RE: Algoma Steel computers

[Kathie Brosemer <kathie@cleannorth.org>]

Hi Craig,

I understand from Dan that you had a productive meeting this afternoon.  I 
would have liked to have been there but work did not allow it.

Dan conveyed that you are interested in whatever leads and suggestions we 
have to offer with respect to recycling your e-waste.  I'm eager to share 
what we've learned about this over the past five years, and also to hear 
about what you've found.

We have worked with the same recycler for two and a half years.  Before 
that, we worked with three others.  There are quite a few in southern 
Ontario.  Arnold Blumenthal, at Arlen Metals, is our contact.  He's a man 
of few words but has been good to us.  Others have not been easy to work 
with.  http://www.arlens.com/main.htm

There is now a Noranda plant in Mississauga, dismantling e-waste, that has 
been up and running for about two years.  We were eagerly awaiting their 
opening at the time and would have gone there except that we have a good 
working relationship with Arlen Metals now.

Another source for leads is www.recycle.net.  You can post a listing for 
free, for 30 days.  These listings typically generate many leads for you 
via email, you'll have to sort out the ridiculous (and the offshore - see 
below).  We found all of our recyclers through leads generated by posting 
on this site.

We understand that mixed e-waste loads usually incur a fee for handling at 
the recycler's, and we have been fortunate to secure no-fees, no-revenues 
arrangements.  I say fortunate because at our public events we have little 
control over what comes in (other than to ban certain items such as TVs and 
microwaves) and cannot predict in advance, the relative content of valuable 
scrap (circuit boards and reuseable items) vs. things expensive to deal 
with (monitors).  You of course will be in a better position to negotiate, 
knowing exactly what you wish to ship.  A detailed inventory of your goods 
will help you in this.  Depending on the contents of your shipment and 
current markets, you may be able to negotiate a contract where you will be 
paid for the waste.

The second key point to consider is to get an undertaking from your 
recycler, that all materials will be dealt with on this continent.  There 
are horrendous conditions in offshore enterprises, where for example, 
PVC-coated wire is burned in open pits to recover copper, and people are 
moving around in these places, with inadequate or nonexistent protective 
clothing, breathing dioxin.  In some cases, children are exposed to toxic 
and hazardous working conditions to deal with our e-waste.  A reputable 
North American recycler ought to be willing and able to provide you with an 
undertaking that your waste will stay in North America and be handled 
responsibly.

Wishing you all the best and looking forward to working with you to reuse 
what we can in this community.

regards,

Kathie Brosemer





--On Thursday, February 17, 2005 7:57 AM -0500 Craig Knight 
<cknight@algoma.com> wrote:

> Hello Dan
> Can you be available Friday afternoon at from 3 PM to say 4:30?
> We can get together in the Safety Office Conference Room first
>
> Give me a call and I'll give you the directions



--

When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into
the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will
happen.  There will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be
taught to fly.

   -- Patrick Overton