Weee connect, a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) industry partnership, has funded its own TV advertising campaign, due to run more than 800 times on a series of Sky channels in the four weeks from Boxing Day, reaching an estimated 34 million viewers nationwide.

Organisers of the £56,000 campaign, thought be the first of its kind in Europe, are calling on local authorities to support the initiative with local campaigns to increase awareness of recycling electronics.

The campaign is focused on household items, as many of these are discarded when new versions are received as Christmas gifts. But the WEEE regulations apply equally to ICT and telecommunications equipment used by councils themselves.

One local authority which is joining in the campaign is Medway council in Kent, which is running a schools promotion to link up with the TV campaign. A ‘WEEE amnesty day’ is also planned for January, when visitors to a local shopping centre will be able to dispose of items in a large pink skip.

Under the UK’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2009, which came into force on 1 January 2010 to implement new EU rules, the UK has committed to electrical and electronics recycling targets of 70% of small household appliances; 75% of IT and telecoms equipment; and 80% of large household appliances by 2016. Last year, the overall WEEE collection rate for households was just 38.4%.

While there have been government-run campaigns to boost WEEE awareness, the new industry-led initiative is the first time the issue has received TV exposure.

The instructions to the investigators were quite explicit. They were not to go to extraordinary lengths or breach any laws when examining the trash. They were hired to simply look in the bin to see what any passerby might find.

The fishing mission threw up scores of documents carrying the names of vulnerable hospital patients, details of personal prescriptions and even the case notes of someone with mental health problems.

NAID has refused to disclose the names of the businesses and organisations involved.

The exercise found that overall, 44 per cent of the institutions, each with a legal burden to protect personal information, were casually discarding personal information. Examples included:

A private hospital discarded the medical records of 70 vulnerable patients – including their names, addresses and details of their treatment.

Outside a top London law office, a 20-page document, detailing the case of a young woman with mental health problems and in foster care, was found on the pavement in a rubbish bag. All four of the law firms whose commercial waste was subject to investigation were found to have personal client details in their waste.

Outside a national chemist chain, rubbish was found to contain over 20 prescription labels including details such as patients’ names, addresses, and details of the medication prescribed. Some also included doctors’ names and dates of birth of patients.

Every business has a legal obligation to protect the confidential information it holds on its employees, customers and suppliers. Failure to do so can result in heavy fines or even imprisonment for the person responsible.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is now able to fine businesses up to £500,000 if they lose individuals’ confidential data. This amount has been increased from £5000, to highlight the importance of data security, and to protect individuals from the threat of ID fraud.

The seventh principle of the Data Protection Act states that organisations must employ a data destruction service to destroy redundant confidential information that can be either in paper or electronic format.

Using an accredited supplier that can destroy confidential material in a secure environment will give you peace of mind that your company and associates are protected against ID Fraud.

Many batteries still contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment and pose a potential threat to human health when batteries are improperly disposed of. Not only do the billions upon billions of batteries in landfills pose an environmental problem, they also are a complete waste of a potential and cheap raw material.

Recycling of batteries is quite expensive however with leaps forward in Nanotechnology, China may have found a way of utilising this technology and making recycling of batteries much more profitable. It is still early days as the impact on the environment in making nanotechnology to start with needs to be balanced against what it saves by reducing the current system footprint.

Batteries are classed as hazardous waste, therefore they need to be sent to a licensed recycler who will give you a Waste Consignment Note to demonstrate, if called upon by the Environmental Agency, that you have disposed of them correctly.

An internal investigation found 10 cases where PCs were sold despite failing data removal procedures.
Another four PCs – which were about to be sold – were found to contain data restricted under arms control rules.
The space agency’s internal auditors discovered that its policies for wiping data from PCs used in the Shuttle programme have not always been followed.

They uncovered issues at four locations: the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers, and the Ames and Langley Research Centers.

Secret data

In some cases, tests were not being run to confirm the computers had been wiped.

Investigators also found that some PCs that had failed those verification tests were still being put up for sale.

Their report in to the incidents says its impossible to know what data was left on the sold-off equipment, but analysis of similar equipment “raises serious concerns” for Nasa.

