Here is a recent press release I wanted to share from the Eye of Dubai, announcing the partnership with the Green Foundation and an United Arab Emirates company to help raise funds from recycled electronics in an effort to help educate children in Kerala, India.

Recycling Electronic Waste to Help Educate Children

The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group has formed a partnership with The Green Foundation to recycle all unused, redundant and end of life electronic items across the organisation. Funds raised will be donated to the Red Crescent Society, which is the chosen charity for 2011 for the Group, and this campaign will help towards educating children in Kerala.

In addition to business related donations, staff have also been encouraged to donate their own personal old electronics items including mobile phones, laptops, gaming consoles, mp3 players and digital cameras.

Melissa Clements Chief Corporate Communication & Marketing Officer, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Holding LLC, said, This initiative serves two important purposes for us. It helps generate important funds to educate children and at the same time it prevents dangerous electronic items from polluting the local environment in the UAE.

Dominic Gothard, Chairman & CEO of The Green Foundation added; We are delighted to be working closely with one of the UAEs most respected local companies. It is very encouraging to see businesses who have played a pivotal role in the UAEs past taking such progressive and responsible steps to ensure that great causes benefit today and their environment benefits tomorrow.

Here is a recent announcement from Reuters Africa, written by Alister Doyle, about a new International project by the Environmental Protection Agency to help track electronic waste from the United States.

Project to track US cellphones, TVs for recycling

OSLO, May 1 (Reuters) – A new international project will try to track discarded U.S. cellphones, TVs and other electronic waste to help recycle everything from gold to rare earths and protect human health, U.S. and U.N. officials said on Sunday.

Many electronic items end up at the bottom of drawers at home when they break or get outdated. Many are shipped abroad for recycling. Others get dumped in normal trash bins and vanish into landfills or are incinerated, releasing toxins.

Only about 10 to 15 percent get recycled properly, said Ruediger Kuehr, executive secretary of StEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem), a project led by the U.N. University that works with firms such as Dell and Nokia.

“Tracking flows around the world … is fundamental to work out solutions,” he told Reuters of $2.5 million in new funds over five years announced on Sunday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help track U.S. electronic waste.

The project will work with port officials in West Africa and Asia to try to estimate flows of everything from flat screen televisions to computers sent to developing nations for repair or recycling. Health laws in such nations are often lax.

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In honor of Earth Day, the Huffington Post provided a list of Earth Day activities. Here are some of the activities that they highlighted.

Earth Day Activities: How To Get Involved

Exactly 41 years ago today, the inaugural Earth Day was celebrated with 20 million participants in the United States. Today, April 22, 2011, Earth Day is bigger than ever, with estimates of more than one billion peopleexpected to participate worldwide.

There are a number of opportunities for you to get involved. Earth Day activities range from a picnic to attending an event or sending a text message donation. (And there are plenty more ideas below.)

By choosing to live a green lifestyle, you will not only be improving the environment, but also your health and the well-being of generations to come.

What are you doing this Earth Day? Add your activity to the slideshow below, or tweet it to us using the hashtag #EarthDayFun.

Here is one of the recommendations:

ACT: Text “TREE” to 85944

The Green World Campaign, in partnership with Earth Day New York, will launch an initiative to “ReGreen the World” focused on supporting the United Nations Year of Forests 2011.

By texting “TREE” to 85944, supporters will help global tree-planting initiatives in environmentally damaged areas of the world. The text message will be a one-time donation of $5 to fund the planting of five trees.

Donations will be used to plant trees in countries such as Kenya, a nation where forests cover only 2% of the land. According to the campaign, planting new trees can increase biodiversity, reduce atmospheric CO2, and offer economic self-sufficiency for struggling communities.

For more information, visit the Green World Campaign’s website.

In an effort to promote e-waste recycling, the eco-activists here at InkCycle, have decided to celebrate March Madness with a giveaway.

The first 20 people to enter to win will receive a complimentary grenk inkjet cartridge for their inkjet printer, grenk reusable coffee mug and a pen. Please include your contact information and type of printer in your email. Not all printers are compatible.

