Taking Care of the Tiniest E-Waste

The “Company Profile” is an Earth911.com series highlighting consumer goods and services making a difference through product stewardship and recycling. Products and services featured do not pay for placement and are not endorsed by Earth911.com.

For many, the shift from floppy disks, cassettes and VHS tapes to CDs and DVDs seemed like a huge boon. It meant better quality and easy storage. Yet within 20 years, the digital age has moved the storage and playback of media away from even those products.

David Beschen, former Manager of Corporate Communications at Microsoft, understood how important it was to offer corporations and individuals an alternative to dumping disks, cartridges and other small GreenDisk; we recently spoke with Beschen to learn more about the company.

Company Overview

GreenDisk accepts much of your electronic media for recycling, including diskettes, CDs, DVDs, video tapes and audio tapes. The company also accepts cell phones, ink/toner cartridges and even your computer and all its parts.

The company provides secure, audited technotrash recycling so data is wiped clean prior to recycling, and both consumers and businesses can ship these items directly or order “technotrash cans” to collect them in the first place.

GreenDisk also offers a variety of recycled products including:

• CD-RWs
• Jewel Cases
• Softshell Cases
• Sparkle CDs and DVDs

How it Started

In his job at Microsoft, Beschen saw massive amounts of software “going dead,” and he saw a need for the software industry to responsibly address the industry strategy of planned obsolescence.

According to Beschen, “When a new version of a particular software is released, all previous editions are removed and destroyed because it is easier to replace and support one new version.”

He became fascinated by the mystery of where those pallets of obsolete software were going. Beschen discovered that many were burned or buried in private landfills, with disposal costs running at $800/ton.

Paving the Way

Before Beschen and his two partners founded GreenDisk on Earth Day 1993, only 15 percent of technotrash was being recycled. GreenDisk was the first company to offer such extensive technotrash recycling services.

According to Beschen, “We like to close the recycling loop really tightly.” In fact, between 95 and 98 percent of all materials sent to GreenDisk are recycled into new products.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

GreenDisk is now set up with facilities all over the country to recycle the technotrash that was once destined for the dump, saving money and conserving valuable resources. For example, a CD contains a cover and liner notes made from #6 polystyrene plastic, all of which can be recycled.

Efficiency

Here’s how the process works.

1. Your box of technotrash is mailed to the closest recycling center
2. Receiving facilities open, sort and separate materials
3. All intellectual property is destroyed
4. Materials are consolidated with other like materials into economic loads
5. They are then recycled on-site or sent for recycling to another facility in the U.S.

Increased Awareness in the Industry

In general, the technology industry is trending towards environmental responsibility. A growing number of employees and consumers want to know that the lifecycle of a product is as “green” as possible. This concern extends from the individual all the way to the top of the corporate ladder.

“Corporations are developing environmental initiatives that are attractive to consumers,” Beschen says. “In addition, in order to attract young, talented employees who are also likely to be interested in the environment, corporations must have sustainable programs in place.”

Constant Change

Beschen enjoys running an ethically responsible business that must constantly evolve in order to keep up with technological advancements. He says that he and his two partners enjoy the challenges of researching and implementing innovative recycling techniques.

Looking Forward

GreenDisk has developed new recycled CDs and DVDs called Sparkle. These products are made without using the traditional CD/DVD recycling methods, which involve a chemical bath and only preserve the plastic—all the dyes, lacquer finish and metal are washed away.

Sparkle CDs and DVDs are produced using rubber from recycled tires, making it possible to recycle used CDs and DVDs without the loss of resources or use of chemicals.

Favorite of the Three R’s

Beschen believes all of them have their place, but reuse is his favorite because it provides him with an opportunity to write a new story for a variety of products that were once bound for the landfill. “Reuse requires a little more innovation because you are dealing with materials that already exist, and you have the opportunity to find the best way to make something else out of these products.”