Zilker Ventures Promotes Recycling of Fax Machines and Other Ewaste



Almost four years ago, Singapore-based Citiraya Industries, Ltd. opened one of their first American e-waste processing facilities in Rock Rock, Texas. Since then, however, e-waste recycling has been very much under the radar, even for Austinites.

"That fax machine doesn't actually work, but we don't really have space to put it elsewhere," said CEO of Zilker Ventures, Gaines Kilpatrick, pointing to one of two fax machines sitting in his office, a pre-Internet fax (http://www.faxcompare.com) relic.

Many people find themselves in similar situations after their electronics break down or become obsolete and often store unused electronics in their homes or offices. Some simply throw these electronics in the garbage.

"I have an old computer in my house that I don't use, but I haven't given it away or recycled it because there are still files stored on it that I don't want others to access," says Koby Wong, a student at the University of Texas.

The electronics that do get recycled are usually sent abroad where workers are paid low wages to strip recyclable materials from unrecyclable, hazardous toxins, according to a special e-waste report done by USA Today.

Thanks to one of the most successful movies this summer, Disney-Pixar film Wall-E, more people are learning about electronic waste. The movie tells the story of a young robot that is left alone to clean up the electronic waste engulfing the planet. Replace that robot with an underprivileged Indian or Chinese boy living, not in the distant future, but here in 2008, and the movie will hit a bit closer to home.

Why aren't more people doing anything about the problem "I know I should recycle electronics, I guess I just don't know how to properly dispose of them," says Wong.

What should one do with static e-waste at home or in the office Send it back to the brand or to resellers for possible refurbishment, or take it to a certified recycler. Make sure that voluntary e-waste recycle programs are certified and do not actually continue to send the waste to developing nations.

Though recycling e-waste in many communities remains largely unorganized, businesses that offer virtual services (http://www.faxcompare.com), which eliminate hardware, have found ways to reduce e-waste.

"The easiest, most cost-effective thing to do is to stop buying new electronics when possible, advises Gaines Kilpatrick. "Telecommunications is a good place to start: Don't buy new fax machines or phones, and use Internet fax and virtual private branch exchange (PBX) services. From a business standpoint, it's cheaper; from an environmental standpoint, it's the right thing to do."

According to the USA Today special report, Best Buy, Dell and Sony are among the few companies willing to take back non-functional products from customers for free. Other brands have yet to institute a take back policy or systematized method of recycling electronic waste.

Voluntary electronic recycling programs will collect waste in specific communities, but many are not certified in handling collection of electronic waste and cannot ensure non-exploitive means of recycling.

For additional information regarding the virtual office or Zilker Ventures, please visit our e fax (http://www.pbxcompare.com) website.

Zilker Ventures, LLC is a web publisher that consolidates information and reviews various business and financial products.

Contact:

Jennifer Silva

Zilker Ventures, LLC

(512) 448-9031





Zilker Ventures Promotes Recycling of Fax Machines and Other Ewaste