Enter to win through:

Email at: grenk@mediagiveaway.com

Twitter:@GrenkInk retweet #grenkisgood with a link to the press release: http://mwne.ws/hDjcLT

Facebook: ”like” us and write on our wall about the promotion

Thank you to The Recycler for featuring InkCycle and its project aimed at decreasing electronic waste. According to the article, Inkcycle celebrates the success of it’s e-waste project, the company diverted 493 tons of e-waste and recycled 588,209 pounds of inkjet cartridges and 397,718 pounds of toner cartridges in 2010.

InkCycle, a company with a recycled line of ink and toner cartridges known as grenk, is celebrating the success of its e-waste project. The company believe that its media campaigns have been a key to its recycling efforts after working to educate national media, trade press, consumers and businesses regarding the benefits of recycling e-waste.

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Here is an interesting article I would like to share from the Vancouver Sun, written by Douglas Quan, about electronic waste being illegally shipped and dumped overseas.

E-waste exportation a growing trend
Experts concerned about hazardous overseas dumping

Two Canadian companies were recently fined tens of thousands of dollars after pleading guilty in court to attempting to transport containers of old electronics and used batteries to Asia without proper permits.

Environment Canada officials say they believe such cases are rare, but some recycling industry experts say there are likely many cases of illegal e-waste dumping overseas that go undetected.

Some Canadian recyclers just don’t want to deal with the cost of dismantling and recycling electronic parts the right way, so they’ll ship unwanted goods -either whole or in parts -to developing countries in Asia and Africa, sometimes through the use of shady international brokers, said Cindy Coutts, president of Sims Recycling Solutions Canada.

“It’s almost the cheapest way to get rid of this stuff,” she said.

Last month, N.W. Cole Associate Appraisers Ltd., of Halifax, was fined $10,000 after an inspection of a Hong Kong-bound container at the Port of Halifax turned up an assortment of old computer and electronic parts, Environment Canada officials said.

Meanwhile, Jieyang Sigma Metal Plastic Inc., of Toronto, was fined $30,000 after an inspection of two containers at the Port of Vancouver turned up about 1,200 used lead acid batteries and seven cathode ray tube monitors, officials said. One container was bound for Hong Kong. The other had been sent to China but was refused entry and returned to Canada.

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Here is an article I would like to share from SEO Site Manager, written by Reshma Patel, about ways to find responsible recycling companies for your electronic waste.

Computer Recycling Centers – How to Find Responsible Electronics Recycling Companies

Not long ago, CBS’ “60 Minutes” program broadcast a story on e-waste and global dumping. The reporters followed a trail of electronic recycling items from a Denver-based company all the way to Hong Kong, China and caught the so-called “recycling” company red-handed engaging in global e-waste dumping.

With over 80% of recycled electronics and computers ending up as high-tech e-waste in developing countries such as China, India, and Africa, we need to step up as responsible citizens of the world and choose computer and electronics recycling companies very carefully. We must support only those electronics recycling companies that are running both a socially and an environmentally sound operation, end-to-end. To understand how global dumping occurs, it helps to first understand the business model for electronic recycling.

To sustain as a business, electronic recyclers must generate enough revenues from all its recycling and reuse services and the reclamation of precious metals and other recycling materials, minus operating costs and the cost of de-manufacturing those items that yield no value (yet harm the environment).

The difference between an environmentally responsible computer and electronics recycling company and an irresponsible one can be broken down as follows: a) the way they generate reuse revenues; b) how they reclaim precious metals and recycling materials; c) how they manage the de-manufacturing process of low-value, toxic elements.

Consider the precious metal reclamation process for a moment. A responsible company would need to invest in having a safe working environment with proper protective gear for it workers and proper waste treatment procedures to prevent environmental contamination. In addition, a responsible electronics recycling company will operate using specialized de-manufacturing equipment that protects the workers from the harmful materials or dust that escapes during the de-manufacturing process.

An irresponsible recycling company avoids any investment in the de-manufacturing area. In fact, irresponsible recycling companies never lay eyes on the workers who eventually break apart the leftover electronic parts. As seen in the “60 Minutes” program, those workers are typically low-paid laborers from remote villages, who use bare hands and primitive tools such as chisels and hammers to pry the precious materials from the discarded items. The final discarded parts are then dumped anywhere – in rivers or streams or burned in a swamp – causing major public health issues.

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InkCycle was recently featured on therecycler.com about receiving WasteWise partner status with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Based on its environmental footprint reduction, InkCycle has received WasteWise partner status from the EPA.

