Simon Smith/istockphoto
READ MORE ABOUT:
Trash can. Recycling bin—paper. Recycling bin—plastic. That's all we've got, so far. Obviously, that leaves a lot of junk out of the equation—namely the fastest growing kind of trash: e-waste. You can't just throw a beat up old computer in the garbage can, and it doesn't exactly go in either of the recycling bins. So what's to be done?
Seems like we need a 4th bin. And that's exactly what Valiant Technologies has set about doing—with a little help from their friends. 'Their friends' being you, of course. Yup, they've initiated a design competition, called, aptly, 4th Bin. You're charged with the designing of a logo and the bin that'll be used across New York for a pilot run of an e-waste recycling program. And you could be paid handsomely.
From 4th Bin:
The logo is intended as a public-domain design, similar to the familiar möbius strip on current paper/plastic/metal recycling bins. The 4th Bin is to be the means by which e-waste is responsibly collected. Our intent is to see a clearly labeled 4th bin placed centrally in every building in New York City, and eventually all across the country.
The winning designer will be awarded a prize of $1,500 for the logo, and $3,000 for the bin, with cash prizes for runners up as well.
The point of the whole thing is, it's incredibly easy to recycle e-waste, but most people simply don't know that—which is why the electronic trash ends up on the street, in the gutters, or in the landfill when it doesn't need to. If there was a bin, a la the green recycling ones, that could be used with ease, we'd see e-waste get recycled at much higher rates.
Head over to 4th Bin for competition rules and more info—submissions deadline is July 19th.
More on E-Waste
Encourage E-waste Recycling in Your Office
Indiana Approves Major Statewide e-Waste Recycling Program
E-Waste A Growing Problem in UK Landfills
How to Go Green: Home Electronics
What's Your e-Waste IQ? Take the Quiz
-
- {}
