Issue 8
December 2010
I want to share something a little different from the usual sales and marketing tips, in this holiday issue of the EMC Business Bulletin.
In 2009, ITEM Publications’ employees recycled just over 800 pounds (or 360+ kilos) of unused electronic items. We found everything from monitors, computers and cables to cell phones and chargers hiding in various offices. In addition, employees brought in unwanted TVs and other electronics from home. You name it, they brought it! Keep in mind that ITEM is, of course, a publishing company. We don’t manufacture any electronics, so we don’t have too much to throw way. And ITEM totals only 12 employees (in the U.S.). So imagine how much a larger electronics company could achieve (like yours maybe?)! At this rate, imagine how much we might save from the landfill over just a few years. The program was easy to set up, cost us very little, and is easy to maintain. Now you might ask what does this have to do with building your EMC business. You’d be surprised. PROGRAMMy hope is that this issue of the Bulletin will stir a few more to set up similar programs. Or if you have done so already, pleaseemail me ([email protected]) with your company’s environmental effortsfor a future issue. There are some clear business advantages and benefits to the program. But first, here is how we set it up:
- An automatic quarterly reminder in everyone’s calendar (Outlook, etc.), indicates when we are having a tech recycle drive.
- Eileen, our office manager, champions the event.
- We deliver our unused electronics to our local Office Depot store.
- Office Depot is a computer / stationery store in the U.S., which offers a Tech Recycling Service program to receive, ship and recycle unused electronic items. Details below.
- Many more sites are listed at the EPA website, details below. (Does any reader have details of similar programs in Europe /Asia countries? Please email me.)
- Customers pay by the box ($5, $10 or $15 for different size boxes) rather than by the item or by the weight.
- Office Depot ships to a recycler, where items are crushed and separated into reusable materials such as glass, plastic, copper, aluminum. NOTE: We erase data on computer products before they leave our building.
There are prohibited items like car batteries, etc. Download approved-items brochure below.
BENEFITS
- Initially, we simply wanted to make a contribution to environmental protection. But when we saw how much we collected, we realized we now have a responsibility.
- For our employees, it has been a motivating experience. Ann, our new art director, was delighted to be able to unload her “electronics junk” with us. She had been storing it, not wishing it to go to the landfill.
- Recently, one of our managers mentioned the program to a job candidate, and the discussion clearly made a good impression.
- Instead of recycling, you can of course donate working electronics for reuse, for which U.S. companies may earn tax credits. Details on the EPA site below.
- If your customers are local, like many EMC test labs, you may wish to offer this service to your customers and prospects. What a great talking point for your sales folks!
I hope you have benefited from the Bulletin this year. Please keep the comments and suggestions coming.
Happy holidays…Graham
[email protected]RESOURCES
- Office Depot Tech Recycling Service: http://www.officedepot.com/promo.do?file=/promo/pages/0928_recycling.jsp
- Office Depot approved items brochure: http://www.officedepot.com/speciallinks/us/od/docs/promo/pages/docs/techrecyclingbroch_july.pdf
- Other programs listed on EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm
