e-Stewards Archives - Page 2 of 2

August 23, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Cycle Receives Top Honors as Health, Safety & Environmental Program of the Year in the 2013 International Business Awards

Also selected as Best New Service of the Year for e-Stewards certified recycling practices

e-Cycle received two gold Stevie® Awards in The 10th Annual International Business Awards in the categories of Health, Safety & Environment Program of the Year and Best New Product or Service of the Year for their e-Stewards certified recycling practices. Winners will be honored at a banquet in Barcelona, Spain on October 14.

“The International Business Awards is a premier business awards program, so we are very honored to be recognized as the top company in our categories,” said e-Cycle co-founder and President Tonia Irion. “Winning this prestigious award allows us the opportunity to promote the importance of using e-Stewards certified electronics recycling companies. We urge companies worldwide to join us in our efforts to stop the export of toxic e-waste into ‘toxic wastelands’ in China, India and other developing countries.”

Winners were selected from more than 3,300 nominations submitted by organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry around the world. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” approximately 250 executives worldwide participated in the judging process this year.

“The 2013 International Business Awards are noteworthy for featuring the best collection of entries we have ever received,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “The judges have been unanimous in their comments about the quality of achievements, and the expertise with which they were portrayed, in the nominations we received this year. We extend our most heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners.”

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, International Business Awards, mobile recycling, Stevie Awards

August 21, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Cycle Congratulates Lockheed Martin For Becoming an e-Stewards Enterprise Recognized for Responsible e-Recycling

Lockheed Martin, a global security, aerospace and information technology supplier, was recognized as an e-Stewards Enterprise for its responsible electronic waste management.

e-Stewards Enterprises are companies, governments and institutions that commit to preventing the improper management of hazardous e-waste, which has detrimental impacts on the health of people and the environment.

As an e-Stewards Enterprise, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to using e-Stewards certified electronics recyclers because they uphold the highest global standards for responsible recycling and undergo annual independent audits to ensure they do not export hazardous e-waste to developing countries or dump it into landfills.

Learn more about the e-Stewards certification here or by visiting e-Stewards.org.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-stewards enterprise program, e-Waste, electronic recycling, recycling

August 19, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Cycle: Five Common Mistakes to Avoid when Creating a BYOD Policy

With bring your own device (BYOD) programs exploding worldwide, enterprises are searching for the perfect solution for managing and securing employee-liable devices. Implementing a BYOD policy is tricky because each program must be customized to meet the specific needs for each company and there is no catch-all solution. As a global leader in the mobile buyback and recycling industry, e-Cycle shares five common BYOD mistakes that can lead to disgruntled workers, lower productivity as well as higher costs and mobile security headaches.

1. No Policy or Monitoring
BYOD’s major strength is the flexibility it lends to employees; however, businesses must be prepared for the liability that accompanies it. Creating a BYOD policy with specific guidelines for who owns the data, device and software, how the expenses are distributed and what happens to the device when it is lost or stolen will help to avoid legal matters and protect your company.

2. Excessive Mobile Security
Multiple passwords, remote device wipes and location trackers are important features to protect mobile data, but requiring over-the-top security features will leave employees soured on BYOD. Instead, search for solutions that enhance productivity and increase employee satisfaction, while still protecting sensitive mobile data. But be careful, restoring factory settings and remote wiping is not a guarantee of data removal. Often times sensitive information still remains on wireless devices including names, contact information, pin numbers, emails and even photos. A shocking study revealed confidential information was found on devices purchased on eBay.

3. Too Few Options
BYOD was intended to empower employees with the ability to choose the devices and apps they want. A program that is too limited may lower company morale and cause employees to develop their own workarounds to utilize the apps they prefer, which increases the likelihood of a breach. Give your employees enough options to boost productivity and create a positive output for the company.

4. Too Many Options
Managing mobile business data through numerous devices and carriers can quickly become a nightmare for an enterprise’s IT or mobility department. BYOD is meant to be beneficial to both the business and the employee. Offering three to four mainstream devices will please employees and allow the IT/mobility department to effectively manage mobile security, creating applications and troubleshooting. Be wary of devices and applications that are known to be traps for malware.

