Archive for 2011


#FF @GrassHappy99 @UecoloverU …

Friday, November 4th, 2011

#FF @GrassHappy99 @UecoloverU @MiNaturals @GreenTecShop @TCGreenMedia @VoteWarheit @HuffPostGreen @LATimesgreen @EarthDayCanada #eco


Working on our Thanksgiving ed…

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Working on our Thanksgiving edition #eNewsletter should be going out early next week. Sign up for it here: http://t.co/X08JqswB


We now have Organic & Fairly T…

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

We now have Organic & Fairly Traded (yummy) coffee, tea, and cocoa for our staff and customers. We are proud to… http://t.co/lmZl7R5s


Thank you @Ashley_at_EqEx for …

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Thank you @Ashley_at_EqEx for delivering happiness to our employees, switching to your coffee, tea & cocoa was the best idea! #coffee #tea


Check out our customer testimo…

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Check out our customer testimonial for @BuschSystems recycling containers… http://t.co/ZtK6ub29 #recycle


“@GreenFestival: Sunday #LA …

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

“@GreenFestival: Sunday #LA #GreenFest Photos! http://t.co/xU2x8683” That’s awesome!!! #greeneverything #greenfairs #green


@BuschSystems I think we need …

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

@BuschSystems I think we need more bins!!! The ones we got are working great but I missed a few key collection spots! #recycle


@BuschSystems thank you for al…

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

@BuschSystems thank you for all your help creating this recycling system with us!! #recycle


@UniTherm I know it’s a day la…

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

@UniTherm I know it’s a day late but I just checked out the #halloweenatars vid you posted… It’s Awesome!! #halloween #avatars


@UniTherm thanx for the follow…

Monday, October 31st, 2011

@UniTherm thanx for the follow! We #followback always excited to meet new #tweeps


Happy Halloween!! Check out th…

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Happy Halloween!! Check out this month’s Halloween themed newsletter! Turkey day edition coming later this week! http://t.co/vWv5V1LA


“@Sunnking: Interesting topi…

Monday, October 31st, 2011

“@Sunnking: Interesting topic: RT @MaxiContainer: NewsRoom: E-Waste: What to do in a disposable Era http://t.co/mO2S1ie1” Thanx!! #ewaste


E-Waste: What to do in a disposable Era

Monday, October 31st, 2011

I am old enough to remember a time when appliances and electronics were expensive, big and lasted a long time. Due to their cost, you fixed things that broke and they did not quickly become obsolete. Every neighborhood had a TV Repair Service or a Handy-man who could fix TV’s, radio’s, phonographs, appliances, vacuum cleaners, etc. A recent AARP article (see, I am old) updated the old 50% rule. In essence, if the repair cost less that 50% of the replacement cost of an item, then repair it.

Sadly, this old rule is at odds with our current digital age and Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law is named after Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore, who described the trend in a 1965 paper.  He noted that the number of components in integrated circuits had doubled every two years from the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958 until 1965 and predicted that the trend would continue.

I bought my first “personal” computer, a Commodore Vic-20  in 1980. I still have it sitting in our basement. I bought my second PC in 1985, a Tandy 1000.  Since then, the number of computers I have bought are t00 numerous to mention. It seems, like Moore predicted, that I would be replacing a computer every few years.  Sometimes it is because something went wrong with it, but often, it is just because I need (or want) a newer, more powerful and faster computer. It is even worse with cell phones. I had drawers filed with close to twenty old cell phones. Often they worked fine, but I received a newer phone with better features by re-signing another 2-year contract with my wireless provider.

As mentioned in the My Life Scoop Blog, the United Nations Environmental Program estimates that each year, 20-50 million tons of e-waste is dumped into landfills around the world, ranging from old phones, TVs, microwaves, computers and more – but most of the time it’s not because these gadgets are defunct; they’re being dumped in favor of new releases. They go on to say that most people fail to properly dispose of their unwanted electronics, carelessly trashing them without regard to the hazardous materials they contain, including PCBs, lead and mercury. Many of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and reproductive problems, and damage the earth by seeping into the soil and ground water.

My wife finally had enough of this e-waste build up and in no uncertain terms told me to find a home for all these gadgets. Fortunately, we live in Farmington Hills, MI and our local recycling authority, RRRASOC accepts e-waste at its Southfield location.  They also accept e-waste at the various Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events that they hold throughout the year.

RRRASOC points out that e-waste:

“…is the fastest growing portion of the municipal waste stream. As those products reach the end of their useful life, it is important to remember that many of these products are reusable, recyclable, or pose a concern if not handled properly.”

It is important to use an e-waste recycler that you trust. There are some e-waste recyclers out there that say they recycle the e-waste in an environmentally sustainable manner, but in reality do not. A recent Waste & Recycling News article stated that for the first time criminal charges have been filed against electronic waste recyclers accused of duping customers and sending e-waste abroad to developing countries.

According to the article:

“…the indictment says the company developed a scheme to falsely represent that it would dispose of all e-waste in an environmentally friendly or green manner. The company also said it would recycle the items in the U.S., not overseas… Executive Recycling was the subject of a “60 Minutes” report in 2008 which tracked containers from its facility to Hong Kong.”

