A Word From The Director
Well this is going to be an interesting year. With his first baby steps into the
governorship, the Arnold, has effectively neutralized gray Davis' attempts to sabotage
the state by imposing really, questionable laws. Now, I'm no real expert in what the laws were really supposed
to do for the state (and not Davis himself), but I am glad that the Arnold is reviewing
the effects of SB-20 on business here in California.
Now, don't get me wrong, this is a really good attempt at minimizing the amount of unwanted and surlpus computer
equipment gathering dust and it's potential threat to the environment, but the bill has no provisions
for setting up regional or local collection points that are readily accessible to the public.
I am in the finishing stages of writing a booklet designed for local communities and organizations, that
presents in detail, how to set up an E-waste Roundup for their area. This should be available within a couple of
weeks.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)estimates that there
are over 6 million computers sitting in peoples basements (remember them?) attics and garages.
And they are going to start getting rid of them pretty soon. And that's where we come in. With the help of the CIWMB and the new law that Governor Davis signed, SB 20, a major effort will be made starting January 2004 to collect these units and re-direct them away from the landfills.
In fact, they expect to recycle 20% per year. That's 1.2 million per year and of course, that doesn't include the ones that are being added each year to that stockpile because of new perchases!
Every day we are picking up more and more E-Waste from local businesses that have moved out of California and have to clear out their storage lockers. That has really been keeping us busy, so busy in fact, that we've contracted with the Calif. State Rehabilitation office to take in more disabled veterans.
I've been in Sacramento at least once a month for the past six months, talking and listening to people about getting the SB 20 bill passed. It will go into effect 1 January 2004, and with it comes the concept of "stewardship". A wonderful word that makes it illegal for computer manufacturers to sell a video device without charging a recycling fee to pay for it's safe disposal. It's not much of a fee, $3.00- $10.00, but it is a start. Sort of like the CRV on bottles and tires. this law and the enforcement by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) means that we finally can proudly state "NO MORE COMPUTERS GOING INTO THE LANDFILLS!"
As a Registered Environmental Assessor for the state EPA, I have been visiting the local landfills and working with their Environmental Safety personnel to better monitor the e-waste that has been thrown into dumpsters. When you think e-waste, it is more than that as generated by large corporations and municipalities, it is the apartment dwellers, the thrift shops and organizations that get this junk "donated" to them.
Junk Monitors
As we get bigger and more efficient, we have begun working with other recyclers that have specialized in the safe handling of specific items such as, monitor components,mother boards, hard drives, plastics and steel.
We now have a new title and catagory for total conversion of the E-Waste
into a basic form. It is called EOL or"END OF LIFE". There are certain companies that have to have their E-Waste totally destroyed. And we can do it! We want to be the "Forest Lawn" of the computer salvage business. As part of our cradle to the grave certification,
we have taken one more step to validate the safe handling and disposal concept. We have applied
for ourISO 9001 Status to further certify that we meet or exceed, all your E-Waste needs.
Aluminum Pellets
Copper Pellets
We're adding new material to
this page weekly. These pages will contain information and links to other crt and computer recycling
groups.