5. Not Thinking it Through
As the newest mobile trend, many companies are diving head first into BYOD without thinking the process through. Enterprises need to ensure that BYOD makes sense for the needs of the company and employees. BYOD can save businesses money; however, there are often hidden expenses that accompany this new trend like software licensing, mobile security, device management and regulatory compliance. These are all expenses that need to be considered when deciding to make the switch to BYOD.

6. Partner with a Trusted Mobile Buyback and Recycling Company
Encourage or mandate that your employees discard their used personally-owned devices securely and responsibly by utilizing a trusted wireless buyback and recycling company that has proven processes for data deletion. There are numerous consumer buyback companies that claim data protection, however, provide poor data security processes and unsecure facilities. Discourage employees from selling their used mobile devices on eBay and Craigslist.

Vetting and recommending a secure and proven mobile buyback and recycling partner to compensate your employees while protecting their sensitive data and the environment is critical to help negate data breaches and to protect your corporate reputation. Additionally, utilize e-Stewards® certified electronics recyclers who are rigorously audited each year to ensure they uphold globally-recognized standards for data security, environmental protection and worker safety.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: data security, e-Stewards, e-Waste, recycling cell phones

August 16, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

The New School is the First Northeast University Acknowledged as e-Stewards Enterprise

e-Cycle applauds The New School of New York City for being the first educational institution in the Northeast to become an e-Stewards® Enterprise. Their pledge to manage e-waste appropriately and use recyclers that are certified to the e-Stewards standards.

The e-Stewards Enterprise designation provides recognition of organizations that dispose of their electronics properly by utilizing e-Stewards certified recyclers.

The e-Stewards Standard prohibits e-waste dumping in municipal landfills and the export of e-waste to developing countries. Both of which can cause catastrophic harm to the environment and health of local residents. It also ensures worker protection and enforces strict rules for data security. The e-Stewards Standard is the only certification to encompass and strictly enforce all these essential components.

The EPA estimates that 70 to 80 percent of electronics recyclers in the U.S. either directly or indirectly sell non-functional electronic components to companies that export toxic e-waste overseas for a profit. To achieve e-Stewards certification, electronics recyclers and their downstream vendors are rigorously audited to ensure only fully-functional devices are sold for reuse and all other devices and accessories are recycled in the most environmentally responsible way possible.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, electronic recycling, mobile phone recycling

August 9, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Waste Recycling Laws in the United States and Stopping the Export of E-Waste by Utilizing e-Stewards Certified Recyclers

There is currently no federal legislation in the U.S. that mandates the recycling of e-waste. Some states in the U.S. allow businesses and individuals to throw their used electronics in the trash; however, many states are beginning to mandate environmental responsibility by banning the disposal of e-waste into landfills.

Colorado recently became the 18th state to ban e-waste from entering landfills and incinerators and several states are working to pass new laws and improve existing laws.

States that Banned e-waste from Landfills

View E-Waste Zero Landfill Laws in the United States in a larger map

While the states that have adopted e-waste regulations should be commended, there is still room for improvement. The EPA reports that 142,000 computers and more than 416,000 mobile devices are discarded every day. In 2010, only 27% of e-waste in the U.S. was recycled, with mobile devices being the least recycled item at 11%.

The Electronics Takeback Coalition reported ten ways we can improve our current legislation to increase collection volumes and address potential issues. These best practices are based on comparing states’ laws and their recycling results.

Make it convenient and establish collection goals
Encourage a variety of collection types
Include clear and high expectations for performance
Set minimum recycling goals, not goals that act as a ceiling
Make sure rural areas aren’t neglected
Include a landfill ban
Require all processors and refurbishers to be e-Stewards certified
Do not discourage legitimate reuse
Include a broad scope of products for free recycling
Transparency and reporting

It is recommended to choose an e-Stewards recycler because not all recyclers recycle e-waste in a legal and responsible manner. The e-Stewards certification makes it simple to identify recyclers that adhere to the highest global standards for environmental responsibility and worker protection.—————————————————————————————————

e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, exporting e-waste, landfills, recycling laws

July 29, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

How to Recycle Your Used Computers, Mobile Phones and Other Electronics Safely and Avoid Using the Wrong Electronics Recycling Company

According to the United Nations, around 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide each year and only a small fraction of that e-waste is properly recycled. Businesses must partner with a credible electronics recycler to ensure that their mobile and other electronics devices and the sensitive data stored inside are recycled properly. Partnering with the wrong electronics recycler can be extremely hazardous for the environment and business.

