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CIWMB purchases, uses and replaces electronic equipment to meet changing
business needs. In keeping with the CIWMB's mission to reduce waste in
California, attention is given to minimizing the waste associated with this
electronic equipment.
Three main areas that provide opportunity to reduce waste from electronics
are discussed in this case study:
Reduced Packaging
Whenever a large quantity procurement of computers or components is
initiated, CIWMB specifically requests that vendors use as little packaging
as possible.
Examples:
- In June 1996, the CIWMB made the decision to upgrade the processors in its
Dell desktop computers from Intel 486 to Pentium Overdrive POD83 processor
chips. If these had been purchased as standard "boxed" processors,
CIWMB would have received 500 boxes and foam packing, etc., which would have
required a significant amount of storage space. Instead, the Board's
Information Management Branch (IMB) procurement staff made arrangements with
the vendor supplying the processor chips to bulk package them in just five
boxes, each of which included 5 chip trays containing 20 chips per tray. As
a result, the total amount of packaging materials and storage space
requirements was reduced by approximately 95 percent.
- In June 1997, as part of a planned operating system upgrade, the CIWMB
upgraded all desktop computer hard drives by replacing the 240-megabyte (MB)
disk drives with 2.1 gigabyte (GB) drives. Bulk packaging was required of
the vendor when the components were ordered. As opposed to individual
component packaging, the hard drives were packaged 20 to a box. Again, by
requiring bulk packaging CIWMB was able to significantly reduce the amount
of packaging materials and storage space requirements.
- In June 1998, the CIWMB ordered more than 500 DFI 233 MHz computer systems
from a local vendor as part of a technology refresh upgrade. Typically, new
computer systems are individually shipped in relatively large boxes with a
significant amount of packaging materials surrounding the computer. However,
since these were sturdy systems with sheet metal cases, CIWMB requested that
the vendor simply wrap each system in plastic and pack as many computers to
a box as possible. The computers were delivered in about 25 large cardboard
boxes on pallets, each of which contained about 20 computer systems closely
packed in the box, with no polystyrene packaging blocks. Again, by requiring
bulk packaging, CIWMB was able to significantly reduce the amount of
packaging materials and storage space requirements. After the systems were
unpacked, the shipping company left with the pallets and the IMB staff
recycled the 25 large cardboard boxes.
Recycling of Packaging
In addition to reducing the amount of packaging used to ship electronic
equipment, CIWMB arranges for packaging
materials including cardboard, and Styrofoam to be recycled.
Examples:
- In June 1998, as part of a technology refresh upgrade, the Board ordered
more than 500 ViewSonic 17-inch monitors with integrated speakers. The
cardboard boxes used for shipping were all flattened and sent to a recycler.
(Note: CIWMB later learned that the polystyrene packaging blocks used in
each box could also have been recycled if they had been shrink-wrapped and
palletized for delivery to a recycler.)
- In June 2000, as part of a technology upgrade coinciding with a move into
a new headquarters office location, CIWMB ordered more than 500 Gateway
computer systems. While Gateway was not able to provide bulk packaging of
their systems as described in an example above, Gateway did agree to accept
the empty boxes and polystyrene packaging blocks provided these materials
were handled carefully and could be reused by Gateway. These items were
placed on pallets and shipped back to Gateway's packing material
manufacturer.
Reuse of Computers and Components
CIWMB considers various options for reuse of computers and components.
- Following the completion of a June 1997 disk upgrade project, CIWMB
supported a local organization and reduced waste by donating approximately
two hundred 240 megabyte disk drives to a school district.
- Following a June 1998 technology upgrade, CIWMB demonstrated how surplus
equipment from one department may be put to productive use by another. CIWMB
provided the Department of Toxic Substances Control with 200 Dell POD83
computers which they were able to reuse productively for some time
afterwards.
- As part of its June 2000 technology upgrade, CIWMB took advantage of a
system buy-back option provided by Gateway. Approximately 300 of the DFI (233
MHz) systems were "bought back" by Gateway to be wholesaled to a reseller. In order to save packaging material and
money, the systems were placed on pallets and shrink-wrapped for return to
Gateway. Even though it was felt that the computer cases provided sufficient
protection, CIWMB purchased shipping insurance at a nominal fee to preclude
any potential problems. The Department of General Services (DGS) Traffic
Management determined the cost and carrier for transporting the systems.
- CIWMB retained approximately 200 DFI computer (233 MHz) systems left over following
CIWMB’s June 2000 technology upgrade and
will deploy some for other uses such as telework.
- Where appropriate, CIWMB supports its partnerships with local agencies by
loaning them surplus computer systems to assist them in their job duties and
to facilitate access to information available from CIWMB.
- In all other cases, before disposing of equipment, CIWMB sends a completed
Property Survey Report, STD 152, to the Department of General Services,
Property Reutilization Unit. In most cases, an item not reused by an agency
or private buyer will enter into the public recycling sector.
Recycling of Unusable Computers and Components
CIWMB considers various options for recycling unusable computers or
components.
Examples:
- State agencies typically cannot "surplus"
to the DGS Property Reutilization Unit equipment consisting of nonworking
computers or components. After DGS gives CIWMB approval to dispose of
unusable computers or components, the CIWMB's Business Administration
Office (BAO) makes arrangements with local companies that handle electronic
waste to pick up the materials and to compensate CIWMB for
the salvage value of the equipment or components. Another option is to post
an entry on the CIWMB's CalMAX materials exchange
to advertise "unusable"
components to other organizations that may be interested in them.
- For relatively low-cost individual electronic components that malfunction
(e.g., disk drives, sound cards, modems, motherboards, etc.), IMB staff store
the failed components in e-waste bins. When the e-waste bins (actually they’re
cardboard or plastic boxes!) are full, CIWMB’s Business Service Office
contacts a local recycling company to pick up the components.
This case study provides one example of how government agencies and
businesses can reduce the amount of electronic waste generated. In each of the
phases--procurement, use and end-of-life management--opportunities exist to
reduce electronic waste and packaging waste and extending the productive life of
electronics.
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