Every year we buy 500 million new electronic devices – computers, televisions, smart phones, iPads, iPods and more – to replace, upgrade or update older equipment. But the amount of time we use these electronics is very short, often less than five years.
So, what do you do with your old electronics? Most likely, they were not disposed of properly, even if you thought you were handing it over to a responsible party.
Americans generate a veritable tsunami of more than 3 million tons of e-waste every year, according to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. Over 85 percent of this e-waste turns into a complex, toxic waste stream that ends up in our landfills. An additional 11 percent is exported overseas, often ending up in poor communities in developing countries, posing long-term risks to human health and the environment.
About 12 years ago, Mike Buckles decided to leave his career as a systems analyst for an international oil company to start a business reselling specialty computer and network equipment. While building IT Remarketing, Inc., he quickly became aware of the growing e-waste crisis and decided to do something about it.
“Our company faced its own need to recycle electronics that we could not resell,” Buckles admits. “So, we decided to form a subsidiary – TechnoCycle – to ensure that it was done right. Because of my background as a corporate technology professional, I knew that every individual or organization that uses computers and other electronic devices is (or should be) concerned about what happens to it when it is replaced due to obsolescence or other reasons. I realized we could provide this service to others who needed it.”
Buckles says his company comes at its business from a very different perspective than other recycling entities who mostly hail from backgrounds as metal scrappers.
“Because of my background in computers, I am well aware of the security risks businesses face when disposing of devices that may hold sensitive data. We ensure that all data is completely removed from the equipment we process.”
TechnoCycle currently occupies almost 32,000 square feet of warehouse and office space in northwest Houston, employs 25 full-time employees and serves about 200 corporate customers.
According to Buckles, the company processes about 100 tons of electronics each month from businesses and homes, reselling about 20 percent of it to established reseller networks, brokers or on eBay.
On any given day, TechnoCycle employees will work with a variety of components, including end-of-life computers, laptops, printers, copiers, cell phones, servers, networking equipment, and large mainframes. “We try to be an expert in everything, so that nothing that can be reused is recycled,” Buckles says.
“Reuse of used equipment is environmentally smart,” explains Buckles, “since more than 80 percent of the resources used by a computer in its lifetime are spent in the actual manufacturing of the unit. In addition, the resale of electronic equipment allows TechnoCycle to generate revenue and lower or eliminate costs for the recycling of the equipment.”
“For everything that we do recycle,” adds Buckles, “we have a strict ‘no export and no landfill policy’ that also applies to our downstream processing vendors. Eventually these materials will all be recycled and reused in some fashion.”
The TechnoCycle Process – Doing It The Right Way
All equipment that arrives at TechnoCycle is initially weighed, in order to create an incoming weight measurement. At the end of the day, the incoming and outgoing weights should be equal; this provides a check-and-balance system that ensures all the material is accounted for.
Once weighed, the company creates a record of the equipment and assigns it a unique tracking number and barcode. The equipment is then assessed to determine if any components may be reused to extend their service lives, reducing manufacturing waste. Components deemed reusable are scrubbed to remove all data, and the equipment is remarketed to a customer who will continue to use the equipment. Components and materials not fit for reuse are physically dismantled and classified into categories such as metals, wire, circuit boards, plastics, power supplies, CRTs, etc. In this state, the material is ready to be separated and sent to processing plants and smelters for recycling.
No Landfills, No Exporting of E-Waste
Buckles points out that computers and other electronic devices in their retail state are basically safe, but buried inside the plastics and circuit boards are a mix of heavy metals that can pose a threat to human health and ecological damage if not handled appropriately. For this reason, computers and electronics pose an environmental threat once they become obsolete and/or are no longer in use.
Yet, while the United States and most developed nations have reasonably strict codes for dealing with these toxins, developing nations have cheaper human labor and fewer restrictions leading to an explosion of “computer recyclers” and brokers sending broken and obsolete electronics and computers overseas to be “processed.”
“To save a buck, computers are torn apart by hand–often by children–with little or no protection gear,” says Buckles. “Toxic plastics are often burned away so that the metals can be more easily recycled, with the unwanted waste material discarded in the local environment. Many of these toxins never disappear, and accumulate in the food chain. Computer recycling done in this manner is a danger to the host countries ecology and often a severe human right violation for the workers.”
That is why Buckles was adamant about TechnoCycle outlining its Environmental Policy for employees, customers and vendors (see below), and becoming certified as an E-Stewards Electronic Recycler and an EPA registered recycling center.
“Becoming an E-Steward means more than just taking a pledge of good faith to stand for environmental responsibility,” says Buckles. “It requires a rigorous, auditable process to verify that we and all of our downstream vendors do not – export any toxic waste, use prison labor (which provides unfair competition to legitimate recyclers in the private sector), or use municipal landfills or incinerators. We must also properly protect our own employees from dangerous or toxic materials during our own processes.”
According to Buckles, this thorough analysis is necessary to close any gaps and ensure that all E-Stewards Electronic Recyclers are accountable to responsibly recycle electronics.
“We are committed to the highest environmental and social standards, and a philosophy of building sustainable, win-win relationships with our employees, customers, partners, vendors and the communities in which we work,” explains Buckles.
Based in Houston, TechnoCycle primarily services the greater Houston metropolitan area and surrounding regions within 200 miles.
“TechnoCycle is the first recycler in Houston to be recognized as an E-Stewards Electronic Recycler,” says Matt Workman, director of Business Development for TechnoCycle. “And we are working hard to build awareness of sustainability programs and positive initiatives in our community, such as sponsoring the Mayor’s Green Office Challenge and Houston’s Green Week; and by being the most environmentally responsible electronic waste recycling company in this market. We believe our philosophy in this area is not only good business, but good for Houston as well.”
