May 7, 2022 Updated May 8, 2022 Lecanto High School IB med-share club students recently loaded two tons of medical and first-aid supplies into a truck headed for an airlift to Ukraine.
The supplies, collected from area healthcare facilities by Citrus County-based charity Relief Share, were sorted, inventoried and packed by the student volunteers. Technology Conservation Group (TCG), an electronics recycling company based in Lecanto, has generously donated storage space and use of the loading dock to Relief Share.
The airlift was among several ongoing humanitarian shipments arranged by St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church in Apopka. Relief Share partnered with the church and the Ukrainian Foundation to make what Foundation president Yulia Brockdorf called a “miracle in 24 hours” happen.
For more information, visit relief-shareflorida.org.
After serving their time with Duke Energy, around two dozen computers found a new office in the homes of students in Citrus County.
Duke, Mitsubishi Power and the Technology Conservation Group (TCG) in Lecanto teamed up to donate 25 refurbished desktop computers Friday, May 21, to the Citrus County Education Foundation (CCEF).
CCEF Executive Director Shaunda Burdette said the devices will help students access the internet at home, especially when they can’t rely on school district iPads.
“For the ability to be able to apply to college, do their résumé or trade school to get anything they need and have,” she said “It’s a very simple solution to really aid our kids in our county to have the access and tools to be successful.”
To learn more about the education foundation, which hosts a number of programs and events to benefit Citrus County School District students, visit citruseducation.org.
Duke was using the newer-model computers from Mitsubishi Power before the energy company rendered the devices obsolete amid local plant upgrades.
Led by Ted King, Duke orchestrated a partnership with Mitsubishi to have the computers sent to TCG for a cleanup before they were sent to students.
“To those who needed it the most,” said King, who’s also vice president of the CCEF board.
King said he and Burdette found COVID-19, which forced classes to go virtual, spotlighted the need to get computers and Wi-Fi into the hands of disadvantaged children and their families.
“We’re very, very grateful for this,” Burdette said about the donation, “and this is a huge need.”
Marco Sanchez, vice president of Mitsubishi Power’s Intelligent Solutions, said the donation helps better integrate the companies with their communities.
“It’s a great idea,” he said, “it’s a great way to give back.”
Steve Quinn, of TCG sales, said TCG spent its time to make sure the computers looked and performed like new.
“We donate a lot of time for the county,” he said, “and we do a lot for the schools.”
Burdette said she hopes similar donation partnerships take place in the future to ensure other students can “reach out to the world.”
“We want to make sure they can continue to do that,” she said. “We’re excited about it; it’s going to have a huge impact.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Technology Conservation Group (TCG) has joined TERRA‘s Done with IT program to provide simple and safe electronics recycling options for businesses and individuals from their two Certified R2 facilities in Florida and Kentucky.
TCG operates a total of five Certified recycling facilities in the U.S. and Mexico.
TERRA is the largest network of e-Stewards and R2 Certified e-waste recycling and IT asset disposition (ITAD) solution providers in North America with secure facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
TERRA’s Done with IT mail-in program provides access to simple, secure, and sustainable e-waste recycling options for individuals, businesses and local governments across the U.S. and Canada. This service is especially critical for rural and urban communities with little or no access to e-waste recycling services and protects them from identity theft while safeguarding the environment and human health.
“Only Certified businesses like TCG adhere to rigorous standards and ongoing oversight that protect individuals and organizations against data breach and effectively mitigate the dangers associated with the improper disposal of e-waste,” said Steven Napoli, President & CEO of TERRA.
E-Waste is a major environmental problem, accounting for 70% of the toxins entering landfills. Sustainable electronics reuse and recycling requires verifiable processing to protect human health and the environment as well as safely reprocess much needed raw materials for return to the supply chain.
“An expanding home-based workforce increases the value of having convenient access to data destruction, device refurbishment and remarketing services,” said Don Andes, Vice President of Business Development at TCG. “Our partnership with TERRA helps us connect our certified solutions to those in need of these essential services.”
