Going the Green Mile

The importance of “being green” has received no shortage of attention in the consumer electronics space over the last several years, and for just cause. While many initiatives have been mandated by legislation, an encouraging number of CE manufacturers and resellers have implemented a level of self-policing that extends well above the government’s calling. Like many cause-related efforts, making positive changes in one’s own backyard can often serve as the most effective first step.

In the U.S., environmental legislation is less stringent than in many other manufacturing-intensive countries. While this seems to be changing, the fact that so many CE organizations that do business here are taking significant action is a sure sign that we are on the right course. After all, green technology is here to stay and, from the numbers, it’s coming not a moment too soon.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly three million tons of consumer electronic waste—including computers and peripherals, televisions, cell phones and other electronics—was generated in 2003 alone, the latest year for which statistics are available. This comprised 1.2 percent of the municipal solid waste generated nationwide.