The Problem

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 70 to 80 percent of recyclers in the U.S. either directly or indirectly export their e-waste into developing countries. The Basel Action Network (BAN) reports that more than 500 containers, each containing 10 to 15 tons of e-waste, enter Nigerian ports every month, amounting to 60,000 to 90,000 tons of e-waste each year. Exporting e-waste is devastating to both the health of the environment and the people in these countries.

Slave or child labor and unethical methods such as open-acid baths and open-air burning are often used to extract the valuable metals inside the devices and to dispose of e-waste. Mobile phones, tablets and computers contain toxic metals and chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. These extraction methods cause substantial harm to the environment and the inhalation of the toxic fumes can cause significant health problems or even death for the locals in these e-waste farming communities.

According to a report released by the United Nations, criminal gangs behind the drug trade in West Africa are becoming involved with illegal e-waste trading. Many of the discarded electronics and mobile devices that end up in these dumping grounds have not been properly wiped of data. This leaves private information such as addresses, phone numbers and banking details to be easily harvested by criminals.

The Solution

It is imperative that businesses and individuals properly recycle their retired devices with a responsible electronics recycler. BAN, together with industry leaders, developed the e-Stewards certification program in an effort to eliminate the growing e-waste problem.

e-Stewards provides consumers, businesses and government agencies that dispose of their old electronic equipment an easy way to identify recycling companies that adhere to the highest standards of environmental responsibility, data security and worker protection. This globally recognized program is the only certification that strictly prohibits the export of toxic e-waste into developing countries and bans the use of child and prison labor. It also requires yearly audits to ensure that the high e-Stewards standards are continuously being met. Using e-Stewards certified recyclers will not only guarantee organizations protect the environment when recycling their electronics but also their sensitive company information.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, electronic recycling, mobile phone recycling

July 17, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Cycle Update: Global E-waste is Ending up in Toxic Wastelands in China

A recent United Nations report revealed that approximately 70 percent of globally produced e-waste is being exported to China for disposal, making it the largest e-waste dumping site in the world.

Many of these products are originally manufactured in China and are finding their way back through illegal exportation from developed countries, even though the U.N. has a ban that strictly prohibits this practice.

Over the past decade Guiyu, a small town in southeastern China, has become a major hub for the disposal of e-waste. Here, hundreds of thousands of people dismantle the world's electronic junk in dangerous, primitive ways. The effects on the environment and the health of the local community are catastrophic.

Environmental Pollution

The U.N. report stated that the e-waste disposal industry has caused “environmental calamity” in Guiyu. Much of the toxic pollution is a direct result of burning the equipment and washing it with hydrochloric acid.

The washing technique is used to obtain valuable metals from devices. For example, approximately 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered for every million cellphones recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The U.N. report showed that using the burning and washing methods releases hydrocarbon ashes into the air, water and soil, and it contaminates the environment with toxic heavy metals.

Health Hazards

While Guiyu locals downplay the potential damage their work has on their health, studies conducted by Shantou University Medical College have shown reasons for concern. Reports revealed that many children tested in Guiyu had higher than average levels of lead in their blood, which is known to stunt the development of the brain and central nervous system.

In addition, mercury can be released into the environment during the dismantling and disposal of electronic devices like mobile phones, TVs and computer monitors. Mercury can easily accumulate within the food chain, particularly fish, causing damage to the brain and kidneys.

What can you do?

To ensure your wireless devices and other electronic equipment are being recycled responsibly, be sure to only work with an e-Stewards certified recycler. The certification is recognized globally and e-Stewards recyclers and their downstream vendors are rigorously audited to ensure they adhere to the highest standards for responsible recycling and reuse of electronic equipment. e-Stewards is the only electronics recycler certification in the world that strictly prohibits the export of toxic e-waste into developing countries, includes industry-specific worker health and safety requirements and bans the use of child, slave and prison labor.

e-Cycle is the first wireless buyback and recycling company in the world to achieve e-Stewards certification. To learn more about responsible mobile phone and tablet recycling, contact us at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, electronic recycling, illegal exportation, R2, recycling, United Nations

July 16, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

Congratulations to Cyber City for becoming an e-Stewards Enterprise!

