Best Buy is partnering with Samsung in order to host a free consumer electronics recycling drive on 23-24 August in Denver, Colorado. The campaign coincides with Denver's newly launched "Green Sunday". In addition to offering free drop off services to residents, the first 100 visitors each day will receive a $5.00 Best Buy gift card. Best Buy is one of many companies that chooses to participate in offering a variety of take-back programs, a concept that has been a hot topic amongst lawmakers. There will be no charge for recycling a large number of electronic items including: Televisions (including console sets), computer ... Full Story

George the recycled robot has become quite famous throughout Canada and, along with his little dog, promotes recycling to all people near and far. George stands over seven feet tall and is often seen holding a sign that reads "Dot com". George was born to South Surrey resident Gerry Vliek, a former worker in the pulp and paper industry. After Gerry and his wife, Lainie, retired, he began to see a vast amount of paper fibre and other materials being thrown out and knew that something had to be done. "Recycling was not invented yet," Gerry said, with a chuckle. Gerry jumped into ... Full Story

Free electronics "take-back" programmes are springing up all around the globe. The recycling and/or proper disposal of electronic waste, or e-waste, is crucial to protecting the environment. Electronics contain a number of toxic chemicals and non-biodegradable materials that could wreak havoc if placed into a landfill. However, there are still many companies that are not pulling their weight in the environmental arena, so local and national governments are stepping in. For example, in the southern U.S. state of Texas, a take-back law will go into effect on September 1st. The legislation will require any computer store or outlet to provide a free ... Full Story

International firm Intechra LLC works hard at making sure old computers don't clutter up landfills and allow toxic chemicals to seep into the earth. The company specialises in recycling and remanufacturing various types of electronics, including laptops, CPUs, and monitors. Based in Mississippi, Intechra also has a facility in Windsor, Canada which receives as many as six lorries full of old computers every day. Old computers may be the key phrase, as some even have disk drives installed, a definite flashback to the CPUs of yesteryear. Kevin Lindsay, director of operations told Corrant news: "We even get mainframes from the 1970s with ... Full Story

Greenpeace has just released a new report regarding the enormous amount of e-waste being sent to Ghana, located in Western Africa. The militant environmental group compared Ghana to India and China, where working conditions allow children to be exposed to toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury during the treatment of the electronics. The purpose of treating, or burning electronics is to salvage copper and other valuable materials which can be sold for profit. Greenpeace continues to urge major electronics manufacturers such as Sharp and Philips to decrease and eventually phase out toxic materials in their products and to launch global ... Full Story

Some kids have already started back to school, while others are merely waiting. Students may not be the only ones feeling anxious, however. Many parents are faced with the expenses incurred by school, including the cost of a new computer. Since March of this year, the Goodwill Store in Houston, Texas, has offered a solution. Houston is just one of many Goodwill Stores that participates in the Good Works programme in conjunction with Dell. To save money, many parents and students (include university students) are shopping at Goodwill when it's time to get a computer, clothing or even furniture. The prices ... Full Story

People in Bucks County, Pennsylvania flocked recently to the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology to drop off recyclable items that are often thrown into the landfill. Residents brought everything from car batteries to PCs as well as other regulated waste. The hazardous-waste management company Clean Venture sees the Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Recycling Program as a chance to educate while offering recycling opportunities. The firm has sponsored such drives in the area for ten years and runs a total of about 200 similar drives each year. Bucks County will have six such drives in 2008. All waste collected ... Full Story

The U.S. based organisation The Good News Project has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary by having an electronics recycling drive to raise money for its various projects. While one of the main purposes behind such an activity is to divert computers, monitors, peripherals and other electronic products from landfill, the Project also uses the funds to support its work in the Caribbean. MacCarthy states that the Projects recycling drives typically raise about $2,000 USD. The profits from the drive will go toward funding the organisation's various programmes. Good News Project Director Chuck MacCarthy says, "We build some little houses, teach in schools, ... Full Story

With September fast approaching, many have turned their thoughts to school and sending their children off to university. While these activities may seem all consuming, thinking about recycling can easily play a part into this new area of your life. When children go away to college, one thing that will be required is a new computer and accessories. The kid may already have a computer, which is great. However, many do not or the one the kid already owns may not meet university standards. What can one do? If someone has a computer that is in good condition but just not shiny ... Full Story

There is a tremendous amount of information published about recycling e-waste, including computers, laptops, notebooks, monitors, and more. However, many individuals and organisations are overlooking another alternative - reusing unwanted electronics. Used computers can be a godsend to charitable organisations or educational facilities that simply do not have the budget to invest in new equipment. Reusing also saves costs when it comes to the recycling process since virtually no work has to be done to repurpose old electronics. Naturally, before donating used electronics, donators should test equipment to make sure it is in good working order. Hard drives should also ... Full Story

Waste from electrical or electronic sources is known internationally as e-waste, also known as WEEE. As the technology market continues to grow, so does the amount of waste and scrap material being generated. This is causing a severe problem due to the amount of toxic chemicals involved in the production of computers, laptops, monitors, and so forth. Disposal of these items is also problematic and many recycling laws have come into effect to curb or prevent used computers from being sent to landfill, either at home or abroad. Many companies have been accused of sending their e-waste to countries such as ... Full Story

Many children in Guatemala are thanking Eugene Oregon's NextStep electronics recycling programme. Over the past six years, NextStep has provided almost 3,500 Guatemalan children with computers collected from its recycling campaign. Maria Antonieta Ixcoteyac Velásquez is a social worker who co-founded INEPAS (an acronym for the Institute of Spanish Language and Social Aid Programs), a programme that uses proceeds from a language programme to improve education for children and teens throughout Guatemala. INEPAS, based in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, is one of the partner organisations to NextStep. This week, Velásquez is visiting the U.S. to share information with NextStep employees and volunteers how ... Full Story