E-Waste Photo of the Week:

Photo: The Toronto Star

A very proud Shannon McDonald pulls her wagon full of e-waste to a waste collection event in Oshawa this weekend. 

Ban on Western E-Waste Imminent

Photo: The Digital Journal

At a recent environmental conference in Cartagena, Colombia the United Nations came one step closer to declaring a ban on exporting Western e-waste to developing countries. Out of the 170 nations represented at the conference 50 have ratified an amendment to the Basel Convention which would restrict the export of e-waste to the developing world. 

The executive director of the Basel Action Network, Jim Puckett reported in the New Zealand Herald, "I've been working on this since 1989 and it really does look like the shackles are lifted and we'll see this thing happen in my lifetime...I'm ecstatic."

Indeed this is a major success and a great step forward for the global fight against e-waste. 

Does your company have an e-waste recycling solution? Shift can help. Call us at 416.995.4202 or visit our website to schedule a pick up at www.shiftrecycling.com.

E-Waste Photo of the Day: Circuit Boards

Mercury is contained in computer circuit boards, which also include lead and cadmium. Circuit boards can also feature batteries made of mercury, as well as mercury switches. All very hazardous materials.

Please ensure that you are properly and ethically recycling your electronics. Shift Recycling can help. Call 416.995.4202 ext. 227.

http://www.shiftrecycling.com/

Photo of the Day: OES Mobile Recycling Centre

Apart from partnering with local electronics recyclers like Shift the Ontario Electronics Stewardship (OES) also operates mobile recycling centres like the one seen here.

E-Waste Photo of the Day: Cell Phones

Whilst cell phones don't carry as much hazardous materials as larger electronic devices they have a significantly shorter shelf-life at about one and half years for your average consumer. It is estimated that there are over 500 million used cell phones ready for recycling.

Cell phones consists of several hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and lithium all of which pose serious health and safety threats.

Poll: 1 in 5 Companies in the U.K. Don't Know If They're Illegally Disposing of E-Waste

According to a recent survey conducted by charity organization Computer Aid many IT Managers in the U.K. today are uncertain as to the final destination of the electronics they dispose of.

The 100 respondents disposed of over 500 computers annually on average and only 65 listed themselves as "confident" or "very confident" that their electronic waste avoided being sent to landfill. A further 13 were completely unaware of the Euro zone regulations pertaining to the appropriate disposal of electronics.

Only 14 percent of respondents followed what Computer Aid has dubbed "best practices in IT disposal" meaning that they send all working units to be reused and the remainder to be recycled.

It's deeply concerning that such a small percentage of companies in Europe, where strict e-waste recycling policies exist have taken this problem seriously. It's fairly safe to assume that the problem is much worse in North America where regulations are more lax.

Does your company have a solution for ensuring that your electronic waste is properly recycled? Call Shift Recycling to discuss free pickups of commercial e-waste in the Greater Toronto Area: (416) 823-4411 ext. 227.

Shift Recycling Inc.

145 Fenmar Drive

Toronto, Ontario

www.shiftrecycling.com

E-Waste Photo of the Day: System Failure

Today's photo comes to us from the Environmental Investigation Agency.