Don’t be e-wasteful say the gummint

If you run a business and bought your aging computer, or other gizmo, with federal money, be prepared to go green. The Government is about to make a new rule stating any computers bought with its money need to be recycled at a government-certified facility. The rule is in response to the growing amount of electronic waste, or e-waste, ending up in landfills in third world nations. It’s not just a trash problem, foraging for scrap computer parts is causing a serious health risk, mainly to kids who go looking for the stuff, in these countries.

The Wall Street Journal reportsthat there’s no specific start date, although it should be soon, and once it begins, companies will have 90 days to comply. “Government contractors often have private sector clients, and may begin to use the same recycling practices across their entire businesses. And the flood of new electronic recycling could make the process more efficient, allowing recyclers to pay companies in exchange for capturing valuable parts, strengthening the incentive.”