Take the CRT Challenge!
Remember when your clunky tube televisions and computer monitors were the cutting edge of new technology? Those days have long since passed, and the challenge recyclers now face is how to properly dispose of the cathode ray tube (CRT) glass those products are made of. CRT glass contains high concentrations of lead, which can have detrimental effects on the environment when left to fester in a landfill. This makes CRT glass difficult to recycle, and while the lead can be reused by smelters to make new CRT glass, the demand for it has steadily dwindled with advances in LCD, LED and plasma technology. With an estimated 2 billion pounds of CRT TVs and monitors expected to enter recycling stream in future years, how to process this hazardous glass is an increasing concern.
To address this issue, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) ® and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) ® are conducting their annual CRT Challenge to gather new and innovative ideas for recycling CRT glass in a financially viable, environmentally conscious manner. The winner will have their solution publicized and potentially implemented, in addition to receiving a grand prize of $10,000. Submissions will be accepted until June 30, 2013, and we encourage all of the inventors out there to enter!
For more information, visit https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9933317
Why You Should Care If Your E-Cycler is R2 Certified
One of the most common questions we receive is, “How do I know my information is safe?”
Choosing an R2 certified electronics recycler is critically important to ensure the safety and security of your information. Potential data mismanagement is a serious concern, as choosing the wrong e-cycler can expose you to legal and financial risk. As an R2 certified electronics recycler, CompuCycle guarantees data destruction on all residential and corporate assets by either hard drive shredding or Department of Defense compliant data erasure. We make sure you and your confidential information don’t end up on the nightly news!
The importance of using an R2 certified electronics recycler has become so evident that the state of Texas is set to vote on House Bill 3465, which would require all processors in its state electronics recycling program to have third-party certification. CompuCycle became Houston’s first R2 certified electronics recycler way back in 2011, so we were already ahead of the curve.
Using CompuCycle, an R2 certified e-cycler, also guarantees your end of life electronics are not being illegally exported or sent to a landfill. Lead, mercury, polyvinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals found in electronics can contaminate the environment and subsequently, our bodies. Diverting these substances from the landfill is not only the responsible thing to do for the environment; it’s also good for your health!
We know seeing is believing, so we encourage our customers to tour our facility and get a firsthand look at what happens to your end of life electronics. Please contact Christina Mosier at 713-866-8025 to schedule!
ABC13 Earth Day E-Cycling Drive!
For the 6th consecutive year, CompuCycle will serve as the electronics recycling sponsor and partner with ABC13 for their Earth Day E-Cycling drive! Earth Day 2013 will mark ABC13’s 7th annual e-cycling drive, which will take place from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 19th at the ABC13 studios, 3310 Bissonnet St. Houston, TX 77005.
Participate in Earth Day by bringing your electronics to be safely recycled! ABC13 asks that each person or family bring no more than five items per car, but if you have more than that you can always bring it to one of our drop off locations!
Accepted materials include old computers, monitors, printers, electronics, cell phones and more. Last year’s Earth Day drive collected almost 150,000 pounds of electronic waste! Help us try and beat that this year, and make a big difference for our community!
The Benefits of Recycling
By now you know that you should recycle, but do you know why? The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists the following reasons as why recycling is so important:
-Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;
-Conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals;
-Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to collect new raw materials;
-Saves energy;
-Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;
-Helps sustain the environment for future generations;
-Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.
Electronics recycling is equally important for those reasons, plus many more! As we recently shared, workers are harming themselves trying to retrieve the precious metals that can be found in discarded electronics, and it’s more crucial than ever that people understand the importance of properly recycling electronics with a certified e-cycler.
In addition to the safety benefits of properly recycling electronics, we have also previously profiled the benefits of aluminum recycling, as well as information about how e-cycling your old computers with CompuCycle can benefit local schools. For further information on the benefits of e-cycling, please contact Christina Mosier at 713-866-8025.
Less Than 2 Weeks Before Earth Day 2013!
With Earth Day quickly approaching, you may be wondering what we are doing to prepare for one of our favorite days of the year? The answer is everything we can! Here is where you can find CompuCycle for the next few weeks surrounding Earth Day:
Saturday, April 13th
Austin County E-Cycling Drive 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Austin County Fairgrounds,
1076 Hwy 159 East
Bellville, TX 77418
City of Houston Collection Event - Clear Lake 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ellington/Clear Lake Neighborhood Recycling Center
Highway 3 at Brantly Ave.
Houston, TX 77037
Special Pals/Member's Choice Credit Union E-Cycling Drive 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
3770 N. Fry Road
Houston, TX 77449
Friday, April 19th
ABC 13 Earth Day E-Cycling Drive 6 a.m. – 3 p.m.
ABC 13 Station
3310 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77005
In addition to watching for commercials on ABC leading up to this event, be sure to look out for the mobile shredder on site!
Saturday, April 20th
Texas Medical Center E-Cycling Drive 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
TMC South Extension Lot
1522 S. Braeswood Blvd. at William C. Harvin Blvd.
Houston, TX
City of Houston Collection Event - Center Street 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Center Street Neighborhood Recycling Center
3602 Center Street
Houston, TX 77007
Monday, April 22nd
Texas Medical Center E-Cycling Drive 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science
1515 Hermann Drive
Earth Day Extravaganza 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Houston Museum District
Wednesday, April 24th
CityWest Place E-Cycling Drive 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
2107 CityWest Blvd.
Houston, TX 77042
Saturday, April 27th
City of Tomball E-Cycling Drive 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
28597 Tomball Parkway
Tomball, TX 77375
Montrose Management District Ecycling Drive 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Montrose HEB
1701 W. Alabama
Houston, TX
CompuCycle Presents Recycling Saturdays at Discovery Green! 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Discovery Green
1500 McKinney Street
Houston, TX 77010
For more information on this or any of the events listed, email us at
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or call 713-869-6700!
