UF TREEO ~ Gator Bites Monthly Email Newsletter
April 26, 2007	Volume 3, Number 3
Upcoming Conference: National Operator’s Training Conference Check out our list of Solid Waste Courses: Fundamentals of Slope Stability and Settlement for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities Spotter Training for Solid Waste Facilities For More Courses Visit: www.treeo.ufl.edu/sw	Large Electronics Retailers and Manufacturers Helping To Reduce E-Waste Problem Jon Powell, E.I. Environmental Engineer, Innovative Waste Consulting Services, LLC UF TREEO Instructor – 24-Hour Landfill Operator’s Course, 16-Hour Transfer Station/MRF Course In the past month, America’s largest consumer electronics retailer and the world’s largest computer systems manufacturer have entered into agreements that will assist in the global effort to reduce the amount of electronic waste (also known as “e-waste”) that is entered into the waste stream. E-waste has drawn a great deal of attention in recent years because of the rapid production and concurrent rapid obsolescence of electronic products; this led to a rise of potentially useable materials in addition to potentially hazardous materials (e.g., lead-containing cathode ray tubes) being introduced into the waste stream. In response, efforts to reduce the discarding of these materials have been made at the manufacturing and at the consumer levels. Best Buy Co. Inc., the Minneapolis-based electronics retailer, recently announced plans for a new grant program that will offer between $500 and $1,500 to non-profit entities and other entities (cities, counties, public-private partnerships) that host e-waste recycling events. The amount of the grant depends on the size, scope, and need of recycling in the area of the event. Dell, Inc. recently took a different approach in helping with the e-waste issue. It announced in April that it would pledge to cease the manufacture of cathode ray tube monitors, opting instead to only manufacture flat panel monitors. The switch will result in a reduction of approximately 19 million pounds of lead and lead-containing products from the manufacturing process. Dell also offers free recycling of any brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new computer or printer. These recent announcements are symbolic in demonstrating the commitment that America’s electronics-related industry has to protecting our environment by adhering to the EPA’s waste management hierarchy (Reduce à Reuse à Recycle àDispose or Combust). Dell’s pledge to reduce the manufacture of products using lead is a perfect example of source reduction – a change in the manufacturing process to prevent a harmful compound (in this case, lead) from ever entering the waste stream. Best Buy’s new grant program encourages the segregation of e-waste so that these electronic items can either be reused or recycled. E-waste and the issues surrounding this special waste stream is just one of the many emerging topics covered in the TREEO’s 24-hour Landfill Operator and C&D Site Course and the 16-hour Transfer Station Operators and Materials Recycling Facilities Course. Please check the TREEO website to see when these courses are offered next! Florida Launches Kissimmee River Expedition SHINGLE CREEK – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole and President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts Harris Rosen today joined a host of state and local leaders to launch a first-of-its-kind wilderness trip entitled: Expedition Headwaters, An Everglades Journey to Remember. Embarking from the Rosen Shingle Creek, two teams of kayakers and hikers will traverse 140 miles from Shingle Creek to Lake Okeechobee over a 12-day period. To see more of this article visit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2007/03/0323_01.htm Help Us Help Others 2007 marks the 30^th anniversary for UF/TREEO and in conjunction with our anniversary we have selected a worthwhile charity to support. We invite all of our students, vendors, and other customers to join us in assisting the Water For People organization. If you come to the TREEO Center for a course, we have set up a container for you to drop your loose change into; sometimes we hold drawings for a TREEO shirt or TREEO class. Look for us at upcoming events and exhibits; we will hold drawings at these venues too. Your contribution to any of these projects is appreciated. Water For People works in developing countries and focuses on those who are least served and most vulnerable to unsafe water and sanitation. Water For People has mobilized poor communities in the world to address their own basic water and sanitation needs. Their vision is a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation; a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. If you would like more information on how you can help us help others contact: lbrown@treeo.ufl.edu. To learn more about Water for People visit: www.waterforpeople.org To unsubscribe send an email with REMOVE in the subject line to lbrown@treeo.ufl.edu.