Posted by: Nathan on August 1st, 2007
Category: General eBusiness, Hardware
Viewed: 1,198 times
Beginning August 1, 2007, the Government of British Columbia requires that all sellers of electronics adhere to the new recycling regulations.
This may require collection and payment of an Environmental Handling Fee for certain electronic products, such as computers and TVs. For more information on the new regulations and the Electronics Stewardship Association of BC go to http://www.encorp.ca/electronics/.
The GVRD alone sends over 20,000 tonnes of e-waste to landfills every year. Due to the composition of many electronic devices, the release of extremely toxic materials occurs when they end up in landfills. Most of these materials can be recycled.
ESABC has all the information you need to act responsibly, either as a consumer or producer of electronics. Visit their website and do your part.
Tags: e-waste, electronics recycling, recycling regulations, BC recycling, electronics retailers
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Posted by: Nathan on January 31st, 2007
Category: Hardware
Viewed: 3,309 times
As we surf this article on our new iPhones and email it to our friends on our Blackberries, it is easy to see the effects that up-to-date electronics have on business. What is behind the scenes, but is becoming a major threat to the environment and our health, is the waste that is generated in keeping up-to-date.
According to Environment Canada, an estimated 140,000 tonnes of e-waste are discarded annually in Canadian landfills, and this number continues to increase.
E-wastes contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic and chromium, all of which are known or suspected to harm wildlife and human health.
There are a number of non-profit and for-profit organizations that are trying to reduce the harm done by the huge volumes of discarded electronics and possibly benefit the less fortunate in the process.
Below I describe some of the resources for BC residents and business owners who would like to upgrade their technologies in a more sustainable manner.
- Check out E-Waste Canada’s website for some details about e-waste recycling (http://www.ewastecanada.ca/research.htm).
- Computers for Schools-BC has donated over 85,000 computers to schools and libraries all across British Columbia (http://www.cfsbc.ca/).
- The Electronic Recycling Association is a non-profit that donates computers to charities (http://www.era.ca/donations/recycling/).
- Electronics Product Stewardship Canada is a not-for-profit organization created by the Canadian electrical and electronic industry to represent industry producers in provincial stewardship programs for electrical and electronic products. The schedule requires submission of the stewardship plan by February 2007 and implementation of the program by August 2007 (http://www.epsc.ca/).
- Electronics Recycling Canada specializes in the management of e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner (http://www.electronics-recycling.com/canada/).
Tags: e-waste, electronics recycling, electronics pollution, electronics environment, business environment
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Posted by: Andy on June 27th, 2006
Category: Hardware
Viewed: 1,158 times
Robin Pryor, a reader of eBizBlog, sent me an email yesterday regarding a recent posting entitled Windows vs Mac: 7 Factors to Ponder. A recent deluge of Blog Spam has forced us to take the unusual step of disabling comments; preventing dialogue is the unfortunate consequence of that action and so I will share Ms. Pryor's thoughtful and informative email. Your Windows v Mac column is a trifle out of date. We see nary a squeak of recognition of the fact that all new Macs - because they are now installed with Intel Core Duo chips - are quite capable of "doing Windows" while retaining Apple's legendary ease of use. Now all Macs can run both operating systems by using Apple's own "Boot Camp" software or Parallels' own program. This means that there really is no reason for an IT department to compromise on hardware decisions any more. As you must know by now - Microsoft, after many delays, will shortly be introducing its latest operating system iteration - Vista. By all accounts Vista is set to prove once again that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, with word that it looks uncannily like Apple's current Operating System X. Observers of the Mac v Windows scene are now seriously questioning why anyone would buy a Dell, Compag, HP, etc when the market now makes available a superior hardware platform that covers both camps. Apple and the new Macs are now in the enviable position of offering buyers the best of both world's. It's truly enviable as the reverse is not even a consideration - ergo, ordinary PC's cannot offer Mac's System X. Moreover, Apple is slated to make another major upgrade to its outstanding operating system with OS X Leopard soon to appear. We respectfully suggest you peruse not only Apple's own site, but check also http://macdailynews.com/index.php for up-to-the minute news on Macs and related comment.
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Posted by: Andy on June 13th, 2006
Category: Hardware
Viewed: 882 times
Laptops are prized targets of theft, especially in busy locations such as airports and hotel lobbies. Primarily stolen and resold laptop theft has been increasingly a method to enable identity theft. Laptops often hold important personal information that aids criminals who profit by the theft of a person’s identity however it may be the company information such as business plans and confidential communications that are the real target. Research has revealed that corporate espionage from the theft of a laptop used by an executive of a rival business was a prime motive behind the estimated 600,000 laptop thefts in 2004 as reported by Safeware Insurance.
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Posted by: Andy on June 12th, 2006
Category: Hardware
Viewed: 926 times
The home office is quickly becoming a powerful place of business with the advent of technological innovations that enable the small business owner to function in ways that seamed improbable five years ago.
By using timesaving mobile devices, computers capable of efficiently performing multiple simultaneous tasks, and communication devices that allow an unheard of level of freedom and mobility, business owners can successfully compete in a larger marketplace.
Technology is a wonderful tool and an incredible time saver. It can also be expensive, stressful and frustrating. There are so many options and alternatives that many people feel overwhelmed when faced with the prospect of having to “figure out” an application or configure a piece of hardware.
Left with the choice between buying a new computer and going to the dentist it is not surprising that the stress of working with technology has resulted in some business owners shunning it altogether.
Technology for the home office should not be part of the problem; it should be part of the solution. Understanding what technologies can do and how they fit into the office environment enables the business owner to make informed decisions. Technology is a powerful ally and can help the small business owner succeed.
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