Comments on: The Disposable Economy Has to Change http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:06:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61478 Mark Evans Mon, 12 May 2008 21:24:33 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61478 Dan: It's something few people think about; maybe this will prompt a few more to do so. Dan: It’s something few people think about; maybe this will prompt a few more to do so.

]]> By: Dan York http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61477 Dan York Mon, 12 May 2008 21:18:59 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61477 Mark... well said. There aren't any *easy* answers, but definitely a view we need to have. Thanks for writing this. Dan Mark… well said. There aren’t any *easy* answers, but definitely a view we need to have. Thanks for writing this. Dan

]]> By: Andrew Wahl http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61344 Andrew Wahl Mon, 12 May 2008 13:55:41 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61344 I'm always struck by this in January, when right on the heels of the overindulgence of the Christmas shopping season you get the CES. I did a CBC Business Network column about it this year: Print: http://tinyurl.com/3v9shg Audio: http://cbc.ca/calgary/media/audio/biznet/20080109J9-COL.ram At minimum, both electronics companies and municipalities have to get better at providing—and publicizing—legitimate alternatives to just dumping all the gadgetry into a landfill. A case in point: when my laptop screen frizzled last year, I ordered a new one, and undertook the surgery necessary to replace it. But I was not sure what I should do with the old one. I eventually set it aside and took it to the municipal recycling centre with a load of other stuff, and tossed it in the electronics bin. Unfortunately, that bin was pretty much empty. I’m always struck by this in January, when right on the heels of the overindulgence of the Christmas shopping season you get the CES. I did a CBC Business Network column about it this year:

Print: http://tinyurl.com/3v9shg
Audio: http://cbc.ca/calgary/media/audio/biznet/20080109J9-COL.ram

At minimum, both electronics companies and municipalities have to get better at providing—and publicizing—legitimate alternatives to just dumping all the gadgetry into a landfill.

A case in point: when my laptop screen frizzled last year, I ordered a new one, and undertook the surgery necessary to replace it. But I was not sure what I should do with the old one. I eventually set it aside and took it to the municipal recycling centre with a load of other stuff, and tossed it in the electronics bin. Unfortunately, that bin was pretty much empty.

]]> By: Corvida http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61213 Corvida Mon, 12 May 2008 04:33:30 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61213 Great thoughts Mark! Really enjoyed reading this and I found it to be thought provoking and informative. Great thoughts Mark! Really enjoyed reading this and I found it to be thought provoking and informative.

]]> By: WinExtra » From the Pipeline - 5.11.08 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61193 WinExtra » From the Pipeline - 5.11.08 Mon, 12 May 2008 03:31:40 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61193 [...] The Disposable Economy Has to Change :: Mark Evans - an interesting post that takes a look at how the disposable economy might not just be the end all be all it is purported to be. A good read - thanks Mark. [...] [...] The Disposable Economy Has to Change :: Mark Evans - an interesting post that takes a look at how the disposable economy might not just be the end all be all it is purported to be. A good read - thanks Mark. [...]

]]> By: Geoff http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61188 Geoff Mon, 12 May 2008 03:12:04 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61188 There is a very interesting company getting started here in Ottawa that has a unique way of dealing with collected waste and garbage; they use plasma torches to gasify the solids, then recover the gases to drive production of electricity. One stone, two birds. I encourage everyone to take a look. Seems like it has great potential. http://www.plascoenergygroup.com/ There is a very interesting company getting started here in Ottawa that has a unique way of dealing with collected waste and garbage; they use plasma torches to gasify the solids, then recover the gases to drive production of electricity. One stone, two birds.

I encourage everyone to take a look. Seems like it has great potential. http://www.plascoenergygroup.com/

]]> By: Brian Hogg http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61122 Brian Hogg Sun, 11 May 2008 22:18:51 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61122 Another problem is that even when we want to recycle/reuse the components, it's tough to find out where. There's a few companies that seem to pick up and refurbish used computers in the Toronto but none return calls or e-mails. Perhaps this should be a centralized operation for many types of "broken" electronic components? Just ship them here, possibly for a tax refund or reduced/free shipping... Another problem is that even when we want to recycle/reuse the components, it’s tough to find out where. There’s a few companies that seem to pick up and refurbish used computers in the Toronto but none return calls or e-mails.

Perhaps this should be a centralized operation for many types of “broken” electronic components? Just ship them here, possibly for a tax refund or reduced/free shipping…

]]> By: Geoff http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61111 Geoff Sun, 11 May 2008 21:08:00 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61111 Ugh! This is really terrible. I get depressed just thinking about it. Our garbage is out of control. Totally. Just at work alone. All the crap that gets shipped with our computers is sick. Dongles for monitors, dongles for UPS devices, dongles for keyboards, and so and so forth. We don't use any of this stuff. Stop shipping it to me. It goes in a box we save for a year and then dispose of it. If somebody says, "hey we should do something instead of throwing this crap out' about 10 ppl shrug, agree and go back to work. I could probably generate enough income to work part time just by selling dvi/vga dongles, power cables from pc's and servers, usb/ps2 converters and serial cables for UPS's. Its crazy. Manufactures and resellers should provide the option to ship me just the servers, no software, no cables no nothing. Same goes with our PC's just send me the computers/servers please thats its no extra 'stuff'. Stuff is out of control. Even my dry cleaner looks at me wierd when i return the hangers I collect from months of dry cleaning my pants like I am the only one who does. sigh. Ugh! This is really terrible. I get depressed just thinking about it. Our garbage is out of control. Totally. Just at work alone. All the crap that gets shipped with our computers is sick. Dongles for monitors, dongles for UPS devices, dongles for keyboards, and so and so forth. We don’t use any of this stuff. Stop shipping it to me. It goes in a box we save for a year and then dispose of it. If somebody says, “hey we should do something instead of throwing this crap out’ about 10 ppl shrug, agree and go back to work. I could probably generate enough income to work part time just by selling dvi/vga dongles, power cables from pc’s and servers, usb/ps2 converters and serial cables for UPS’s. Its crazy. Manufactures and resellers should provide the option to ship me just the servers, no software, no cables no nothing. Same goes with our PC’s just send me the computers/servers please thats its no extra ’stuff’. Stuff is out of control. Even my dry cleaner looks at me wierd when i return the hangers I collect from months of dry cleaning my pants like I am the only one who does. sigh.

]]> By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61068 Mark Evans Sun, 11 May 2008 17:34:04 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61068 No one said this was a simple problem to solve. :) Maybe producing products that could be upgraded would generate different kind of jobs/expertise. Mark No one said this was a simple problem to solve. :)

Maybe producing products that could be upgraded would generate different kind of jobs/expertise.

Mark

]]> By: PXLated http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/05/11/the-disposable-economy-has-to-change/#comment-61066 PXLated Sun, 11 May 2008 17:31:57 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3405#comment-61066 Wouldn't grand unemployment ensue? Wouldn’t grand unemployment ensue?

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