NewsBits

NewsBits

ISRI recently concluded a presentation to the Washington Council of Governments lobbying against the passage of Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, also known as HR 2284, which would prohibit the export of electronic waste to developing countries. The organization presented survey findings [1] conducted by International Data Corp. showing that regulation will stymie job growth in domestic electronics recycling.

On the flip side of the coin, the American Sustainable Business Council has endorsed [2] the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, arguing regulation is needed to keep recycling jobs in the United States. The ASBC made its endorsement by way of the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling – a collection of companies and organizations lobbying for the bill's passage.

Garb Oil & Power Corporation is planning on opening an e-waste facility in Indiana that will process about 55 million pounds of material every year while also employing 100 people.

FCM Recycling Inc. has opened a new 50,000-square-foot facility on Annacis Island, British Columbia that will process end-of-life electronics for residents, businesses, governments and provincial programs.

The latest quarterly earnings from companies such as Intel, IBM and Microsoft point to more IT spending, with tech companies easily surpassing Wall Street expectations, according to Reuters [3].

Consumer "Product Fatigue" is setting in, according to Joshua Topolsky, editor of the technology site The Verge [4]. According to interviews the site conducted with executives from Motorola Mobility, Samsung and HTC, companies will likely produce fewer new models of devices in the coming year, likely slowing the obsolescence cycle for consumer electronics.

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