Our Take on Green

We love having a healthy planet to live on, don’t you? When you think about it, that’s the whole reason EverLights exists. And with Earth Day only two months away (April 22), we decided it was time for us to figure out how we are going to celebrate one of our favorite days.

We were sitting here thinking of ways to celebrate when something clicked. We needed to host an e-waste recycling drive. E-waste is a hot button issue right now, and we feel obligated to do something about it.

What Are We Doing?

The next step was figuring out how we were going to do this. It’s easy to approach people or businesses and tell them why they should be recycling. The hard part is getting that same group to take action.

So we came up with a simple solution to the problem. To make recycling as easy as possible, we’re going to partner with a few buildings around Chicago during the week leading up to Earth Day to help collect e-waste and educate people about the new legislation. By setting up shop in the lobby of these buildings, we’ll be providing the tenants with a convenient location to bring old electronics, while also giving them a forum to ask any questions they might have about e-waste recycling.

It’s our hope that people will have a better understanding of what should be done with electronics once these events are over. Whether they decide to recycle with a company like EverLights or donate the equipment to charity, we’ll be happy knowing that the materials are not ending up in landfills.

How Can You Help?

This idea is still in the planning stages, and we need your help to make it a success. EverLights is looking for four or five partners to host an event in your building. We will provide more details for those who express interest. What we can tell you now is that we will set aside a date and time (9 a.m.-noon) to set up in your lobby. We will bring a large gaylord with us on that date to place the e-waste in. When the event is over, our driver will bring the e-waste back to our warehouse for processing. You don’t have to do any of the work.

Tenants can participate by simply bringing us your e-waste. We want all of it. Bring whatever you have and we’ll recycle it for you. We’ll also give you something in return. We’re not going to tell you what that is yet. You’ll have to come see us to find out.

If you’re interested in participating in our e-waste recycling drive for Earth Day, send an email to dkehoe@everlights.com or call our office at (773) 734-9873. We’ll go over all the specifics and add your building to our list of participants.

This is a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference. You can come pay us a visit even if we don’t hold an event in your building. We’d love to see you!

With new e-waste recycling laws popping up around the country, we wanted to give you a set of questions to ask your current recycling company, or a company you are considering working with. Although this specific list was compiled with e-waste in mind, some of the questions can also be used when recycling other materials.

Don’t worry, we’ll tell you what you should expect to hear in response to these questions too. If the recycling company tells you something different, or doesn’t give you a straight answer, we suggest you take a pass on working with them.

1. Is my information safe?

Sensitive information is the number one reason companies hesitate when setting up an e-waste recycling program. We can’t really blame them, either. Identities are stolen all the time, so it makes sense to take caution. The recycling company you send your e-waste to should have a system in place for removing all valuable information and destroying hard drives that store it. At EverLights, our process includes wiping the equipment of all valuable information, shredding the hard drive and tracking each piece of equipment that comes through. Which leads us to the next question your recycler should be able to answer.

2. How can I be sure my information was destroyed?

It’s easy for a company to say it handles your e-waste a certain way. But it’s all talk unless the company can provide you with documentation that shows what happened to your equipment and where it ended up. Before you go calling your current recycling company to ask why you haven’t received any detailed information about your e-waste, keep in mind that it is an extra step in the process, and requires an extra time commitment from the recycling company. Most recyclers that do offer this service only do it when requested by the customer. If you want to make sure your information is safe, ask your recycling company to provide you with the proper documents. If the recycler cannot do that, it might be time consider a company that values your safety.

3. Where is my e-waste sent?

All the e-waste laws, both new and old, are great. We can’t wait until all 50 states are on board. The issue that remains, however, is that there are very few regulations controlling where the e-waste we produce ends up. Because of that, some companies will find loopholes in the system and send e-waste to places like China and Africa. Breaking down the equipment is less expensive in these places, and is also dangerous for those who do the work. There are little to no safety regulations in place, which allows companies to put employees in an unsafe environment. Using a company that does this could damage your company’s image, as well as its bank account. We advise you to stick with a recycling company that keeps e-waste in the U.S., even if it costs you a few extra dollars.

www.greenpeace.org

4. How can I prove I recycled?

The wrong answer to this should be the biggest red flag of all. As a business, you are required to recycle certain materials and can receive hefty fines for failing to do so. Any responsible recycling company should provide you with a certificate of recycling for each project. It will be hard to find a recycler that doesn’t do this, but if you do, we suggest getting away as soon as possible.

5. How much will it cost?

The final question, which is often the deciding factor for businesses, is the price. We can’t sit here and tell you what it will cost to recycle your e-waste because every company is different. What we can do is suggest that you stay away from companies who will pay you for the equipment. We understand the temptation of working with a company that will pay you. The problem is that your e-waste usually won’t end up being recycled. If these companies can’t resell your electronics, the equipment usually ends up overseas to be broken down for almost no cost, or in landfills. If that happens, the waste can be tracked back to your company, causing big problems. In our opinion, it’s worth paying the small amount it will cost you to recycle to save yourself from thousands of dollars in fines.

Now that you have these questions as a reference, shop around a little. Find a recycling company that can guarantee your safety while keeping your costs at a minimum. Each of these aspects are important in their own way. If one of them can’t be answered by the recycling company, move on to the next place.

EverLights can guarantee that your information will stay safe, offers tracking services for delicate information, we never send e-waste overseas and we provide recycling certificates for every project we work on. If you have any questions about our e-waste recycling services, or any other services, give us a call. We’re always happy to help!

