Pay to Play

In recent news, Best Buy has implemented a fee to receive CRT monitors and TVs as well as flat panel screens. The $25 fee may seem small in the grand scheme of things but it feels a little disingenuous too charge people for being ecologically conscious. Half of US states have no take back or reclamation laws in place. This opens the door for corporate entities to do whatever they choose with these type of programs.

My speculation is that most people will find this fee too high and just throw the device away instead of making the effort to properly dispose of it. This is an example of a company being a bigger problem than the solution. By putting this barrier in place, it is a disincentive for the consumer to even bother. The real benefit immediately is to the manufacturer. I would think that tax credits and other tax benefitable losses created would be enough of a direct incentive for a change in practice.

Sadly, this shows the lack of progress in the consumer market, at least from the position of the retailer. Best Buy is one of the few with an active collection system, whereas companies like Amazon and Walmart do nothing of any real value. Staples and Office Depot have programs similar to Best Buy and are at least making efforts but they seem too little with a pay wall in place. Share your thoughts and let's discuss possible alternatives and ways to remedy this.

The Power of Parody

It has been said for decades that laughter is the best medicine. While there is no scientific evidence that would support this, laughter can help to remedy certain situations. Parody has been used for centuries to draw attention to political and social issues by making fun of hot button issues. The results vary from people trying to use copyright to censor what is an expression of free speech. In many cases the message is well received by the general public due to the less serious nature of the delivery. 

Geico understands that YouTube audiences skip ads and have launched a marketing campaign directly making fun of that. In the ad, the company points out that you can't skip the ad because it's already over. It's humorous and memorable and yip remember it, even though it has nothing to do with the product being sold. Parody has a similar effect in taking something serious and taking a less serious approach to drawing attention to it. Just because an issue is something that requires attention, doesn't mean you can't have a laugh regarding it. 

In the end you have to realize that we are all people and approaching something with a sterile, boring attitude isn't going to earn you any points with people. Besides, recycling can in fact be entertaining.

Recycling Confusion

When I was in the Army, I had a habit of saying and doing things that got the wrong kind of attention from my chain of command. One of the extra duty types I was saddled with and began to actually enjoy was working at the base recycling center. What I learned there was that there are a lot of items people assume are recyclable, but in reality are a nightmare for facilities to process.

The one that caught me off guard was the plastic grocery bag. It's thin, light weight, and one would assume it would be relatively easy to process. What people fail to realize is the elasticity of those bags and the kind of damage that can be done to the machinery that processes them. The machines would get clogged for hours and extra duty turned into sitting in the lounge playing video games, waiting for the technician. A lot of people would have taken this as an opportunity to slack off but I like to know the why of things. I asked the technician why a machine designed to process plastics would jam up like that. His response was a bit of an eye opener.

He described the specialized equipment used to break down bags and that type of material and informed me that generalized processors like the one we used, were not designed for this sort of material. If you ever wonder why there is a separate place for recycling your grocery bags, you now have a better idea as to why they have their own individual sorting box. Had I not gotten sideways with a Lieutenant Colonel, I never would have known. Still, I don't recommend it.

The Speeches will continue until the E-Waste situation improves

The phrase talk is cheap has been cliche since the 80's. The real meaning behind it is that talking about something with no action behind the words has little value. Talk does have value when there is a call to action that engages people and inspires them to make progressive changes.

Making your mark on the environment takes more than posting a few comments on social media. While it is important to get the message out, if everyone is talking about the problem and no one is working to repair the damage, the echo chamber effect will take over. No change will take place and the cycle will continue.

Here is my challenge to you. Continue to post and get the word out. But also take the time to make a small change in your life to positively affect change in the environment. You will be a part of the voice and a real force for change in the world.

Our own worst enemy

I was looking at my desk recently and I realized that I am as much a part of the problem as anyone else in the electronic waste concern. I have numerous gadgets and devices that I use in varying frequency. Looking at the mess of "cool stuff" I have accumulated I realized that I am contributing to the problem by buying these things.

After a few soul searching minutes I did an inventory of what I have and what I actually use. Only about 15% of what I own are items I use regularly and the rest fall into the category of novelty or just something that allows me to be lazier than I should be about certain tasks. Taking stock of my junk made me realize that there are probably hundreds of thousands of people just like me out there that have a bunch of gadgets that make life perceptibly easier but in reality just contribute to the ever increasing electronic waste problem.

I am not expecting anyone to go out and recycle all of their neat gadgets and novelty items that don't "serve a purpose." While that would be noble, let's be real here. You bought it for a reason and you paid good money for it. I don't intend to dispose of my technology but I am now far more aware of the situation moving forward. Be cognizant of these concerns before making the purchase. That is where we can slow this process. If the makers of such items have less incentive to produce (i.e. Lower sales figures) then the problem will work itself out naturally.

Be aware of what drives the market and you can affect the front of the funnel rather than the tail end. The best way to effect change in this is to hit the market earlier in the purchasing cycle. Prevent the mess from being made rather than clean it up.

Wiping the Slate Clean

We talk a lot about proper device disposal but after a careful look back, I don't believe we ever took the time to list some of the steps you can take to protect yourself and your privacy before disposing of your device. Below is a list of steps you should take before sending your device to a reclamation site or a drop location.

Wipe your device - Be sure, if your device is functional, to reset it to factory settings and erase contacts, photos and other information. Obviously, you want to back up important data that you may need but removing that information from your device is important. Follow the steps for your device listed below:

• Apple iOS Devices: Settings | General | Reset | Erase All Content and Settings 
• Android Devices: Settings | Privacy | Factory Data Reset
• Windows Phones: Settings | About | Reset Your Phone
• BlackBerry Phones: Options | Security Options | Security Wipe

Remove any SIM or removable media card from your device. To avoid issues with your carrier, remove your SIM card and dispose of it. Some providers will take the old card and dispose of it for you. Also collect your micro SD or other removable media from the device. These can be reused and may have information you want to keep. 

Follow these steps prior to disposing of your device and you will protect your privacy and your friend's and family's information. 

Proper Disposal

A common misconception that many people have is that any type of electronic can be disposed of as electronic waste. Just because it has electronic components in it does not mean it is e waste. There are several categories and individual items that are generally accepted and some that are prohibited for various reasons.

These are generally acceptable because there are no regulatory barriers in place on disposal and collection.

• CRT Monitors
•  LCD Monitors
•  Notebook Desktops
•  Key Boards
•  Mice
•  Printers
•  DVD Players
•  Fax Machines
•  Copiers
•  Scanners
•  PDAs
•  Memory
•  Hard Drives
•  Televisions
•  Plasmas
•  Networking Gear
•  Servers
•  Circuit Boards
•  SPAM Routers
•  Circuit Cards
•  Test Equipment
•  Gauges
•  Stereo Equipment
•  Small appliances
•  Radios (Communication Equipment)
•  Cable Assemblies
•  Data/Technology Equipment
•  Process Control Equipment
•  All IT Infrastructure
•  Telecom Equipment
•  Medical Equipment with NO BIO Hazards
•  Generators
•  All Business/Office Consumer Electronics
•  Cell Phones 

There is also a list of prohibited items that are taken by some locations but not others based on their regulatory compliance. Most of the denied items are refused because of hazards to those collecting or because of the laws surrounding the items themselves. Some examples are items that have any sort of compressed gas tank, biohazard or hazmat items, anything that contains a chemical requiring an MSDS, and liquids of any kind. 

Knowing what to and not to drop at a collection location is important. Check with your local collection site and see what they can accept. Keep informed and you can make a difference.