The entire e-Cycle team congratulates Cyber City Inc., a leading cloud solutions provider, for joining the e-Stewards Enterprise program. By becoming an e-Stewards business, Cyber City has made the commitment to ensure their e-waste will be managed, wherever possible, by e-Stewards Certified Recyclers.

e-Stewards recyclers adhere to the highest standards for responsible recycling and reuse of electronic equipment. e-Stewards is the only electronics recycling certification in the world that strictly prohibits the export of toxic e-waste into developing countries, includes industry-specific worker health and safety requirements and bans the use of child, slave and prison labor. The EPA estimates that 70 to 80 percent of electronics recyclers in the U.S. export toxic e-waste overseas into developing countries.

Glenn McGinnis, co-founder and CEO of Cyber City Inc., highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship in his organization.

”Our business is helping our clients get more from technology. Reducing environmental impact to a minimum is central to our mission and is a component of every service Cyber City offers,” said McGinnis.

Cyber City is the first technical support company based in New York’s “Silicon Alley” to become an e-Stewards Enterprise.

As the first mobile buyback and recycling company to become e-Stewards certified, e-Cycle applauds Cyber City for their environmental stewardship. If you are interested in selling and/or recycling your business mobile devices securely and responsibly, please visit www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-stewards enterprise program, e-Waste, electronic recycling, recycling

July 9, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

Five Fundamental Flaws of the 2013 R2 Standard for Electronics Recycling

The Basel Action Network (BAN) recently released a critique entitled “Five Fundamental Flaws: A Concise Critique of the R2:2013 Standard.” It speaks to the loopholes caused by the ambiguity of the certification, but does mention that the overall implementation of the R2 certification has improved.

“We remain disappointed and very concerned with the substance of the Standard itself, which has change little from the initial version (R2:2008) published five years ago,” BAN stated.

The fundamental flaws of the certification stem from what appear to be intentional loopholes that facilitate social and environmental irresponsibility in the electronic recycling and asset recovery industry. The critique outlined the following flaws:

R2 does not adhere to international hazardous waste trade laws that apply to the exportation of used electronics. These laws, established under the Basel Convention, have been adopted by 180 countries and are the legal waste trading framework practiced worldwide. Basically, the R2 certification has no provisions that prohibit the export of harmful toxic waste. This creates problems for developing countries where e-waste is being imported because they do not have the appropriate infrastructure in place to prevent harm to the environment and to the health of their communities. Enterprises that recycle their mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices may be at risk of having their electronics discovered in overseas “toxic wastelands.”
R2 allows recyclers to be certified without certifying all of the facilities operating under the company’s control. This presents serious issues because irresponsible, unethical recyclers can externalize costs by sending toxic materials that require expensive management to developing countries. These organizations do not have to adhere to any regulations regarding the disposal of e-waste, while the parent company can still claim R2 certification.
R2 allows insufficient Environmental, Health, & Safety Management System (EHSM) to be substituted for the internationally accepted ISO and OSHAS standards. To remedy issues with earlier versions of the R2 standard, the requirement for an EHSM System was added to R2:2013. This is problematic because it falsely implicates that an EHSM system is equivalent to the comprehensive and internationally accepted ISO standards. R2:2013 also fails to define any measurement to qualify an EHSM system as being acceptable.
R2 does not require ethical labor practices. Unfortunately, child, slave and prison labor are still common practices in the recycling supply chain worldwide. The R2:2013 Standard fails the test of being socially responsible by excluding any reference to minimum labor standards. The terms “labor” and “social accountability” do not even appear in the Standard. E-waste contains hazardous materials and sensitive data, so a truly responsible certification must strictly exclude such dangerous and unethical practices.
R2 does not require satisfactory occupational health and safety protections. The Standard fails to require mandatory air testing and does not prevent the shredding of devices containing hazardous materials like beryllium, cadmium or mercury. These practices can cause irreparable harm to the health of workers in the e-waste industry.

