhere in the middle included units made by Argus, BenQ, Concord, Contax, DXG, Epson, Fujifilm, Gateway, GE, Hitachi, HP, Intova, Isonic, Jenoptik, Konica, Kyocera, Minolta, Mustek, Olympus, Polaroid, Premier, Real Digital, Ricoh, Rollei, Sanyo, Sealife, Toshiba, Uniden, VistaQuest, Vivitar, and Vupoint. Among digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera models, there were two brands -- Minolta and Contax -- that commanded relatively low prices and five brands -- Canon, Fujifilm, Kodak, Nikon, and Sigma -- that commanded relatively high prices. Then there were six brands that fell somewhere in between: Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony. Questions about ecoNEW can be answered by phone at 1-866-233-4246 (weekdays, 9am to 6pm EST) or by email at recycleortrade@econewonline.com.   Add this button to your Google Toolbar for Quick Reference

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