Recycling Export Reform Group Unveils New e-certification Process
Washington, DC (ContentDesk) January 31, 2006 -- Out with the old, in with the new.
January is the month for the sweeping out of used home electronics.
Computers are replaced at Christmas, and new TVs are purchased for Superbowl Sunday. People across the country wonder, what to do with the old electronics?A new electronic certification program sponsored by a non-profit trade association, located at www.wr3a.org, will make that task a little easier.The program is being written by a non-profit export reform group, active in electronics recycling issues.
According to several officials in government and overseas, it is easy to use and makes enormous sense.
The program is based on the transaction, not the user or the destination.
WR3A president Robin Ingenthron explains, "USDA certifies beef, not the butcher.
What may be appropriate to one buyer may be waste to another.
WR3A is trying to focus on which materials are easy to donate, and which require the expertise of an insured company with capacity to process lead and other chemicals."EPA has struggled with the number of electronic devices becoming obsolete each year.
But while EPA estimated that 315 million computers would be upgraded between 2000 and 2004, those projections include 2 and 3 year old computers, as well as 30 year old TVs.
Which ones should be donated to the poor?
Which ones should not be dumped on foreign shores?
Americans are justifiably confused about where to bring their old TV or monitor, as they are turned away at the garbage dump (disposal of these items is now illegal in several states).Until now, one sure way to decide where NOT to bring your used electronics has been to search
EPA Certification, you could be sure the recycler was lying.
At the meeting in Washington, EPA and recycling groups committed to explore how an effective certification program might actually work.WR3A's e-certification program asks generators and recyclers questions about their material and their goals, and then tries to match the bidders with an appropriate list of service providers, much like an online dating service.
RecycleNet of Toronto, a corporation that lists thousands of recyclers online from around the world, has taken note and offered to sponsor WR3A's website.The WR3A's e-certification program is "open source", allowing experts in an individual area (such as hard drive formatting or lead glass processing) to play a greater role in establishing standards.
Donating Pentium III computers to a school?
You should worry about the hard drive being cleaned, how the software will be legally installed.
Holding a one-day recycling event for computers?
The recycler should be able to document how they manage both the good AND the junk ones.
Bidding out a curbside recycling program, collecting junk TVs from doorsteps every week (like Boston, MA)?
Better spend the time to make sure the recycler can handle that amount of material, and buys the right insurance.Other certification programs were also being offered in Washington on Monday, by ISRI, IAER, BAN and SVTC, for example.
EPA may or may not endorse one standard, but sponsored the meeting to facilitate cooperation and consensus. The World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association (WR3A.org) was established in November 2004 to promote "Fair Trade" practices in recycling.
Patterned after "Fair Trade Coffee" programs, the WR3A gets suppliers to meet with the buyers, and works out a "win win" trade agreement so that everyone gets what they bargained for, without the TAR.
Demand and repair expertise are so great overseas that an "export ban" is will work about as well as growing all our coffee domestically, Ingenthron notes.The Board of Directors of WR3A consists of former DEP regulator, a California university recycling program director, and a Digital Divide founder who distributes working computers on the Mexico border.
It is funded primarily through donations from Good Point Recycling, an electronics recycler in Vermont.Several of WR3A's members are based overseas.
Refurbishing companies (including manufacturers who want to "take back" used electronics to the Asian factories where they were made) are desperate for quality surplus electronics, but unhappy with the sheer volume of unrepairable junk sent as "toxics along for the ride".
They join WR3A to screen the loads they want to buy.USA companies who have joined WR3A include several state and environmental agency contractors.
Since they are already governed by civil law to properly manage the e-scrap they collect, these companies will move to the "Top Tier" of e-certified collection programs.
Colin Davis, the new Director of WR3A, coordinates communication between members who have pledged to follow WR3A standards.
Following the successful path of Fair Trade Coffee, he is signing up universities and government surplus property programs who should care about how their material is handled.
WR3A will try to match suppliers with companies who can certify their processes, and match those companies with legitimate end markets, domestically or overseas..
Hot Trends in Home Improvement — Enjoy the Latest Advancements in Comfort with the Affordable Luxury of Generation4™ Floor Warming Systems by Speedheat?
Atlanta, GA (ContentDesk) April 27, 2006 -- Whether fueled by the proliferation of home improvement shows or the growing popularity of design and decorating magazines, American consumers have seemingly insatiable appetites for luxury upgrades in their homes. A recent survey released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported a growing desire by consumers for larger kitchens and bathrooms that are fully loaded with the latest high-end upgrades including heated floors.
While heated floors were once a luxury reserved for the rich and famous, times have changed. With recent advancements in electric radiant floor heating and quality companies such as Speedheat? now bringing fine European luxury items to the U.S., many consumers are discovering that heated...
Electric generators > Hot Trends in Home Improvement — Enjoy the Latest Advancements in Comfort with the Affordable Luxury of Generation4™ Floor Warming Systems by Speedheat?
Sponsor a Hurricane Affected Family
OAK BROOK, IL (ContentDesk) October 20, 2005 -- LovingNeighbors, a network of thirteen cross denominational church congregations has found a way to make a huge difference in the lives of homeless hurricane families.
With the help of Sears and Kmart, they are equipping FEMA trailer families with complete Home Starter Kits.
These kits are a fabulous idea because FEMA trailers lack the basic living necessities such as cooking utensils, linens and tools. People cannot even open a can of beans or make a cup of coffee, nor do they have sheets to sleep on, said Sandy Molenhouse from International Aid. We are hoping more communities follow their lead .
Home starter kits can be best described as a shrink wrapped bridal shower on a 4 x 4 pallet. They include dishes and glasses, silverware and utensils, pots and pans, bedding and towels, radios and tools, hair dryers, ice chests, chairs, toasters, coffee pots, cleaning materials and more.