R2:2013 Standard’s ambiguity and refusal to acknowledge the guidelines of the Basel Convention creates loopholes for irresponsible recycling. It provides unwarranted credit to electronics recyclers who deceive consumers and businesses by allowing them to believe their devices are being recycled in a secure and responsible manner.

It is imperative that businesses and individuals properly recycle their retired devices with a responsible electronics recycler. BAN, together with industry leaders, developed the globally recognized e-Stewards certification program in an effort to eliminate the growing e-waste problem.

e-Stewards is the only electronics recycler certification that strictly prohibits the export of toxic e-waste into developing countries, includes industry-specific worker health and safety requirements and bans the use of child, slave and prison labor. Using e-Stewards certified recyclers guarantees the highest standards of environmental responsibility, data security and worker protection are being met.

To download BAN’s full report, visit http: www.e-cycle.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveFundamentalFlawFinal.pdf.

To learn more about responsible mobile phone and tablet recycling, visit www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, electronic recycling, R2, recycling

July 19, 2012 — No Comments

States are Mandating a Safe, Secure Disposal of e-Waste | e-Cycle

e-Waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the U.S. If electronic devices are not properly recycled, the toxic chemicals contained inside these devices can cause serious environmental and health concerns. While there have been numerous attempts to develop Federal laws on the disposal of e-Waste, there are currently no Federal mandates in place. In many jurisdictions, the disposal of toxic e-Waste in landfills is still legal, causing severe environmental damage to the surrounding communities. As a result, various states have begun developing laws surrounding the secure disposal of e-Waste.

According to the EPA, electronics such as CRT monitors, cell phones and mobile devices test “hazardous” and require special handling for disposal. Improper disposal can cause toxic chemicals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, located inside these devices to seep into the soil and contaminate the groundwater. In fact, one mobile phone has enough toxins to contaminate 40,000 gallons of water.

25 states have passed legislation mandating statewide e-Waste recycling while several more are passing new laws or improving legislation. Most recently, Colorado’s Governor signed a bill banning the dumping of electronic equipment in landfills and requiring the state to utilize certified recyclers. Six other states introduced e-Waste legislation in 2011. Currently, statewide e-Waste recycling laws cover 65 percent of the U.S. population.

New York State instituted the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act last year and while there is room for improvement, the program appears to be working. Fairly aggressive targets were set for the program and though the amount of e-Waste collected has not been totaled, the number of collection options grew 77 percent in the last year. Recyclers and local governments report that the increased ease and convenience in recycling caused an increase in the quantity of e-Waste collected in 2011.

e-Stewards, a leading global program, allows businesses that dispose of their old electronic equipment to easily identify recycling companies that adhere to the highest standards of environmental responsibility and employee protection. An e-Stewards Certification requires a recycler to meet rigorous environmental, health and safety requirements while prohibiting the improper disposal of toxic waste in landfills and shipment overseas. Recently, e-Cycle LLC became the first mobile phone buyback and recycling company in the world to become e-Stewards Certified.

e-Cycle provides businesses a safe and environmentally friendly method for the disposal of used mobile phones and devices. Assisting organizations in taking a more responsible, secure and profitable approach to wireless recycling, e-Cycle purchases used cell phones and tablets that still retain value and recycles all others at no charge through an EPA-registered facility. A rigorous multi-step data deletion process permanently removes confidential data stored on these devices. Not only does e-Cycle maintain a strict zero landfill policy, their e-Stewards Certification also ensures dedication to upholding the highest global standards for environmental responsibility.

Many states either lack adequate regulations for this relatively new waste stream, or lack effective enforcement of new e-waste regulations. However, with electronic waste representing 70 percent of toxins in our landfills, policies need to be put in place to battle this growing issue. As more states begin to implement e-Waste legislation, e-Cycle provides enterprises with a secure and profitable solution for mobile phone recycling and reuse. Find out more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, electronic recycling, Federal e-Waste legislation, mobile buyback, mobile data deletion, mobile phone recycling, Sell Android, sell BlackBerry, sell iphone, state e-Waste legislation