FreeGeek Central Florida

Free Geek isn’t the only organization working to reduce e-waste in the world (and I promise I’ll stop now with the e-breviations). Other campaigns have also been successful at bringing awareness to the general public. A few of them are highlighted below.AddressTheMess.com is actually sponsored by Comedy Central, the same channel that brings awareness to social issues through the comedic antics of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. AddressTheMess.com brings a similar sort of satiric but serious look at the issue, such as in a bit entitled “Electronics Roadshow,” where the hosts have an appraisal session and explain to their guests that their old technology is worth nothingso why not recycle it? (more…)

A Gadget Census Report published earlier this month has revealed some uncomfortable facts about e-waste recyclingnamely, that even people who know their options don’t take advantage of them. The study, which surveyed 7,500 people, revealed that more than 60 of people say they don’t recycle used devices like computers, phones, and TVs. 25 of those said the reason was that they “didn’t get around to it”; 17 said they didn’t know how; 11 said there were no programs nearby; a minority 7 said they didn’t care.However, people may find the issue higher on their to-do list in the near future. Consumer electronics site Retrevo estimates that by the end of the year, there will be enough electronic waste to cover Manhattan three feet deep. By 2020, the amount of e-waste “could fill enough dump trucks to circle the earth twice.” It’s more important than ever that we tackle this problem head-on, and organizations like Free Geek are here to help.

We know that technology is constantly changing, and that devices often pass their prime in a matter of years (or months). So what do you do with that computer you bought a few years ago when you’re ready to upgrade? The first answer is that you don’t simply throw it out. Electronic scraps in computers, cell phones, TVs, refrigerators, and other devices can include plenty of nasty ingredients that can harm the environment and the human workers who transport them. These include beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants. Meanwhile, the EPA regards cathode ray tubes (CRTs, which are used in computer monitors and television screens) as “hazardous household waste.” Unfortunately, most of this ends up in landfills or incinerators. (more…)

Greenpeace publishes an annual Guide to Greener Electronics, detailing their favorites for greenest companies of the yearas well as those on the other end of the spectrum. What’s the opposite of green? Anyway, here are some of the selections from the 2009 edition, published back in January of 2010. An update was published in May of this year.Apple was congratulated for removing polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from its products two years ahead of other companies’ schedules. PVC produces dioxins, a dangerous byproduct, during manufacture and incineration, and BFRs have shown strong evidence of contaminating wildlife and individuals. (more…)