The answer is 11.5 pounds per person each year, which comes out to 80 billion pounds total.

This week’s top green news stories include mind-blowing facts about e-waste disposal, mercury’s effect on wildlife, and a college spending over $9 million on its sustainability efforts. Click any of the headlines to read the entire story.

1. Mercury’s Harmful Reach Has Grown

In a recent article published by The New York Times, the author discusses the less-publicized benefits of the new mercury standards put in place by the EPA. The dangers of mercury to human health are widely known, and were the main factor behind the new standards. An important side benefit of the stricter standards is the protection of a wide range of wildlife that has been harmed by mercury emissions. This study by the Biodiversity Research Institute states that some birds and other animals suffer from some of the same neurological disorders from mercury as humans, especially children, do. This newly discovered benefit provides even more proof that strict mercury standards are needed, and that manufacturers should find ways to produce materials without using mercury.

If you’re as concerned about mercury levels in the environment as we are, make sure you recycle your light bulbs and other universal waste properly. We have easy to use recycling options on our website. Take a look!

2. E-Waste Numbers Explained

Infographics are really useful and explain facts in an easier to understand format. Most of the time. Infographics, like the one below, do a great job of providing statistics. The problem is, those statistics aren’t always easy to interpret. This article from TreeHugger breaks down the numbers and explains them in greater detail. Read the article and you’ll understand what this infographic really means.

Click image for its source

3. MSU Spends $9.1 Million on Energy Efficiency

If you had $9.1 million to spend, would you use it to improve your energy efficiency? That is exactly what Montana State University decided to do with its money. In an effort to make the entire campus more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, MSU decided to allocate funds to upgrade windows and lighting, improve water conservation and make other mechanical changes. The project is expected to produce around $370,000 in energy savings annually.

4. Willis Tower Looking for New Leasing Agent

Big news for the Chicago commercial real estate market. The new owners of the Willis Tower, American Landmark Properties, are looking for a fresh start, which includes changing its property management company. There is no word on whether or not they will actually make a change, but it is something we should keep an eye on. As a company that works directly with property management companies in Chicago, a story like this really gets us excited, so we had to share with you. We’ll keep you updated if we hear anything about it.

5. Can Electric Trash Trucks Pick Up Steam?

Electric cars are no longer a thing of the future. While there is still a lot of room for improvement in the electric car industry, it seems like they are here to stay. So it only makes sense that this “green” technology would make its way in to the waste industry, right? Well, it has. A Canadian car manufacturer called AGT Electric Cars recently unveiled its new electric garbage truck. As is the case with a lot of things, there is a catch with this new garbage truck. It’s too small to be street legal. Because of that, AGT is targeting malls, college campuses, resorts, municipal parks and other operations with multiple trash bins and a lot of real estate to cover. Read more about these trucks by click the link above.

Do you have any news stories that you think our readers should know about? Please share them in the comments section below. We’d love to hear about some of the things you’re reading!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at any time.

It’s no secret that the fastest growing type of waste is electronic equipment (e-waste), growing by nearly 5 percent every year. Technology is constantly improving, and people want the latest and greatest that these companies have to offer. As a result, more e-waste is being disposed of, most of which ends up in the wrong places. We thought it would be a great idea to share some statistics about how much e-waste is generated, thrown away and recycled to give you a better idea of how important recycling is.

How Often is Electronic Equipment Replaced?

The rate at which we go through electronic equipment is constantly on the rise. Most electronics only stick around for a few years before we decide it’s time to move on. This is how often we replace some of the most common electronics.

Image from www.treehugger.com

How Much E-Waste is Generated?

As we mentioned earlier, e-waste is the fastest growing type of waste. The following statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show us exactly how much we throw away.

• 112,000 computers are discarded every day
• 41.1 million desktops and laptops per year
• 20 million TVs are discarded every year
• Over 100 million cell phones are thrown away each year

In total, roughly 20 to 50 million metric tons of electronics are discarded worldwide each year. But only 10 to 18 percent of those electronics are recycled properly. According to this infographic from treehugger.com, the amount we throw in the trash is the equivalent of throwing away 45,500 to 125,00 fully loaded 747 airplanes. That’s enough waste to fill 60 U.S. landfills.

Even giving your e-waste to a recycling company doesn’t always mean it will be handled properly. There are some recycling companies that are simply out to make money. In order to maximize their profits, the materials they receive are sent overseas to places like Africa, Pakistan, India and China, where health and safety standards are almost non-existent. Before you choose an e-waste recycling company, ask what they do with the materials. Pick a company that plays by the rules, or it could come back to hurt your company in the form of bad press or big fines.

So Why Should I Recycle My E-Waste?

Toxins found in electronic equipment include antimony, arsenic, barium, lead and mercury, to name a few. If e-waste is not disposed of properly, it can lead to water poisoning and air pollution, which will effect the environment as a whole. If these toxins are released into the environment, they can cause serious health problems for people, including:

• High blood pressure
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Kidney, liver and digestive system damage
• Paralysis
• Death

There are a number of things you can do to help keep e-waste out of landfills and help maintain a healthy environment. Buying durable electronics and taking care of your electronics are two ways to prevent the need for new equipment. If you do need to get rid of old electronics, your best options are to donate the equipment to charity, or to find a certified e-waste recycling company that will handle your materials safely and responsibly.

EverLights offers a number of services to businesses looking to recycle e-waste. Take advantage of our pickup services, drop your e-waste off at our location or order one of our easy to use EverMail recycling containers and ship your materials to us.

Sources:

TreeHugger

CNET

Urban Mining