ACM- Association for Computing Machinery

Today, there is much concern about the effect of our computers on the environment. In addition, the issue of power and cooling is a mounting anxiety. Rapid growth in energy costs and increasing dependency on sustainable computing increasingly require 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) endeavors in our information technology operations and management of our information technology resources.
From the viewpoints of environmental preservation and resource utilization, managing e-waste and eco-computing is becoming an important target for higher education institutions worldwide. Furthermore, tackling eco-friendly solutions on campus environments takes a group effort and starts at the Information Technology division. In this report we review major eco-responsible initiatives and detail moves towards more efficient and sustainable technologies. In addition, we look at ways to assess the environmental impact of our data centers and eco-friendly solutions.

E-Waste is a popular, informal name for discarded electronic products such as computers, VCRs, cameras, which have reached the end of their "useful life". Discarded electronic products contain a stew of toxic metals and chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and PCBs. Unfortunately, e-Waste, a dangerous byproduct of technology's relentless expansion is one of the fastest growing segments of higher education institutions' waste stream. We need to be strong advocates of "producer responsibility" and give companies an incentive to produce environmentally friendly products. In addition we must learn about and educate our campus communities about managing old electronics and associated materials. In this report, we attempt to answer the question "What should be done with old electronic products?" discuss opportunities for waste prevention and reuse, and talk about regulatory issues.