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More tidbits about electronics recycling and e-waste

Goodness, they did it. As debate continues over nasty e-recycling behavior and the role of the government, businesses and the average U.
Written by Heather Clancy, Contributor

Goodness, they did it. As debate continues over nasty e-recycling behavior and the role of the government, businesses and the average U.S. citizen in fixing the situation, Massachusetts asset disposition company Converge has delivered on its promise to expand its international network with responsible partners. The company says it has inspected and added asset disposition processing facilities in Europe, Latin America and Asia so that it can better serve some of its multinational clients.

Here are some past links about the company, which I've covered here a couple of times since I first met them about a year and a half ago in a previous role.

And since I seem to be pointing to e-recycling stories or news at least once a week, right now, here's a rundown of what else that has come to my notice over the past couple of days.

- Ahead of the digital TV switch-over next February, the Electronics Take Back Coalition has released grades rating the big electronics companies on their recycling efforts. Actually, it's more like a wall of shame, since the highest marks were for Sony with a "B-." In fairness, several of the vendors that didn't do all that well (Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba) have recently ramped up their program through the Electronics Manufacturers Recycling Management Company at this web site. Apparently, the company that created my husband's ridiculously huge projection television system doesn't even have a program to get rid of the monstrosity.

- Here's a reminder of where our President-elect Barack Obama stands on the e-waste issue, the recent passage by President Bush of legislation banning the export of "elemental mercury." Another great step, certainly, but who is going to pay to enforce this stuff?

- Finally, Jim Sellers of the Alberta Recycling Management Authority writes to tell me about the positive things that are happening north of the border in Alberta, Canada, where is organization has recycled 33,000 tones of e-waste since 2004 (or about 2.7 kilograms per capita, which Mr. Sellers says is the highest rate in North America. Alberta Recycling is actually a non-profit organization that manages and keeps a watch over the province's government-initiated programs for recycling. It's this organization's responsibility to make sure that nothing is shipped overseas. He suggests the development of similar organizations is accelerated across the United States on Canada.

So, we'll end this blog on a positive note.

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