[greenyes] E-waste initiative...

[Christine McCoy <cmccoy@no.address>]

Sorry for cross postings....

>E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE
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>Business Editors/Technology Writers
>eBay Launches PC Reuse and Recycling Initiative
>"Rethink" Initiative Unites Intel Corp., Apple, Gateway, HP, IBM, Ingram
>Micro and Environmental Groups Behind Unprecedented E-Waste Effort
>LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, Jan. 6 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- eBay, The World's
>Online Marketplace(R), today launched a major initiative that brings
>together leading technology companies, government agencies, environmental
>groups and millions of eBay users to confront the problem of "e-waste" --
>unused or obsolete computers that may pose environmental hazards when
>disposed of in landfills.
>
>
>With Intel Corporation as its primary ally, eBay's Rethink Initiative
>coordinates efforts by industry leaders Apple, Gateway, HP, IBM and Ingram
>Micro with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the non-profit Silicon
>Valley Toxics Coalition, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, among other
>participants. The centerpiece of the program is a Web site
>(www.ebay.com/rethink) that helps consumers and businesses learn about the
>different product disposition alternatives, such as recycling and
>refurbishing, and makes it easy to put this knowledge into action.
>
>
>As consumers and businesses upgrade their PCs to enjoy new capabilities and
>increase productivity, many are unsure about how to responsibly dispose of
>old equipment. The Rethink Initiative brings private and public
>organizations together to promote reuse and recycling as key steps in the
>purchase process. Intel and eBay will jointly promote the Rethink
>Initiative and work together in reaching out to additional industry,
>government and environmental groups to help make the Rethink Initiative
>even more comprehensive.
>
>
>Industry analyst Gartner estimates that in the U.S. alone, about 133,000
>PCs per day are currently being retired and replaced by their original
>owners. These systems may contain hazardous materials, such as plastic,
>lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury that need to be handled in an
>environmentally responsible manner. Yet Americans' understanding of
>recycling and reuse options remains limited -- only about 10 percent of
>unwanted PCs in the U.S. are recycled, according to the Grass Roots
>Recycling Network.
>
>
>"eBay's millions of users can be a powerful force for good," said Meg
>Whitman, eBay president and CEO. "The Rethink Initiative will educate
>consumers on how to properly dispose of or recycle the millions of tons of
>e-waste they confront each year. We're extremely excited about the positive
>role eBay's user community will play in confronting this environmental
>dilemma."
>
>
>At the Rethink site, individuals and businesses can take advantage of two
>core resources:
>
>
>-- Education: Comprehensive information on the options available to
>consumers and small businesses to reuse or responsibly recycle computers.
>
>
>-- Disposition tools: Easy access to a full range of responsible product
>disposition options -- including services provided by Rethink Initiative
>participants -- and a variety of eBay-related solutions including assisted
>selling on eBay with convenient local drop-off options, trade-in programs,
>donating to charity or recycling in their local area.
>
>
>"As the technology industry continues to develop new and exciting products,
>it's important that all parties -- industry, government, business and
>consumers -- work together to responsibly dispose of old equipment," said
>Intel CEO Craig Barrett. "Intel has a 10-year history of work on this
>issue, and we're pleased to be a part of eBay's Rethink Initiative. It
>creates a unique central resource for consumers and businesses who want to
>make informed decisions and do the right thing with their used technology
>products."
>
>
>Computer industry, government, environmental and charitable organizations
>that meet the Rethink Initiative criteria for participation (available on
>the site) may join the Rethink Initiative at no cost. Member groups list
>their reuse and recycling solutions on the Rethink site, and can link back
>to Rethink from their own websites as well.
>
>
>The Rethink Initiative helps individuals and businesses with idle computers
>by providing value guides that show how much an item might be worth, and
>therefore which disposal option might be right for them:
>
>
>Working Computers
>
>
>Working computers can be sold or donated via the Rethink Initiative site.
>Tools to aid selling on eBay include a safe data destruction utility,
>listing helpers that automatically identify system components, and
>information on how to purchase protective shipping kits. The Rethink
>Initiative also provides access to a directory of third-party sellers who
>can pick up one or more items and sell them on behalf of the items' owners.
>An additional directory helps businesses outsource the disposition process
>to a local asset recovery specialist.
>
>
>Site visitors also can opt to donate their working PCs to the National
>Cristina Foundation. This non-profit organization works nationally to
>provide donations of used computer equipment to schools, charities and
>public agencies committed to training people with disabilities, students at
>risk and economically disadvantaged persons.
>
>
>Obsolete and Non-Working Computers
>
>
>For systems past their useful life, Rethink site visitors can find a list
>of responsible recyclers compiled by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
>and their partners in the Computer TakeBack Campaign, a diverse coalition
>of non-profit environmental advocacy organizations. The site also links to
>additional recycling resources administered by Rethink's member
>organizations.
>
>
>About eBay
>
>
>eBay is The World's Online Marketplace(R). Founded in 1995, eBay created a
>powerful platform for the sale of goods and services by a passionate
>community of individuals and businesses. On any given day, there are
>millions of items across thousands of categories for sale on eBay. eBay
>enables trade on a local, national and international basis with customized
>sites in markets around the world. Through an array of services, such as
>its payment solution provider PayPal, eBay is enabling global e-commerce
>for an ever-growing online community.
>
>
>/SOURCE:
>eBay
>-0-
>01-06-2005
>/CONTACT:
>Brad Williams, 408-623-3602 Shannon Stubo, 415-613-5166
>