Executives for the company could spend up to 20 years in prison, if convicted on the most serious charges. An even better way to get rid of functional e-waste is to donate them. Most schools, charities and places of worship run on very tight budgets. What appears to you as an obsolete computer or printer, may be a step up for them or one of their clients. At this years Plymouth Green Street Fair, unwanted e-waste was donated to raise money for Beaumonts’ Chidren’s Hospital. Another exhibitor collected used cell phones to be turned into prepaid phone cards for US Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan to call their families.

Despite these efforts, the e-waste at both my home and office continues to grow. If you have a good suggestion for a way to recycle or donate e-waste, please let us know in the comments.

Related Links:

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@BuschSystems they are already…

Monday, October 24th, 2011

@BuschSystems they are already working out great!!! Love that we traded in all our trash cans for the desksider / waste only bin combo


“@PeopleTowels: @maxicontain…

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

“@PeopleTowels: @maxicontainer TYSM for the #FF Let’s rock the reuse.” Look forwarding to tweeting w you more! #reuse #tweeps


Check out this month’s enewsle…

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Check out this month’s enewsletter: http://t.co/Fdoao3mF #halloween #email #marketing #Green #eco #packaging


NABADA to RIPA while some things change, most still remain the Same

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

My great grandfather, Charlie Rubin, was a founding member of the National Barrel and Drum Association. My grandfather, Max Rubin, was a strong supporting member as well, and looked to by many as a patriarch of the organization. He along with my father Richard is only one of two “Father & Son Duo’s” to win the Morris Hershson Award of Merit. I have been active in RIPA for about 2 years now, and it has proven to be interesting and fun. It is the coming together of our Industry from across the country to learn from each other, catch up on family happenings and more. The beautiful thing about this organization, though a decreasing faction, is the pride it takes in the independent family owned businesses that were the original creators of the group, as well as some of the most outspoken and active members. I could detail the history of our families involvement in RIPA for many pages, but I am not writing this article because of that. I actually want to shed some light on another Michigan Family Business, and their legacy.

Peter DeWitt of DeWitt Barrels won the Morris Hershson Award of Merit this year. I want to formally congratulate him on this award, as well as share my thoughts on both of our family’s impact on the Michigan economy. I do not think that it is a coincidence that the previous winner of the award was also a Michigan family owned business (My father Richard won the Morris Hershson in 2009). I also do not think that it is a coincidence, but rather an imperative statement of or our economy in Michigan, that despite a decrease in the amount of jobs and cutbacks in all sectors of government across the board, that these two family owned drum companies still thrived. Maxi provides over twenty families with jobs and benefits. We also try and provide a comfortable and fun work environment. (We even have office cats to lighten up the mood!)

I don’t want to get too far off topic here. Peter DeWitt, like my father, both have driven their respective companies forward at full speed during this most recent recession. Business leaders could learn a thing or two from these guys! DeWitt focuses on the reconditioning process and now Recycling, while Maxi has a broader product offering but doesn’t process drums in house. We do a lot of business back and forth, but more importantly we are both invested in competing with the bigger conglomerates for Michigan customers. It is a testament to both organizations that we continue to thrive in this highly competitive environment.

The message of this blog is too support your neighbor, your friends, and your fellow community members, whether you are competitors or complete strangers. The bottom line is the more you buy local and support your states economy, the more likely the benefits will come back to you. I want to again say that Peter has been a strong voice and active member of RIPA, standing up for reconditioners. Both past Chairman of RIPA, my father and Peter represent something that is dying in our industry:

“REAL BARREL MEN!”

Related Links:

Richards Acceptance speech 2009.

Reusable Industrial Packaging Association (RIPA) Website.


@BuschSystems Really like your…

Friday, October 21st, 2011

@BuschSystems Really like your newly redesigned website!!! http://t.co/fKRrVfrI #website #design


#FF @BOXPACKAGING @FoodJM @Cho…

Friday, October 21st, 2011

#FF @BOXPACKAGING @FoodJM @ChooseChange @Sustainable2009 @pollardboxes @GreenBuiltMI @DetMicroFund @EmpowermentEng @strategiadesign


#FF @prclitterbug @WastelessWe…

Friday, October 21st, 2011

#FF @prclitterbug @WastelessWed @PeopleTowels @ecoleaders @ecolissa @GiantFinishing @CleanRiverPR @team_ppi @hofferplastics


@BuschSystems thanks for the #…

Friday, October 21st, 2011

@BuschSystems thanks for the #FF shout out!!! #recycle


@BuschSystems Desksider and PD…

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

@BuschSystems Desksider and PDC for the entire office staff!! #recycle http://t.co/cPMNt8FB


@BuschSystems I will give ya a…

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

@BuschSystems I will give ya a call tomorrow… We need a few more plus I want the info on writing a customer testimonial for u


@BuschSystems Just got our Rec…

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

@BuschSystems Just got our Recycling Bins setup!!! We are ecstatic, Thank you for all your help! #recycle


We need just two more follower…

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

We need just two more followers to make 200 please help us out with some RT’s… Thanx Tweeps!!