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Tech Talk Home>>Episodes>>Season 6

Throwaway Technology

Video

Are your old computers piling up in the garage? We’ll discuss what you can do with obsolete equipment when it’s just taking up space.

Guests

Garth Hickle

Garth Hickle

Garth is the Product Stewardship Team Leader with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). He has been with the MPCA since 1996 working on materials stewardship for various products including packaging, electronics, and carpet. He has received fellowships from the Bush Foundation and the American-Scandinavian Foundation to study product policy in the European Union. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and the Board of Advisors for the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). He has published articles on products policy in The Environmental Forum, Resource Recycling, Waste Management World, Pollution Prevention Review, Environmental Quality Management, and Package Design Magazine. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, teaching classes on product policy and sustainable development. He holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster, a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School, and a Master in Public Administration from Hamline University.

Marshall Johnson

Marshall Johnson

Marshall Johnson is the CEO of Asset Recovery Corporation (ARC), which provides end-of-life solutions for used electronic equipment. Founded in 1987, ARC offers comprehensive value recovery programs in addition to managing the environmental, security, and legal risks associated with technology disposal. Asset Recovery’’s office is located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Simin Hickman

Simin Hickman

Simin is the director of the Technology Support Center in the Office of Information Technology at the University of Minnesota. She has worked in different areas of support at the University for the last 28 years and is passionate about recycling.

Links

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Web site includes links to spotlight issues and public notices open for comment.

Minnesota’s Electronics Recycling Law – Signed into law on May 8, 2007, Minnesota’s Electronics Recycling Law requires manufacturers of video display devices to collect and recycle these devices from household consumers.

Product Stewardship Initiative for Electronics – This initiative advocates that everyone take responsibility for the environmental impact of electronic devices throughout the product’s life.

Recycling for Households – This site lists collection events and has links to Minnesota recyclers and county contacts.