Reprinted from March 25, 2013 SERVING SOUTHWEST MISSOURI

then shipped to various vendors nationwide. These com- panies or refurbish the components. “Everything we pull from these devices has a positive or negative dollar value,” he said, emphasizing the first step in the process is destroying data securely. “Very few things return enough to completely offset the labor cost of demanufacturing, but some things – like the leaded glass in CRT monitors and from fluorescents – carry a significant hard cost to us when they are shipped for pro- cessing by our vendors. We have narrowed it down enough that we charge enough to just break even on most of those difficult items.”

The softer side With the rapidly evolving wireless revolution, much of the green work in the IT industry comes not at the end of the equipment’s life, but before it even begins. More companies are embracing wireless hardware and software solutions, resulting in less equipment that could end up in the . Springfield-based PC Net Inc. General Manager Brian Plunkett said company subsidiary 85Under provides a vir- tual network environment, also known as cloud hosting. This relatively new process offers leased services on serv- ers managed remotely, which users access through high- bandwidth Internet or wireless connections. Plunkett said many clients come in with specific ideas on how to upgrade their existing IT framework, usually by adding the traditional bigger onsite servers or work- stations. However, once the client buys in to the broader business benefits of cloud computing, most appreciate the green aspects of virtual hosting. © SBJ photo by WES HAMILTON “For businesses, having a server in the closet equates Center owner Luke Westerman says the Springfield shop has diverted more than 1 million pounds to something they have to buy, operate and maintain,” he of solid material, such as these computer motherboards, otherwise headed for the landfill. said. “In addition to fewer materials for those machines and traditional workstations, there is a significant envi- Computer Recycling Center at 1434 N. National Ave. ronmental and cost impact when you consider the energy “These are things that – even though they originally came required to spin computer hard drives and fans and run from the ground – you wouldn’t want going back into the the memory that make applications go. It’s really an easy environment after it has been refined. It needs to make its Reusable Tech decision, once they see the big picture.” way through the recycling and remanufacturing process to Currently, two-thirds of midsize companies are plan- be safely disposed of, so that it doesn’t eventually wind up Hardware recycling and cloud computing ning or currently engaging in a move to cloud computing, back in our groundwater.” according to a 2012 IBM study. contribute to greener IT industry Westerman’s company is at the forefront of local efforts While Plunkett said the major savings to companies to ensure technological progress doesn’t set the environ- comes on the operations and capital side of the ledger, a by Brian Hom · contributing writer ment back. Specializing in the responsible management of small percentage in energy savings is noticed by many cli- all types of e-, Computer Recycling Center has suc- ents within the first few months. Since their popular introduction to consumers nearly 30 cessfully diverted more than 1 million pounds of solid ma- years ago, the use of personal computing devices has grown terial otherwise headed for a landfill. The big picture exponentially. The addition of , and As early as 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection tablets is expected to push worldwide numbers to nearly 2 Agency estimated that of the 2.37 million tons of e-waste billion in 2014, according to global information technology For businesses, having a ready for end-of-life management in the U.S., only 25 per- research and advisory company Gartner Inc. (NYSE: IT). server in the closet equates cent was recycled or remanufactured. With each advance, however, more devices are rendered to something they have to Westerman said while Missouri as a whole may lag be- obsolete, creating a new problem – how to dispose of the hind the 25 percent national average, Springfield’s results old technology? buy, operate and maintain.” mirror that figure. He attributes the local success to close , referred to as e-waste, includes every- —Brian Plunkett collaboration between city and county agencies, as well as thing from audio-visual equipment – TVs, VCRs and DVD PC Net Inc. the efforts of numerous area businesses responsibly ad- players – to desktop , monitors, keyboards, lap- dressing the disposal of e-waste. tops and cell phones. With the recent explosion in tablet Westerman said a growing number of companies have and use, refuse continues to grow. Working closely with local and state agencies, West- begun hosting onsite collection drives for their employees, erman’s shop is one of a handful in southwest Missouri including Springfield ReManufacuring Corp., Dairy Farm- Where does it go? registered with the Missouri Department of Natural Re- ers of America and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. Disposal isn’t an easy process. From the high amounts sources for the safe technology recycling, disposal and the He also notes many of these businesses take the extra of in older tube-style televisions, to the heavy metals remanufacturing process. Springfield’s Altec Solutions step of paying for Computer Recycling Centers’ processing contained in the circuit boards at the heart of all modern Group Inc. and Branson-based Midwest Wholesalers Inc. costs, which range from $2 to $20 for more labor-intensive electronic devices, there is a wide variety of environmental are also registered with the DNR. items such as cathode ray tube monitors, big-screen TVs, hazards to address. Even power cords and older periph- “When people think green, what comes to mind is tra- microwaves and fluorescent light bulbs. eral connection cables include multiple components that ditional recycling of consumer-end paper, , and “As long as there is electronic stuff in the world, there can be reused, remanufactured or recycled. aluminum,” Westerman said. “But e-waste is very differ- will still be a need for places like the Computer Recycling “Nearly everything we handle has some sort of haz- ent. We are essentially a demanufacturing facility.” Center,” Westerman said. ardous material in it,” said Luke Westerman, owner of Once materials are separated, Westerman said they are

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