TechnoCycle’s Long-Term Goals
“We see ourselves as the industry leader in this region,” says Buckles. “By adhering to the strictest recycling standards that exist, our goal is to lead the market and also backing state and federal legislation that supports high environmental standards for recycling. In support of his bill to ban e-waste exports, we recently hosted Congressman Gene Green for a tour facility. That bill will increase awareness of this issue at the corporate level and create new green jobs here in Houston. We also look forward to working with Texas legislators, manufacturers, and environmental groups during the 2011 session to develop a free and convenient system for a TV recycling TV TakeBack program in Texas.”
Building a Triple-Bottom-Line Company Takes Vision
But building a successful company means more than just making a profit; it also means becoming a good corporate citizen to its workers, and to the Houston community.
“We cannot succeed without good, motivated workers,” says Buckles. “We are committed to developing a great company culture for our employees that encourages excellence and growth, offers good compensation and benefits, and provides them with a safe workplace.”
In order to attract and retain employees, TechnoCycle added medical coverage in 2008 and vacation in 2010 for all employees. Buckles hopes to offer more employee incentives in 2011, but it depends on the economy.
TechnoCycle also works with local non-profit organizations such as CompuDopt, which gives computers to children who normally would never have a computer. Through equipment donations and logistics support, TechnoCycle has been able to support various non-profit organizations.
A Bright Future Ahead
The electronic recycling industry is forecasted to grow 20 percent in the coming years to an estimated $14.7 billion in 2014. Matt Workman, TechnoCycle’s Director of Business Development, joined the company this year because he saw tremendous growth opportunities in the e-waste industry, but he also connected to the supportive and empowering company culture Buckles has created among employees.
“The culture at TechnoCycle is very different from other places I have worked,” says Workman. “It has an openness that is supportive and empowering. I chose this company because the opportunities to make a difference are greater here, and I have an important role in taking the company forward in the recycling industry.”
Workman is currently working with Houston’s Green Office Challenge to create a route-based collection system for office buildings. His goal is to make it more convenient and cost-effective for businesses to recycle their electronics by providing recycling services to entire buildings.
“It’s incredibly efficient for us to service all of the tenants of a building at one time, rather that schedule each one individually,” says Workman. “This allows us to save on transportation costs and pass the savings on to our customers. We want to educate the community on recycling, build awareness of TechnoCycle in the marketplace and partner with companies who share our vision and mission.”
On the horizon for TechnoCycle: further expansion that creates local “green jobs” and a mobile hard drive shredder that will travel to remote sites to securely shred hard drives containing ultra-sensitive data.
“We are committed to the greater Houston area for the long-term, and that is what’s driving our decisions today,” says Buckles. “We have a clear understanding of where we want to be in the coming years and believe that building lasting relationships with companies and communities, as well as providing a great workplace for our employees, is the key to achieving our goals.
“The electronic recycling landscape is also changing. New certifications such as e-Stewards and R2 have come out in 2010, creating new challenges and opportunities for electronic recyclers. The EPA has just designated e-Waste as one of its top six priorities. We believe that we understand where the industry is heading, and that we will be successful in adapting to this changing landscape and meeting our customers’ needs. We are always learning more about this industry and how TechnoCycle can be more effective and efficient.”
“Each time one of us recycles, we are contributing to economic growth in our communities,” explains Workman. “Most, if not all, recycling companies get no funding from government. As e-waste recycling continues to increase, our company will hire more employees, as will our resellers and processing partners. Recycling e-waste is truly a growth industry promising organically grown green jobs.”
To schedule a drop off or pick up of your old computer or electronic equipment, contact TechnoCycle at 713-895-7409. For further details on the company, visit www.TechnoCycle.com.
TechnoCycle’s Environmental Policy
As a technology recycling solutions provider, TechnoCycle enables corporations and individuals to responsibly dispose of unwanted computers and electronics. We are committed to protecting the environment of the Earth. Our policies, aims and activities will be carried out in a manner that does not exploit the global community and follows ethical business practices. TechnoCycle is committed to continual improvement of environmental performance. This Policy will be communicated to all staff, contractors and suppliers, and be available for the public. (Read more at www.TechnoCycle.com.)
Did you know this about e-waste?
- Up to 50-million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide each year according to the United Nations Environment Program.
- Americans generate over 3.6 million tons of electronic waste every year. When disposed of, more than 86.4 percent will end up in landfills, potentially releasing lead, mercury, cadmium, and other dangerous substances into the ground.
- The amount of global electronic waste is expanding at 8 percent per year (BCC research) and the e-waste industry is expected to nearly triple in size to $15B by 2015 (ABI research).
- Two out of every three Americans have unused electronics in their home.
- The EPA estimates the following quantities of electronics were in storage by 2007 (not including cell phones):
- Televisions: 99.1 million
- Desktop computers: 65.7 million
- Desktop monitors: 42.4 million
- Laptop computers: 2.1 million
- Peripherals: 25.2 million
- The average computer will be used from 3-5 years before being upgraded. The manufacturing of a single desktop PC and monitor generates 1.8 metric tons of waste material.
- It is estimated that 5 billion cell phones will be in use by the end of 2010, with the average cell phones user typically upgrading every 18 months. That translates to an estimated 3.3 billion cell phone users upgrading their cell phones every year.
- An estimated 50-80 percent of the e-waste collected for recycling in the United States is exported to developing countries, often in violation of international laws.
Comments