Investigators found four PCs being prepared for sale at the Kennedy Space Center which contained data subject to export control by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

They also found dozens of PCs at the Kennedy equipment disposal facility that all had external markings listing network details.

Such details could potentially provide hackers with “unauthorised access to Nasa’s internal computer network”.
Nasa will now review and update its equipment disposals procedures.

• Environment Act
• WEEE Directive
• Hazardous Waste Regulations
• Landfill Regulations
• Electrical Equipment (Safety Regulations)
• Basal Convention, Trans Frontier Shipment of Waste

It is important that you find an IT disposal company in the UK that helps you adhere to all of these regulations. A professional firm will have all the necessary licences to carry out the task at hand and provide you with the necessary paperwork. You need to ensure that the service provider you choose has all the licences and permits to deal with hazardous waste if this is applicable.

It is also well worth checking whether the computer disposal company provides you with a certificate of data destruction. This certificate helps you ensure that the vital business data stored on computers is wiped off properly and also helps you keep track of the recycling process. It is equally important that that the IT disposal company you choose has data wiping insurance. Before signing a contract ask for copies of these documents. This way you can be certain that that they can accept full legal responsibility for your computers.

Finally, look for a WEEE certified computer disposal company that can guarantee 0% landfill. This helps you ensure 100% recycling of your IT products, causing minimal impact on the environment.

One way to ensure your laptops are properly recycled in the UK is to seek the help of a professional service provider. They can offer legally obliged recycling and disposal of WEEE items. The other option is to give your old laptops, if they are still in good condition, to charities.

Laptop Recycling UK: Security

Whether you are giving your laptop to a charity or to a recycling centre in the UK, make sure that the data stored on the device is completely erased. If the confidential data is not completely erased, it may fall into the wrong hands, opening you up to all sorts of problems. When sending off your laptop for disposal, check whether data wipe services are offered as well. If so, before reprocessing your devices, the recycling company will make use of a specialist piece of software to wipe off data in accordance with the WEEE directive and other recycling and data security laws.

If you are looking for a laptop recycling service centre in the UK that can wipe off your confidential data effectively and recycle your used electronic devices in an eco-friendly manner, Recycling Your IT would be happy to help.

We operate in full accordance with the WEEE directive, are licensed by the Environmental Agency and are fully insured on and off site. In addition to recycling, we offer asset tracking solutions and can also provide certificates that will help you meet quality assurance requirements.

The survey was conducted to analyse the IT recycling and disposal practises of some of the UK’s largest companies. Only 65% participants were confident that their IT is recycled properly. Though reuse is the ideal method for getting rid of old computers, the research indicated that most companies prefer recycling. Among the participants 28% of companies recycle all of their IT assets while 41% recycle over half.

It is found out that 63% cite data protection concerns as a reason for not choosing the reuse option. Cost is also shown to be a major factor. 53% of respondents state that cost factors influence their decision not to reuse while 24% indicated that contractual obligations made them rethink going for reuse.

One way to prevent your IT waste reaching landfills is to find a certified IT recycling company in the UK. Such companies will be able to offer audit reports and asset tracking. This will help you ensure that the recycling, reuse and disposal process is done in line with the WEEE directive and keep you informed.

If you are looking for an IT recycling company in the UK that offers data wipe solution and works in line with the WEEE directive, Recycling Your IT would be happy to take care of your e-waste disposal needs.

How Do I Start?

Start by obtaining or constructing a ‘bin’ to make your compost. Your local authority will usually provide a plastic compost bin for free or you can use any large container as long as air can enter and circulate through it. There are loads of useful web sites that give you complete instructions on how to construct your own, but to be honest, if you can get hold of a free one from the council, why bother!?!

Where Do I Build My Compost Heap?

A compost heap works most effectively if sited in a sunny position in your garden on a base of well drained soil. Start by loosening the surface with a fork and add a layer of manure or kitchen waste to attract worms and the bacteria you need to do the hard work for you.

Your army of worms, slugs, snails and countless other micro organisms will make the best compost for you. Your part of the deal is to keep them warm, moist and oxygenated.

