Posts Tagged ‘computer’
Electronics Reuse and Recycling
July 25th, 2009 | 
Author:
| Contact: Lucy Doroshko 517-373-1322 |
|
Computers, cell phones, printers and other peripherals are part of the business and educational landscape of our society. We rely on them daily to communicate, educate and conduct business. What happens to these tools when we replace them with newer, faster models? Donating is becoming a common practice for extending the life of working electronics but eventually they will no longer be valuable as products. What do we do with these obsolete electronics as well as our broken televisions, radios, and stereos? DELETE THE DATA: Before donating or recycling your old computer or other electronic device, make sure that the data in it is completely deleted. Reformatting the hard drive or deleting files may not be enough. You need to completely destroy the data on your hard drive. The U.S. EPA has two fact sheets developed in 2006 that provide information about donating and a list of free software you can use to delete information from your computer. See “Do the PC Thing …” under “How to Donate” at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin/pcthing.htm IS IT HAZARDOUS? Many electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead in solder, cadmium in circuit boards and mercury in batteries. Most older computer display screens and televisions contain cathode ray tubes (CRT’s). CRT’s contain leaded glass to protect the user from the x-rays inside the tubes. Lead is a hazardous material that can cause environmental and health damage if not managed safely. Lead in CRT’s cause computers to be considered hazardous waste when disposed by regulated generators in Michigan. Residents are exempt from hazardous waste regulations. Regulated or not, Michigan residents are concerned that their old computer will end up in their local landfill or municipal solid waste incinerator with the potential of leaching or emitting lead and other heavy metals into the water or air. This has caused many communities in Michigan and around the country to hold electronic waste collection events where materials are gathered for shipment to recyclers who dismantle, sort and recycle the various glass, plastic and metal components. There is still much we do not know about what is actually hazardous in all of our electronic tools and toys. Click “back” to find information to help you manage your used electronics, whether you are a business generating regulated hazardous waste or a resident with a used computer or cell phone. Link: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130_18096-43363–,00.html |
GEEP wins National Master Standing Offer
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Of interest to journalists and editors covering: Computer Recycling, Data Security & Software.
GEEP wins National Master Standing Offer with Government of Canada
DALLAS, January 5th, 2009 – Public Works and Government Services Canada recently awarded GEEP Texas LLC and GEEP Ecosys Inc., subsidiaries of GEEP International, a three year National Master Standing Offer (# E60QE-08BIO4/003/QE) for the companies’ proprietary data sanitizing software, EBAN (Enterprise Boot and Nuke). The contract will allow Canadian government agencies and departments to quickly and easily access the software to sanitize multiple electronic data storage devices simultaneously.
“The core of EBAN has been used by government entities around the world for many years,” said Rick Lewis, Managing Director, GEEP Texas LLC. “This NMSO solidifies the importance of having a license supported enterprise disk clearing utility, such as EBAN.” EBAN meets the criteria listed in Canada’s Hard-Drive Overwrite Software Solution, which includes a triple-pass erase of the following data storage devices: Advance Technology Attachment; Integrated Drive Electronics; Serial Advanced Technology Attachment hard disk drives, floppy disks and miniature electronic storage devices, including USB memory and flash memory devices. Developed by Darik Horn, the creator of the highly popular and effective DBAN data destruction software, EBAN can destroy data on hundreds of hard drives concurrently by sending the destructive kernel from the data destruction appliance through each computer’s LAN connection.
EBAN then produces detailed reporting including the devices’ make, model and serial number and date of sanitization.
“EBAN data erasure software will provide the Government of Canada with peace of mind,” said Bruce Hartley, Vice President, Business Development, GEEP Ecosys Inc.
About EBAN
EBAN is a Department of Defense compliant mass hard drive overwriting utility designed for government entities, educational institutions and corporations with large-scale electronic data destruction needs. Using the LAN port of the target computers, EBAN can simultaneously overwrite hard drives, automatically confirm the sanitization against the hard drive serial number, and then tie the sanitization confirmation to a complete hardware manifest pulled from the target computer’s bios. This creates a complete record of data destruction to help client companies with legal compliance issues such as GLBA, SOX and HIPAA.
About GEEP (Global Electric Electronic Processing)
GEEP (www.geepglobal.com) is a nationally recognized provider of end-of-life (EOL) IT services for OEMs, corporations, government entities, universities, and channel partners. GEEP provides a full range of EOL services that include reverse logistics, computer remarketing, computer recycling, and electronic data destruction solutions. GEEP’s electronics recycling processes are state of the art and take place in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified facilities. For additional information, contact Cassie King toll free 888-832-4929 ext. 203.
Cassie King, Account Executive
GEEP Texas, LLC
P 888-832-4929 ext. 203
Be Green, the future is… Geep!
Be Green
The future is… Geep!
Sunday, Jun. 21, 2009 | 06:34 PM AT
E-waste or electronic waste is everywhere. And it isn’t pretty. It’s actually pretty toxic–what with all those plastic bits and heavy metals, etc. Of course, by now you know that when you want to get rid of your TV or computer, you must take it to an eco-centre, not throw it in the trash. You knew that, right?
