| "The sound brought our group to a stop; we turned | | | | and green legislation will come to impact every single |
| around to see the ice mass collapse with a roar. A | | | | PC manufacturer," said Mike Escherich, the principal |
| section of the glacier crumbled in the middle, and | | | | research analyst at Gartner (leading information and |
| chunks of ice as big as rooms spilled out on the | | | | technology research and advisory firm). "The |
| crater floor." | | | | worldwide market should expect to see longer lead |
| A description given by adventurer Vince Keipper as | | | | times, part shortages and rising prices for |
| he summitted the top of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro | | | | non-compliant parts over the next two years. These |
| and looked back. The fact is, the beautiful glaciers | | | | costs will probably be passed on to consumers. |
| which give Mount Kilimanjaro its distinct appearance | | | | Analyst firm Gartner estimates that it could add |
| are disappearing at an alarming rate. Legendary | | | | about £30 to the price of a new PC in Europe. |
| author, Ernest Hemingway once used the following | | | | A small price to pay for our future generations well |
| description to illustrate those 12,000 year old | | | | being. |
| legendary peaks, "as wide as all the world, great, | | | | After many delays, The Waste Electrical and |
| high, and unbelievably white in the sun", but, few can | | | | Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations governing |
| say that now. Those very glaciers have lost 82 | | | | the safe disposal of IT equipment were finally passed |
| percent of their ice since 1912, and at the current | | | | into law in the European Union, confirming that the |
| rate of erosion, they will be ancient history by the | | | | new legislation will come into full effect in July of |
| year 2020. This is only one example of the | | | | 2007. The law will place a greater administrative |
| devastating affect global warming is having on our | | | | burden on suppliers of computer equipment. They will |
| environment. | | | | have to register with waste schemes and more |
| So what does all of this have to do with technology? | | | | closely track their products in order to pay for their |
| .....A lot! | | | | disposal. Under the new law, manufacturers will have |
| Rapid technological change, low initial cost and even | | | | until March, 15th 2007 to register with approved |
| planned obsolescence have resulted in a high rate of | | | | disposal schemes, and by 1 April all new equipment |
| turnover for network hardware appliances, creating a | | | | will have to be marked with WEEE labels displaying a |
| fast growing problem around the globe. IT | | | | crossed out wheelie bin and date code. The directive |
| manufacturers with financial incentives are brilliant at | | | | will then come into full effect on 1 July, with |
| encouraging customers to buy the next iteration of | | | | producers taking responsibility for treating and |
| their product, even if the existing one still works. The | | | | recycling household and business WEEE. |
| short lifespan of today's IT equipment such as, | | | | The first of its kind, but certainty not the last, this |
| de-installed routers and network switches from | | | | pioneering green computer law, is setting the stage |
| manufacturers such as Cisco, Juniper, Alcatel-Lucent, | | | | for the future. Similar laws and regulations are being |
| Nortel, Foundry and Extreme are contributing to a | | | | considered now in the United States. Congress is |
| new form of scenery like, mountains of e-waste. | | | | debating a number of electronic waste bills including |
| Accumulated e-waste is either dumped in landfill sites | | | | the National Computer Recycling Act introduced by |
| or recycled in the secondary market. They are often | | | | Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA). This bill has |
| processed in poorly managed facilities, in developing | | | | continually stalled, however. In the meantime, several |
| countries, leading to significant health risks and | | | | states have passed their own laws regarding |
| causing a major negative impact on the environment. | | | | electronic waste management. California was the first |
| Did you know that chemicals such as lead, mercury, | | | | state to enact such legislation, followed by Maryland, |
| and cadmium emitted from discarded electronics are | | | | Maine, and Washington. It is only a matter of time |
| some of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases | | | | until general ethics evolve to include electronic waste |
| worldwide? A typical router or switch may contain | | | | disposal. For our children, the idea of throwing an old |
| more than 2% lead by weight, and up to thirty-eight | | | | monitor in the dumpster will be as unsettling as it is |
| separate chemical elements. A 24kg PC or server | | | | form some of us to throw trash on the floor. |
| from manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Sun and IBM | | | | Several new businesses have emerged to meet this |
| needs at least 240kg of fossil fuels and 22kg of | | | | new demand, and help companies comply with the |
