EPA Decides To Take e-Waste (Sort of) Seriously. Finally.
Photo via Justin Beck
The Environmental Protection Agency has been frustratingly lax on e-waste issues, paying little attention to quality enforcement of policies, or even putting stringent policies in place at all. But finally, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said on Tuesday that e-waste is now one of the top five priorities for the agency. While vague in exactly what the EPA would do to improve the immense problem of e-was…Read the full story on TreeHugger
iPad Fails Beer Garden Test
Image: Chip.de
In the interest of minimizing e-waste, it is important that potential customers understand the limitations as well as the advantages of new electronic gadgets. And since the Apple iPad is being welcomed with open arms as the go-anywhere companion for all e-purposes, it naturally struck us as interesting to learn that the iPad failed German electronics consumer review mag Chip’s beer garden test. Beer garden test?…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Wired & YouRenew Kick Off Gadget Take-Back Program With High Goals – But Is That The Point?
Image via YouRenew
Wired.com and YouRenew are partnering up with a gadget take-back program. YouRenew is similar to other start-ups wanting to profit off of old gadgets – we’ve seen a few start up and it is an attractive new area for entrepreneurs. Wired and YouRenew are kicking off the program with a challenge of recycling 40,000 consumer electronics devices in just one month. But is settin…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Asia’s Biggest Plastics Scrap Market Set on Fire, Entire Facility Burned
Photo via cogdogblog
In Mundaka, an area west of Delhi, India, the largest plastics scrap market in Asia was set on fire. The entire area, about 4 kilometers, burned and goods worth Rs 50 crore were lost to the flames. The fire appears to have been set deliberately, potentially a response to the debates occurring between scrap dealers and villagers who wanted the market moved to another location. However, there is going to be days worth of chemical-laden smoke and many health consequences to deal with before the bickering can commence again. …Read the full story on TreeHugger
Circuit Board Shoes Get Feminine! Win for World’s Most Uncomfortable Heels
Images via PCB Creations
If you liked the circuit board sneakers but want a less athletic, more night-out-on-the-town look, check out the circuit board heels created by artist Steven Rodrig…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Tekserve Hopes to Break e-Waste Recycling Records at Upcoming Collection Event
Screenshot via Tekserve
Tekserve has been making big dents in the amount of electronics collected for recycling in New York City. The company partners up wiht the Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC) and offers free-of-charge recycling drives for the generral public. Since starting it up in 2007, the collections have grown exponentially, showing the interest residents have in ensuring their gadgets are properly recycled. They offer a great alternati…Read the full story on TreeHugger
US Proposal for Ban on e-Waste Exports Won’t Solve – and Could Worsen – the Problem
Photo via U.S. Army Environmental Command
While many watchdog groups call for strict regulations or bans on the export of e-waste, authors of an article from the journal Environmental Science and Technology state that this could just make the whole situation worse. “Trade bans will become increasing…Read the full story on TreeHugger
Sprint and Radioshack ex-CEOs Launch New Cell Phone Recycling Company
Screenshot via eRecyclingCorps
Americans buy around 140 million cell phones a year, replacing old phones an average of every 18 months. That means a whole lot of used cell phones – and a potential money maker, as two electronics company CEOs are hoping to experience. The former heads of Sprint Nextel Corp and RadioShack Corp are going to give ReCellular and similar businesses some competition as they launch <a href="http://www.erecyclingcorps….Read the full story on TreeHugger
BBC’s Inside Out Airs Expose on The Impacts of UK’s e-Waste on Developing Countries
Photo via dieselboii
e-Waste is finally starting to go mainstream and the issue is making its way to television viewers. While some examples of e-waste on TV are horrifying, like the Amazing Race episode that made light of dumps and the extremely hazardous environments in which e-waste “recyclers” work, other programs are diligently chipping away at the veil between gadget …Read the full story on TreeHugger
Greener Gadgets 2010: Can A Gadget Be Green? EPEAT and the Politics of Eco-Friendly Electronics Explained (Video)
Image via Inhabitat
Can gadgets be green? Will consumers care if they are or not? What even is a green gadget? We’ve been watching EPEAT grow up over the last few years, coming to a place of prominence in the consumer electronics industry. The rating system for electronics dishes out bronze, silver or gold ratings to products registered by manufacturers. While still used for a small segment of electronics and by a small segment of consumers – primarily governments – it is growing to e…Read the full story on TreeHugger
