Recycling Introduction

Hi! My name is Megan. For those of you who I have yet to me I am the Recycling Coordinator for Free Geek Providence. Recycling is one of the fundamental aspects of Free Geek. If we weren't recycling could we still be doing what we do? Of course. But Free Geek PVD wouldn't have nearly the same impact on our community or environment.

To clarify, Free Geek Providence is not a recycler. My job is to find and closely work with recycling companies who can safely and effectively "dispose" of our e-waste. Ah, what is e-waste you might be wondering? By definition e-waste, or electronic waste, is any discarded electronic or electrical devices or their components. So what's the big deal? It's just trash, right? Wrong! Did you know that computers are virtually harmless when they are being actively used, however, once they are dumped in our landfills they become extremely hazardous. This is because computers and other electronics contain lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and polyvinyl chlorides. "All of these materials have known toxicological effects that range from brain damage to kidney disease to mutations, cancers," Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist and authority on waste management at the Natural Resources Defense Council, explained. And just where do you think these toxins are ending up? Computers tossed into landfills get smashed and broken and these pollutants seep into the soil and make their way into our drinking water! The same water is used to hydrate farm crops, crops that end up in the produce aisle of your local grocery store. That's the harsh reality and we should all be be concerned about our well-being and the welfare of future generations.

At Free Geek Providence we strive to intercept whatever e-waste we can. We act as the middle man between the public and the recycling companies. However, we only use recycling companies that are part of a environmental stewardship pledge. The stewardship is a pact that the recycling company must abide by if they want to remain in environmentally good standing. The e-Steward Pledge enforces adherence to strict guidelines that must be met and maintained including (but not limited to) the following:

1. hazardous e-waste may not, under any circumstance, be sent to a solid waste facility
2. hazardous e-waste may not be exported from developed countires to third world countries
3. e-waste may not be sent to prisons for recycling

To date, Free Geek Providence is using two recyclers: Green Tech Assets and Xstrata Recycling. Both fully comply with e-Steward standards.

For more information on the e-Steward Program please refer to www.ban.org .

* By Megan