But perhaps you didn’t know this:
A lot of our e-waste (and plastics and paper) is shipped off to China, where the “real” recycling takes place. It’s really nice of China to be taking in all our rubbish (although these days, with the falling price of commodities, they’re less and less interested in recycling stuff when the secondary markets are drying up). But let’s face it, China isn’t exactly a world leader in environmental or safety policy. Plus, there’s all that very un-green shipping back and forth.
Luckily, there are companies right here in Canada that are working quite hard to come up with a zero-landfill, local solution (and you’re a part of it!)
Welcome to Geep Ecosys.
Did you say “Geep”?
That’s pronounced “geep”… with a hard “g” like “Geeta” or “go”. Sounds funny, no? Actually, it’s an acronym that stands for Global Electric Electronic Processing. The way that VP Bruce Hartley explained it to me, if your item has a battery or a power cord, they can arrange its eco-friendly disposal for you.
What Geep does
* They take in used and broken electronics and break them down into “commodities” (plastics, metals like aluminum, gold, silver, mercury, cadmium, etc). Most of these commodities are then resold for use in other electronics.
* They refurbish stuff that still has some life left in it. This could be your sewing machine, your Gameboy, your modem or the laptop that you swapped for something faster. And consumers rejoice, because you can go to the Geep showroom in Dorval and actually purchase these refurbished products at a fraction of the cost of a brand new thingummy.
* They aren’t kidding when they say they recycle EVERYTHING with a power cord or battery port. This means your TV remote, your iPod (although Apple offers a rebate on a new toy if you bring your old one in), your blender and also computers, MRI machines, professional scanners, etc. Everything!
* They have a great social program where they partner with Réseau québécois de CFER, a program that provides vocational training and social reintegration opportunities to marginalized youth. CFER partners with companies like Bureau en Gros (where you could bring in your printer for recycling, let’s say). Then workers at CFER dismantle the machines and Geep either buys the commodities off them or provides internships and jobs to CFER graduates.
What’s in it for you?
* Make some money: If you work for a company that often has large amounts of e-waste that’s still functional, Geep will actually pay you a fair market value for your stuff. They’ll then refurbish it and sell it and thus prolong its life. This helps you offset the costs of buying new equipment while keeping your eco-karma sparkling clean!
* Buy refurbished By buying electronics secondhand at Geep, you can save hundreds of dollars while constantly staying on top of the market!
The catch
For the moment, Geep does have to charge you a small fee (it’s usually under $15) to recycle your ewaste. This will be phased out when the government introduces a “recycle tax” (like the one we pay on tires). This is where consumers pay a small premium on their brand new toys to cover the eventual cost of disposing them off safely. Until that tax comes into effect, Geep does charge a little fee. On the bright side, if you buy a refurbished product, the fee is usually waived!
Posted in Computer Recycling | 
Tags: computer, e-waste, eco-centre, eco-friendly, electronic waste, TV | 
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(CBC) On Be Green, a Montreal company (GEEP) helps recycle high-tech items
Sunday, June 21st 2009
E-waste or electronic waste is everywhere. And it isn’t pretty. It’s actually pretty toxic–what with all those plastic bits and heavy metals, etc. Of course, by now you know that when you want to get rid of your TV or computer, you must take it to an eco-centre, not throw it in the trash. You knew that, right?
Source: cbc.ca
GEEP Electric and Electronic Waste Recycling Facility
GEEP Electric and Electronic Waste Recycling Facility
The Global Electric and Electronic Processing Inc. (GEEP) recycling facility is the newest addition to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
Using cutting edge processes and equipment, the 45,000 square foot facility is expected to process 30,000 tonnes per year of old computers, televisions, and a wide range of electrical and electronic waste materials for recycling.
Processes and equipment used at the state of the art facility include:
- Centrifugal Separation
- Plastics Shredder
- CRT Processing
- Chain Shredder
- De-Reeler
- Baler
The facility is built and operated by GEEP Alberta Inc – a subsidiary of GEEP Inc, an international e-waste recycler based in Barrie Ontario. It is the first e-waste recycling facility to be built by GEEP Inc in western Canada.
GEEP is a registered processor under Alberta’s electronics program which is administered by Alberta Recycling Management Authority.
What can be recycled at GEEP?:
- small kitchen appliances
- audio and video equipment and televisions
- personal care appliances (hair dryers, shavers, etc. )
- other electrical household tools (vacuums, irons, floor polishers)
- electrical power tools
- telecommunications equipment – telephones, cell phones
- computer and home office equipment
- computer components
- photocopiers, fax machines and similar office electronics
- industrial electrical tools
- specialty equipment containing electrical motors, switches and other components with material value
A worker disassembles a computer monitor at the new GEEP electronic and electric waste recycling facility.
Posted in Computer Recycling |
Tags: computer, computers, CRT, e-waste, GEEP, recycling, televisions |
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