You do this is two ways; In periods of hot, dry weather water your compost once a week to keep it moist and prevent it from getting too dry. In periods of really cold weather try and insulate your compost to prevent it from getting too cold.

The temperature inside a compost heap will always be warm to help break down the material, however if you can help maintain the temperature it will speed up the process of decomposition. It’s important to keep your compost covered at all times, whatever the weather.

What Can I Put On The Compost Heap?

Anything that will degrade naturally really, a full list is below. It’s also more effective if you layer your compost heap with different textures of ”waste’, too much of one thing i.e. lawn clippings will result in an ineffective compost heap!

Any amount

1. Uncooked Kitchen waste
2. A good mix of peelings is an excellent source of carbon and nitrogen.
3. Tea Leaves, used filter coffee
4. Eggs Shells
5. Weeds – chopped
6. Hair, pet or human – no problem to a compost heap!
7. Animal Manure – from veggie pets only such as rabbits or guinea pigs. These are a great activator for the compost heap.

In small amounts

1. Shredded paper and soft cardboard such as egg boxes.
2. Grass cuttings
3. Leaves – run over them with the lawn mower to help your workforce!
4. Bush or shrub pruning

Avoid completely

1. Shiny paper or brightly coloured, glossy flyers.
2. Nappies, Human/cat/dog Excrement – disease isn’t destroyed by compost
3. Household or garden chemicals
4. Meat cooked or raw – this attracts pests.

When Is My Compost Ready?

When it looks like soil and not like whatever you put in! It should also be mostly odourless and crumbly to the touch. Once it’s ready fork it into your soil in early spring or late autumn where it will feed your soil and improve it’s structure.

Why Make Compost?

It’s a good way to reduce the amount of things we threw in the bin and as a result into land fill. It’s also a great, FREE way of improving your garden.

If you have claggy, clay like soil (sticks together when wet), compost will help break it up and improve drainage by creating small gaps in the soil for water to escape.

If you have sandy soil, your compost will help stick it together and also help hold moisture for your precious plants.

How can we stop fraudulent traders and identify a trustworthy computer disposal company that works in line with the WEEE directive and other environmental policies?

Here are a few facts you need to verify before choosing a computer disposal company:

Do they have the right permits to deal with e-waste?

Choose the vendor if and only if they have all the necessary certificates and licences to perform the job.

Can the computer disposal company provide you with a certificate of data destruction?

Certificate of data destruction helps you ensure that the critical information stored on the computer is wiped off properly.

Do they have data wiping insurance?

It is imperative that the computer disposal company you choose has data wiping insurance. Ask for copies of these documents so that you can be assured that that they can accept full legal responsibility for your computers.

Can they provide a written guarantee of 0% landfill of non-reusable equipment?

Look for WEEE certified computer recycling firms that can guarantee 0% landfill, so your waste has minimal impact on the environment.

Can they offer documentation of their waste stream?

Documentation of waste stream provides evidence of what happened to your equipment – where it was sent to, which parts were reused and which were recycled.

If you are a looking for a computer disposal company in the UK that adheres to all the legal requirements and offers satisfactory answers to these questions, contact us today.

Myth 1

There’s no point in recycling, it doesn’t make a difference.

Fact 1

Consider this: According to various reports, in the UK alone recycling saves about 10-15 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Now, can we say that recycling doesn’t make a difference and continue throwing the rubbish into landfills?

Myth 2

Recycling burns more money, energy and creates more pollution than it saves.

Fact 2

It is true that collecting recyclables is not cheap. However, the question of recycling burning energy and polluting environment is irrelevant. A study conducted by a Washington based environmental consultant found that it takes 10.4 million BTU to manufacture products from a ton of recyclables while virgin materials take 23.3 million BTU to produce new products. In fact the total energy for collecting, hauling and processing a ton of recyclables adds up to just 0.9 million BTU.

The bottom line: We don’t need to worry that recycling trucks are doing more harm than good.

Myth 3

Most of the products sent to recycling ends up in the garbage

Fact 3

Since the approach towards recycling is changing quickly, this fact is not true now. There are laws governing recycling IT products. So a recycling firm can’t dump them in landfills.

Consider these facts carefully and decide which side of the great recycling debate you want to be.