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element14 to auction ‘electronics waste sculpture’ at electronica to benefit charity

8th November 2010

ES Admin

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element14, Premier Farnell’s innovative online technology resource and community for electronic design engineers, and a leading authority on environmental legislation in the electronics industry, announces it will auction off its ‘electronics waste sculpture’ built over this week’s four day electronica event, 9-12 of November. The building of the sculpture can be watched via an exclusive web cam available through the element14 website at http://www.element-14.com/community/groups/electronica-2010. The proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting the charity Computer Aid International in support of their work to provide high-quality, professionally refurbished PCs to developing countries and to deliver training and technical support. The ‘electronics waste sculpture,’ acts as a reminder to the industry of the need to tackle the dangers of unregulated recycling of electronic waste in developing countries.

element14 is building the sculpture from electronics waste in the “Atrium at the entrance East” at electronica, in Munich, Germany. All attendees to the event have been encouraged to donate an old electronic device, component or small piece of electronics hardware to help in the building of the sculpture and show their commitment to responsible recycling.

element 14 is all too aware of the dangers of recycling to extract valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper and aluminium. Electronic waste is heated over open fires and the stripping of cables and PCBs in acid baths, often by children, is also commonplace. This can release arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury and other toxins directly into the atmosphere, with significant impact on both the health of those recycling the waste and the local environment.

“Together as an industry we are all committed to addressing the problems caused by the unregulated recycling of ewaste in developing countries,” said Harriet Green, CEO of Premier Farnell. “element14 offers the industry’s leading online source of up-to-date global electronics legislation information to help design engineers access the data they need from one definitive source. We hope the ‘electronics waste sculpture’ will give everyone at electronica the chance to show their commitment to the ever growing need to act responsibly for the future of our planet and its people, and regulate the recycling of electronic waste.”

element14 and its community recognise the enormous challenge that design engineers face in keeping abreast of the vast amount of environmental legislation from a plethora of sources globally. The community continues to support engineers at every stage of the design cycle from concept to production by offering a combination of community, content and a fully developed industry legislation portal, containing guides to industry relevant legislation such as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), REACH, ErP/Eco-Design and many more, all available for immediate download at no charge.