InkCycle, a North American aftermarket company based in Kansas City, has received WasteWise partner status from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA’s WasteWise programme is a voluntary scheme that encourages member companies to reduce their environmental footprint. To achieve partner status, a company must demonstrate that it has reduced its footprint by utilizing innovative processes and well-managed materials management practices.

“It’s always great to be recognized for something your company is doing right, but for the EPA to consider us a partner, we are thrilled,” said Brad Roderick, Executive Vice President of InkCycle. “Environmental initiatives are truly a part of the culture at InkCycle, and we will continue to be a partner to the EPA, as well serve as a great partner and resource to our dealers.”

InkCycle’s environmental product line, Grenk, contributed to the footprint reduction of the company’s carbon footprint. The product line utilizes recycled cartridges, and has a no-landfill policy for used cartridges that cannot be remanufactured. There is also a reporting feature tied to the company’s CarbonNeutronics Index which denotes the exact weight of cartridge kept from the landfill by using the programme.

Here is an article from tolland.patch.com, written by Annie Gentile, about alternative solutions to properly recycle electronic waste throughout the world.

Going Green with Electronics in the New Year

So you received a new computer as a holiday present. Or perhaps it was a smart phone with all the latest features. Or maybe you simply splurged on yourself and got that Kindle you’ve been drooling over for months.  Electronic gadgets are always a popular gift this time of year, but once you’ve got the new equipment all set up, what are you going to do with your old, outdated stuff?

If the terms “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” have not been a part of your vocabulary in the past, it might be time to start thinking about going green in 2011. Doing so with your unwanted electronics is a great place to start.

One thing you shouldn’t do with your outdated electronics is to throw them in the trash—especially if the item you have replaced is in good, reusable condition. A substantial number of today’s electronics contain toxic substances such as lead and cadmium, which are harmful to human health and to the environment. Most states, Connecticut included, have legislation in place that prohibits or discourages adding to the growing mountain of e-waste in landfills.

Instead of disposing of your still usable computer, you might want to consider making a donation to a local or regional non-profit organization that can reuse it. Town residents who have received a new GPS unit to replace an old, still useable GPS are invited to donate their old GPS units to the Tolland Fire Department, Inc, for example. Residents may be reassured their old GPS units will be put to good use in the department’s fire, rescue and emergency medicine service operations. 

If you can’t find anyone local, contact the Greenwich, Conn.-based National Cristina Foundation. This not-for-profit 501(c)(3) foundation directs donations of used computer equipment to various non-profit organizations and agencies across the country that serve disabled persons, at-risk students and the economically disadvantaged for the purposes of educational training and job development.

Some electronics manufacturers have established “take back” programs where they will recycle your old equipment at no charge. Best Buy takes back most electronics at their retail stores. Staples has partnered with Dell and accepts Dell products at their outlets. Check their web sites for details.

However, if you find you must dispose of your electronics, “green” recycling isn’t always as easy as it might seem.

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This time of year, it is likely that people will have excess waste. People will get rid of old electronics, wrap presents with wrapping paper and buy plastic toys. Below is an article, written by Benjamin Rothfeder from http://ridgewood.patch.com, about how to reduce waste during the holidays.

The article states, “Between Thanksgiving day and New Years Day, Americans generate 25 percent more waste than usual. That is an extra 1.2 million tons per week (6 million tons total). That’s why I’m going to offer to you a list of ideas to cut back on waste. If only one person reduces their waste output, then I’m satisfied that I’ve made a difference.” (But please tell friends and family, too.)

“Wrapping paper is a key source of waste during the holidays. It is laminated and biodegrades very slowly. It is difficult to recycle because it often contains non-paper additives and dyes. Consider other forms of gift wrapping. For instance, aluminum tins are great for cookies. Most small to average sized gifts can be kept in baskets and gift bags with gift paper stuffed around the sides. Another creative surprise is to hang pieces of jewelry on the Christmas tree or menorah. If you’re hell-bent on using wrapping paper, recycled wrapping paper is available.”

“We use a lot of styrofoam in packaging when shipping presents. Styrofoam, the brand name for polystyrene, is a petroleum based polymer, much like plastic. Its decomposition leaches hydrocarbons into the air and water and these can be hazardous to our health and environment.”

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