August 2009 Archives
Ran across an article extolling the Greenly virtues of Dell, Inc. (via Greenbiz.com), talking about their reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, cutting its packaging, and increasing the number of Energy Star certified computer systems. Go Dell!
Of keen interest to me, though, is that Dell has managed to recover approximately 67,500 tons of e-waste worldwide. That seems like a lot, but how do they do that?
Turns out they've got a bunch of different programs to reclaim e-waste, including donations, recycling, and trade-in programs. Strictly in the consumer products space, so all those aging Enterprise-y iSCSI arrays that we've got are, yet again, up to us to responsibly recycle.
Good job, Dell. I'm impressed with your efforts, and that's saying a lot coming from me!
Well, really it's not recycling, but it's re-using, which is another one of the "Big-Three" pillars of the sustainability model.
Over the weekend, Ted and I were doing a late-summer cleanup of our cluttered garage, and I came across a few boxes of DVDs, copies of which we both had so one copy (most likely the least pristine one) ended up in this box in the garage.
I have been trading in my old video-games with Amazon.com trade-in for several months, and remembered recently that they started accepting used movies (DVD, HDDVD, and BluRay) for Gift Card bucks. Uber-convenience factor: Amazon will give you a pre-paid shipping label to ship it to them. My last shipment was dropped off on Monday, and I got the credit today (Wednesday). Awesome.
And then, come to find out, there's an online service that will do just about the same thing for your gently used, previously enjoyed, still-working gadgets! I ran across this article on Greenbiz.com about a company in Boston, started by an entrepreneur and Ebay Exec pair, give you cash for your electronic clunkers (thanks to the author for that fabulous line).
"Our vision is nothing short of redefining consumption, changing the way people buy, sell and recycle electronics," Ganot, who is president and CEO of Gazelle, told me recently by phone. "We own too many products that we don't use. We always buy the latest and greatest. They end up tucked away in your attic. Some get thrown in the garbage. Or recycled improperly."
Brilliant, folks. Do you have a few gadget that are gathering dust that could use a second or third life in the developing world or in the hands of an erstwhile young person just getting started in their college lives? For those of you who are somewhat gadget obsessed, take heed!
