Brummet's Conscious Blog

The Real Cost of Technology and  Why You Should Recycle Responsibly  * Submitted by Zack Gallinger of  Revolution  (a company within the Shift portfolio)- a recycler based in  Toronto  and  Ottawa  that specializes in safe and environmentally-friendly disposal of old electronics, secure data destruction and IT asset disposition services. Check out the hyperlinks throughout the article, taking you to several articles on the issues presented here; also be sure to view the resources at the end of this post.  Before you buy your next electronic gadget, here’s something to think about that goes beyond the features on your wish list or where you’ll find that gadget for the lowest price. Does the amount you will pay accurately reflect the true cost of that item? If you’re like most people, you’d likely conclude that it does. Here’s why you’d be wrong. Direct and Indirect Costs Setting a price for any product can take into considera...

More Ways to Recycle * Today's article was written by: Sam Jones writes on environmental and green energy issues. He keeps an eye on energy suppliers and the cheapest electricity prices and to give his readers the latest information and offer There are plenty of signs and advertisements that urge us to recycle, but the truth is that recycling goes far beyond simply dropping unwanted paper into a bin. That type of recycling is of course important, but when you start investigating it, it is really just the tip of the iceberg. What can be recycled and where can you go from here? Recycling Clothes Remember that recycling means putting things back into use so that resources can be conserved. If you have clothes that don't fit anymore or if you have clothing that you simply no longer wear, consider taking them to a donation site instead of throwing them away. Clothing production requires a great deal of energy and natural resources, so putting some back in...

-- Quote of the Day -- " Be fully in the moment, open yourself to the powerful energies dancing around you ."  ~ Ernest Miller Hemingway -- Electronics -- While drop-off depots for out-of-date or defunct electronics at recycling centers is a great option for the world – reuse is another.  There are many charities that collect working computers and peripherals (cables/wires, monitors, fax machines, keyboards, speakers, etc), which the volunteers and staff then clean up, clear their memory and upload proper programs for needy agencies like schools and non-profits, and low income families.  The Electronic Recycling Association ( ERA.ca ), the Vancouver Literacy Society ( vcls.ca ), Free Geek ( freegeekvancouver.org ), Empower Up ( empowerup.org )… and many, many others. Find a list of several other organizations @: http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/computers/reuse-elec...