| chemicals to provide its energy. Compare this with | | | | new legislation outlines for approved disposal |
| cars or refrigerators, which use only between one | | | | schemes. One such company was recently |
| and two times their weight in fossil fuels. | | | | established by the CEO of Digital Warehouse and |
| Furthermore, The UN warns that people could be | | | | UsedCisco.com, Joe Asady. The new business is |
| exposed to health risks at both ends of the short | | | | called, Network "Our model is to help protect the |
| lifespan of networking equipment. Chemicals such as | | | | environment by providing a system and |
| brominated, flame retardants and heavy metals | | | | environmentally friendly way of disposing of end of |
| including lead and cadmium pose potential risks to | | | | life network equipment" said Mr. Asady. He then |
| factory workers and can also contaminate water | | | | enthusiastically elaborated on his concept, will be your |
| supplies near landfill sites where old computers are | | | | single source recycling service provider. We can help |
| dumped. | | | | you stay in compliance with government regulations |
| Due to lower environmental standards and working | | | | by properly disposing of your obsolete and excess |
| conditions in China, India, Kenya, and elsewhere, | | | | network and communication equipment". has opened |
| electronic waste is being sent to these countries for | | | | offices in New York, Amsterdam and Bangalore, India |
| processing - in most cases illegally. The majority of | | | | to help meet the growing worldwide demand for |
| defunct and junked e-waste ends up being broken | | | | recycling network hardware. Everyone at the newly |
| down by ill-equipped laborers in hazardous conditions. | | | | established business is very excited about the recent |
| Uncontrolled burning and disposal are causing | | | | ideological changes sweeping Europe, and soon to |
| environmental and health problems due to the | | | | reach the United States. Mr. Asady described his |
| methods of processing the waste. Slowly, these | | | | team as enthusiastic and optimistic, "people here are |
| disposal methods emit harmful gases which deplete | | | | excited about making a difference, and it is really nice |
| our atmosphere and have emerged as a major | | | | to be a part of something that is helping protect the |
| contributor to global warming. | | | | world we live in". Several other similar companies are |
| Each year, more than 130 million computers are | | | | forming worldwide, and soon, an entirely new |
| produced worldwide. In the United States alone, an | | | | industry will emerge from the concept of E-waste |
| estimated 14 to 20 million PCs and network | | | | recycling. |
| appliances are thrown out each year, while | | | | Mr. Asady's vision does not end there. As the CEO of |
| developing nations are expected to triple their output | | | | both Digital Warehouse and he has been protecting |
| of all electronic waste by 2010. By 2005, more than | | | | the environment since 1998. Both businesses fore |
| 250 million personal computers will become obsolete. | | | | mentioned are major players in the global secondary |
| This is evidenced by the average lifespan of PCs, | | | | market for used network hardware. Facilitated by the |
| which is falling from 4.5 years in 1992 to an estimated | | | | new awareness for computer recycling, an already, |
| 2 years in 2005. Across the European Union, electrical | | | | $3 billion dollar used network hardware industry is |
| equipment is the fastest growing category of | | | | poised to grow considerably in the upcoming years. |
| rubbish, with around 20kg per person produced every | | | | "Traditionally, people would shy away from used |
| year, and, "the UK alone is now generating around 1m | | | | equipment because of the inherent risk that it |
| tons of the stuff every year," said energy minister | | | | presented", Claimed Mr. Asady. "However, with |
| Malcolm Wicks. | | | | current competition in the secondary market we |
| If you do the math, it is clear, that the current trend | | | | have raised our quality standards. We now provide |
| of mass production with no regard for corporate | | | | guarantee's that outlast even the original warranty |
| social responsibility cannot continue. If we continue at | | | | given when the unit was new". |
| our current rate of consumption, our children can look | | | | Used network equipment is often renovated by |
| forwards to inheriting a world with blistering | | | | various resellers such as Digital Warehouse. |
| temperatures, severe storms, and 13 of the world's | | | | Afterwards, they are sold in the secondary market |
| 15 largest cities submerged by seawater. Imagine a | | | | at up to 90% off of list price. Products are available |
| complete loss of coral reefs, the disappearance of | | | | even in the most sophisticated and obscure models, |
| Pacific islands, the extinction of thousands of species | | | | and when they come with a warranty that |
| of plants and animals, contamination of fresh water | | | | supersedes even that of the original manufacturer |
| supplies and more than a hundred million refugees. | | | | customers are often jubilated with the value. Not to |
| Those of us who have not been living under a rock | | | | mention, when they buy used equipment they are |
| have, no doubt, already noticed a drastic change in | | | | also helping to eliminate e-waste and protect our |
| the last 2 years alone. | | | | environment. |
| It is no coincidence that 2005 brought the onslaught | | | | One in every dozen computers used worldwide is a |
| of the deadliest hurricane season on record, climaxing | | | | "secondary computer," and about 152.5 million used |
| on Monday, 29 August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina | | | | systems were shipped in 2004, according to a study |
| careened into the Gulf Coast, putting 80% of New | | | | released Wednesday by market research firm |
| Orleans under water, resulting in the nation's most | | | | Gartner. Gartner also said that both the home and |
| costly natural disaster ever recorded. Katrina claimed | | | | professional markets for secondary PCs will continue |
| more than 1,600 lives, destroyed 200,000 Gulf Coast | | | | to see growth in the next several years, fueled by |
| homes, and displaced about 1 million people. But, that | | | | better computer performance, longer system life, |
| is nothing compared to the devastation and loss of | | | | and recent recycling legislation that gives companies a |
| life experienced just one year prior, when on | | | | greater incentive to sell their used machines. I am |
| December, 26th the deadliest tsunami in history | | | | sure Mr. Asady and his team will have their hands full |
| pummeled the coast of Southern Asia, and shocked | | | | in the coming years with the recent explosion of |
| the world with a reported death toll at more than | | | | wealth and opportunity in places like India and China. |
| 300,000 people. Most recently, and fortunately, less | | | | Through recent advances in technology, coupled with |
| costly than the previous examples cited, are recent | | | | complex new economic foreign policies abroad, |
| reports about the 2006/2007 winter being the | | | | developing countries are much more likely to accept |
| warmest and driest on record. | | | | used hardware as a viable technology option because |
| How many more weather related records do we | | | | of the savings they afford. |
| need to break before we wake up? How many | | | | To put this all into perspective, I want to cite the |
| more people need to lose their lives through violent | | | | following example: When Henry Ford invented the |
| weather changes? Global warming is real, and we can | | | | automobile, the world was transformed by its speed |
| not continue looking the other way. It is because of | | | | and convenience, but few people considered what |
| this lack of awareness that environmental impact is | | | | millions of automobiles might mean for the world's |
| seldom a major factor in corporate buying decision. | | | | energy supply and climate a century down the road. |
| However, the consumption culture as we know it, is | | | | Hopefully, we can learn from the lessons of our |
| about to drastically change. | | | | ancestors during the industrial revolution, and |
| This information is not intended to scare you, but | | | | preemptively react for the current computer |
| rather to serve as evidence to the changing world | | | | revolution sweeping our planet. The days when |
| around us. Human beings are a robust species, and | | | | businesses could send a product into the marketplace |
| historically we have always adjusted to survive. We | | | | without first considering how it might impact the |
| need to acknowledge the signs around us and react | | | | environment are over. Global recycling and product |
| before it's too late. For years now, the United | | | | recovery programs, where businesses take |
| Nations and Greenpeace have been warning of the | | | | responsibility for what they make and sell, require |
| dangers that computers, IT hardware and other | | | | little effort on the part of consumers, and they pay |
| office equipment pose to the environment. This | | | | off! |
| change will begin with awareness, and ultimately | | | | Whether you are an IT manager, global CEO or a |
| result in a radical new green ideology. | | | | mere home PC user, the implications are the same. |
| The days when businesses could send a product into | | | | E-waste is a problem, e-waste is real! Although we |
| the marketplace without first considering how it | | | | are taking some steps in the right direction, a lot |
| might impact the environment are over. Global | | | | more needs to be considered. So please, do your |
| recycling and product recovery programs, where | | | | share to get involved with e-waste awareness, help |
| businesses take responsibility for what they make | | | | efforts to reduce energy demand and greenhouse |
| and sell are already under way worldwide. | | | | gas emissions and start to consider the secondary |
| Soon, green legislation will have an impact on every | | | | market as a viable alternative to purchasing new |
| manufacturer in the world. "Not far from now, | | | | equipment. Most importantly, help spread the word!! |
| 'non-green' parts will be assigned end of life status | | | | |