Taiga Company

As I was having lunch with a client yesterday, he apologized for fumbling with his new cell phone. Apparently, their office switched services and he was left learning a new device. So, I asked him, "What is your company doing with all of the old phones?"

It was a good question as it generated a full discussion around E-waste. As a sustainability consultant, I explained to him that E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." This includes cell phones, pda's, computers, monitors, fax machines, televisions, and other common electronic products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, E-waste is now the fastest growing part of the municipal waste stream.

Of course, his next question was, "What do you do with discarded electronic products?" The sustainability concept of reduce, reuse, recycle applies. In our professional consulting, we focus on reducing your waste through smart procurement. Reuse equipment by donating or selling it. Recycle non functioning equipment through available resources.

The Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA) maintains a listing of organizations nationwide that accept donations of working electronics products. To recycle non-working electronics search Earth 911's database for electronics recycling. If you are looking to buy or sell used electronic pieces, check out Electronics Recycling. To recycle CDs, DVDs, video and audio tapes, look to GreenDisk.

Although not specific to E-waste and more related to industrial equipment, AssetNation is worth noting as an option for the reuse of equipment. AssetNation is the leading online marketplace and services provider for the insurance industry and corporate end-of-life assets. One of their segments, Asset Auctions, is a full-service industrial equipment online auctioneer and surplus asset recovery firm. Thier other segment, CapitalAssetSale, auctions online industrial equipement to a global buyer base. Both are exellent avenues for reusing and recycling industrial equipment.

Although, major manufacturers and retailers recycled more than 66.5 million pounds of used consumer electronics last year, still more effort is needed. Incorporating responsible recycling practices into your business is one more step in building business sustainability.