Talking E-Waste at A Better City

One of the true joys of engaging in sustainability is the generous nature of like-minded individuals who take the initiative to help one another (see the #sustainability discussion on Twitter). Thank you to Susan Labandibar (@Labandibar), President and CEO of Tech Networks of Boston, for introducing me to David Straus (@ABCTMA) – Director of Transportation Demand Management & Sustainability for A Better City (@ABetterCity) – a nonprofit membership organization providing business leadership focused on “sustaining and improving the Boston area's economy and quality of life.” Imagine my delight when A Better City called asking me to talk about e-waste.

E-waste is my favorite topic for discussion (search on Twitter at #ewaste). Call me weird, but it’s true. In all the writing of Green IT For Dummies, the chapter that affected me the most – the one whose writing ultimately changed my life – is the chapter, “E-Waste Not, E-Want Not.” The reasons may be many, but among them are:

• I’d been working with computers since 1971 and had never given a thought to where they went when they stopped working or became obsolete
• I’d been recycling for nearly as long but hadn’t really gotten beyond paper, plastic and glass
• Really, really horrible things are happening with e-waste
• Organizations really can do the right thing, but it’s not as easy as it looks
• Nearly everybody’s contributing to the problem and it’s getting worse every day

So, when I show up at A Better City to talk about e-waste on October 27th, I’ll have a lot to say, pictures to show, and ideas about choices we can make to make the most sustainable use and most ethical and responsible recycling of the electronics on which we all depend. Indeed, I’ll even talk about ways to turn that would-be e-waste into Serious Good.

What is your company doing to address e-waste issues? Share your experience below.