A Word About Recycling with Ollie Maier
As the coronavirus increases throughout the nation and much of the world, the media continues to spend a large amount of the time trying to keep you updated. Even with that being the case, I’m hoping you don’t mind me adding a little to it by reporting some of things happening in the recycling area concerning it.
An article in a Resource Recycling newsletter explained, “Even as recycling companies adapt to keep their employees and businesses healthy, some are donating supplies to ensure healthcare workers are protected, as well.”
For example, a construction and demolition debris recycling company received dozens of sealed boxes a few months ago and just set them aside. Recently, when their staff opened them, they discovered 36,000 new N95 respirator masks. To help in the fight against the virus, the company donated the masks to hospitals and nursing homes in the Washington, D.C. area.
I found other companies also have made large donations to healthcare workers in their communities. One company, which provides various energy, water and waste utility services, used part of its strategic supply to donate 40,000 masks to hospitals in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Colton, Californa; Houston; Montreal; New York City and Philadelphia.
Even smaller companies are helping out where they can. A startup that collects difficult-to-recycle items, turned its attention to collecting masks and other hygiene items for a homeless shelter, food bank, senior center and humane society.
Switching subjects, I found the coronavirus is also affecting the electronic recycling industry. Another article in the same newsletter reported, “Electronics recycling and reuse companies across the U.S. say the coronavirus and resulting work-from-home orders have energized the market for refurbished electronics. In some cases, they can’t keep up with the needs of customers.”
Although that seems like good news, there is a down side: Because people are keeping their electronic items longer, in some places new computers and other electronic items are in short supply, plus with the effects of the virus, many have lost their jobs and cannot afford new products. This means fewer are being recycled.
With more people now restricted to working at home through the internet, plus with many schools temporarily closed, many students now receive and work their lesson assignments at home via the computer, there is a greater demand for laptops and desk computers.
One company, which leases electronic items reported a sharp increase in demand for notebook, tablet and desktop PCs throughout the U.S. and Canada as the need to work from home grows. The company is vendor for thousands of U.S. organizations and it processes over 120,000 IT assets monthly.
“We are definitely working hard to fill the IT supply needed to help keep people at home, curbing the spread of this pandemic," a company spokesperson said. “We will also continue to provide essential recycling and other IT disposition services to critical industries such as financial, medical and government entities as long as physically possible.”
Enough for today. However, since this article had considerable more information in it, I will cover more of it next week.
Till next week, do have an enjoyable and safe one….
Ollie is a local citizen concerned with the environment and helping others. A retired Air Force fighter and instructor pilot, he is a graduate of Leadership San Marcos and received his degrees at Texas State University where he worked on staff before totally retiring. For questions or comments, he invites you to call him at 512-353-7432.
