DOE Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a Test Procedure for Set-top Boxes

The Department of Energy has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking for a test procedure for set-top boxes.

•  Find more information on the rulemaking, including milestones, statutory authority, rulemaking documents, and any other related rulemakings.
• All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in Docket No. EERE-2012-BT-TP-0046.
• Learn how to participate in the public meeting/webinar scheduled for February 27, 2013.
• Find information about how to comment on the rulemaking. The public comment period will close 75 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
• Find product information about current standards and test procedures; recent product updates; waivers, exceptions, and exemptions; the statutory authority; historical information; and contact information.

 

CEO Tech Guide to Sustainable Business Practices

Read the full series in BusinessWeek.

From leaking sensitive data to spreading toxic e-waste, U.S. corporations perform poorly when it comes to recycling. Some, such as Las Vegas resort giant MGM, have come to associate sustainability with good returns.

 

NIOSH Program Evaluating Controls Used by E-Waste Recyclers

Read the full story in Occupational Safety and Health.

The first phase of the Health Hazard Evaluation Program’s examination of health and safety in the electronic waste recycling industry is expected to end in April. It will include a survey of as many as 100 e-waste recycling facilities across the country.

 

EPA Releases New TRI Pollution Prevention Tool

Via Chemical Right 2 Know.

Did you know that TRI collects information on the actions businesses have taken to prevent pollution (P2) and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals entering the environment?  Now you can use TRI’s new pollution prevention search tool to:

• Track and compare TRI facility performance
• Identify facilities that reported the largest reductions in toxic chemical releases
• Identify the P2 measures that were most effective for a given industry or chemical
• Compare waste management practices of facilities within a sector
• View trends in waste management practices for any given facility over several years

TRI’s New Pollution Prevention Tool is available here:  http://www.epa.gov/enviro/facts/tri/p2.html 

To learn more about TRI’s P2 information, visit EPA’s P2 webpage here:  http://www.epa.gov/tri/P2/index.html

 

Reader Question: Crafting with E-Waste

Read the full post at Crafting a Green World.

Back in October we asked you guys what kinds of things you’d like more help reusing or upcycling, and you had some great questions, both via comment and email. We’ve addressed quite a few of them, from how to reuse old jeans to new ideas for old books, but there was one question that’s been stumping me for ages: how can crafters upcycle e-waste?

There are tons of tutorials out there for certain types of e-waste, like old circuit boards, but reader Nicole is looking for those less-used items, like broken electronic toothbrushes, Christmas lights, and dead batteries. I was able to find a few interesting ideas out there, but I’ll be honest: the pickings are slim when it comes to unusual e-waste crafts. So! I’m turning to you guys!

 

How E-Waste Is Becoming a Big, Global Problem

According to the EPA, more than 2.5 million tons of electronic waste, or e-waste, is produced each year in the U.S. On NPR’s Talk of the Nation, Derek Markham, a contributing writer for Treehugger.com, discusses the global impacts, and why you should think twice before discarding your old cell phone.

 

The final step to employee engagement: Action!

Read the full story at GreenBiz.

Editor’s note: This is the final installment in a five-part series on engaging employees around sustainability. The first part introduced the four stages of employee engagement; the second part discussed raising employee awareness about sustainability; the third part discussed connecting to the company’s vision and strategy; and the fourth part discussed how connection leads to commitment.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully moved through the first three phases of employee engagement and have achieved effective, actionable engagement from your workforce. This installment is the final piece in our series on employee engagement. We hope you’ve gained valuable insights and knowledge from our proven process, client examples and other relevant best practices.

This month’s installment will showcase best practices of companies that have successfully moved through this process and have achieved action-oriented results from effective employee engagement.