The hardest hit areas...
Electric generators > Sponsor a Hurricane Affected Family
'Detox, Heal and Relieve the Pain' with Three-Step System
Las Vegas, NV (ContentDesk) June 30, 2006 -- Healing the body from years of illness, getting rid of chronic aches and pains, may be easier than once thought. David Black, aka DrDA, the Health Detoxor, America's Dr of Detoxology and owner of DB Research, LC, is living proof that the three-step detoxification system that he markets works. Ill the majority of his life, he tried everything to feel better and heal his body."My focus is to help people detox, heal, relieve pain and own their body," he explained.By using the detoxification system on a regular basis, Black said, "I have personally received help from arthritis, diabetes, obesity, chronic pain, and cracked and bleeding skin. My hair color has gone from an unnatural brown back to the strawberry blonde it was when I was a boy." He added that others have credited the system for increasing sensation in the feet, enabling circulation, aiding sleep, increasing energy, and more. The three-step system is incorporates the use of the Electro-Wave...
'Detox, Heal and Relieve the Pain' with Three-Step System
Electric generators > 'Detox, Heal and Relieve the Pain' with Three-Step System
Hot Trends in Home Improvement — Enjoy the Latest Advancements in Comfort with the Affordable Luxury of Generation4™ Floor Warming Systems by Speedheat?
Atlanta, GA (ContentDesk) April 27, 2006 -- Whether fueled by the proliferation of home improvement shows or the growing popularity of design and decorating magazines, American consumers have seemingly insatiable appetites for luxury upgrades in their homes. A recent survey released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported a growing desire by consumers for larger kitchens and bathrooms that are fully loaded with the latest high-end upgrades including heated floors.While heated floors were once a luxury reserved for the rich and famous, times have changed. With recent advancements in electric radiant floor heating and quality companies such as Speedheat? now bringing fine European luxury items to the U.S., many consumers are discovering that heated...
Electric generators > Hot Trends in Home Improvement — Enjoy the Latest Advancements in Comfort with the Affordable Luxury of Generation4™ Floor Warming Systems by Speedheat?
Economic Relief Just a Coupling Away
What's the obvious difference between a Diesel engine and electric motor?
It isn't the power source as much as the vibration. California farmers in particular discovered this difference when market conditions forced a switch to Diesel engine instead of electric motors, to run the pumps that irrigate fields and orchards.
The farmers rapidly discovered how constant vibrations can damage connected equipment. A coupling helped dampen the vibrations, but the only style that fit their pumps were designed for marine applications ? built for a different industry and priced out of reach for an ordinary agricultural operation.???Price is an issue no more. Introducing the LV-Torsional coupling from Lovejoy, Inc.
of Downers Grove, Illinois, designed and built to offer an inexpensive, economical alternative for the agricultural market and off-highway construction equipment industry. Two different styles are available; the LV-Torsional coupling for u-joint drive systems and...
Economic Relief Just a Coupling Away
Electric generators > Economic Relief Just a Coupling Away
ELECTRIC-IQ (TM) Product for Energy Analysis and Information Receives Funding
Phoenix, AZ, (ContentDesk) March 15, 2004--Arizona-based Knowatt Inc. (http://www.knowatt.com), has announced that it has received private placement investment from an undisclosed private investor and from Distributed Systems Solutions, Inc (DSSI) in Chandler. DSSI has become a KnoWatt, Inc. shareholder in the transaction as well. KnoWatt has also announced a new office location at 3550 N.
Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225.Knowatt has developed a way to provide actionable consumption information to electric power consumers. Knowatt's product, ElectricIQ? is a web-accessible energy analysis and management solution that connects directly to the utility meter via modem or internet connection.
KnoWatt's solution requires no additional hardware at the user's premise. According to Knowatt CEO Ron Morales, "this funding will accelerate our position of market leadership in the important field of energy information services...
Electric generators > ELECTRIC-IQ (TM) Product for Energy Analysis and Information Receives Funding
Recycling Export Reform Group Unveils New e-certification Process
Washington, DC (ContentDesk) January 31, 2006 -- Out with the old, in with the new.
January is the month for the sweeping out of used home electronics.
Computers are replaced at Christmas, and new TVs are purchased for Superbowl Sunday. People across the country wonder, what to do with the old electronics?A new electronic certification program sponsored by a non-profit trade association, located at www.wr3a.org, will make that task a little easier.The program is being written by a non-profit export reform group, active in electronics recycling issues.
According to several officials in government and overseas, it is easy to use and makes enormous sense.
The program is based on the transaction, not the user or the destination.
WR3A president Robin Ingenthron explains, "USDA certifies beef, not the butcher.
What may be appropriate to one buyer may be waste to another.
WR3A is trying to focus on which materials are easy to donate,...
Electric generators > Recycling Export Reform Group Unveils New e-certification Process
Six Sigma for Small Business
It is not surprising that some people may perceive Six Sigma as being only for large corporations. Major corporations such as Allied Signal, Black & Decker, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Federal Express, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, Kodak, Motorola, Sony, and Toshiba have all rolled out Six Sigma efforts and achieved outstanding results. Yet, it is incorrect to think that Six Sigma process improvement results can only be achieved by huge organizations. Small businesses can also succeed in implementing Six Sigma and reap the process improvement benefits that Six Sigma provides.Certainly, there are factors that can be disadvantageous for implementing Six Sigma in a small business rather than a large business, such as lack of resources and expertise in change initiatives. However, there are also characteristics inherent in small businesses that can speed up the effective implementation of Six Sigma more than in large businesses, such as flexible process flows, a shorter decision-making...
Six Sigma for Small Business
Electric generators > Six Sigma for Small Business