TERRA & Done with IT
TERRA is dedicated to diverting used electronics to the care of Certified Recyclers to maximize reuse and the recycling of natural resources.
http://www.jointerra.org / http://www.donewithit.org / Facebook / LinkedIn / Twitter
Technology Conservation Group (TCG)
TCG provides secure and responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), secure data destruction and electronics recycling services designed to maximize returns without sacrificing the environment. Our business model centers around the R2 standard, the most advanced voluntary certification in the industry, which is designed to protect people, protect the environment, preserve resources, protect data, and requires legal compliance.
https://tcglifecyclesolutions.com/
Related Links
Indianapolis, IN February 5, 2020 – Steven Robert Craig, SMS has completed all requirements for a Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) certification. This highly respected certification is awarded by BCSP to individuals who meet eligibility and experience criteria in the safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) discipline and have passed a rigorous examination. Certificants must also recertify every five years to maintain certification, ensuring they remain knowledgeable in their practice.
Safety issues have become more complex, and today’s safety professional must continually be better qualified. BCSP credential holders are among the most highly trained, educated, and experienced individuals in the safety field. Having achieved a BCSP certification shows that the individual has mastered the core competency required for professional safety practice.
BCSP’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Treasa Turnbeaugh, CSP, ASP, CIT, CAE comments that “It is critical to maintain competent individuals within the SH&E industry because of the impact they have on the safety of workers and the public.”
The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a not-for-profit corporation recognized as a leader in high-quality, accredited credentialing for safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) practitioners. BCSP establishes standards and certifies competency criteria in professional safety practice. Since 1969, over 100,000 BCSP credentials have been achieved.
INDUSTRY LEADERS PRAISE INTRODUCTION OF RESPONSIBLE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING ACT |
|
Washington, DC – The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER) today encouraged swift passage of the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA), introduced today as HR 2791 in the 113th Congress by U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Thompson (D-CA).Reflecting the bill’s bipartisan support, RERA is being supported by Representatives from both parties, including three Republican co-sponsors: Reps. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Mike McCaul (R-TX) in addition to three Democrats: Reps. Green, Thompson and Louise Slaughter (D-NY).
Coalition leaders said RERA is essential for creating U.S. jobs and promoting investment in the domestic recycling industry. By requiring domestic recycling, RERA may create up to 42,000 new jobs with an annual payroll of up to $1 billion, according to a recent CAER study.
Exports of toxic electronic scrap will be prohibited and will need to be responsibly recycled within U.S. borders. Trade in tested, working electronics will remain unrestricted and is expected to grow. According to a U.S. ITC study, “exports of commodity-grade material would likely increase, as more recycling activity would take place in the United States” and commodities derived from used electronics “would be exported to manufacturing centers in non-OECD countries.”
Electronic scrap contains high concentrations of toxic materials such as lead and cadmium and is classified as hazardous by the U.S. EPA and many states. However, a large percentage of e-waste collected for “recycling” is actually exported to developing countries where it is dismantled in primitive conditions without environmental protections and worker safeguards.
Restricting e-waste exports under RERA will reduce data security risks such as hard drives containing sensitive defense-related information. Because companies collecting used electronics too often dump the equipment without erasing the data, exports have caused data breaches, identity theft, and cyber crime. In one case, a hard drive from a U.S. defense contractor containing sensitive information was found at a Third World e-waste dump. Exported electronic scrap has been shown to be a source of counterfeit components turning up in critical applications such as military and industrial hardware. RERA will close these security gaps.
The legislation has strong business support in addition to CAER, including wide range of groups representing electronics manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Apple, Samsung and major retailers such as Best Buy.
“CAER supports the export of tested, working electronics and recycled commodities around the world, which encourages economic development and job growth in the U.S. and contributes to our domestic economy,” said Bob Houghton of the CAER steering committee. “Developing nations can still get access to valuable, clean commodities, without absorbing the hazardous materials they had no part in creating.”
RERA will address current government policies that distort the marketplace and prevent U.S. companies from meeting market demand for responsible, domestic recycling services. “Once RERA becomes law, American recyclers can rationalize investments in plant and personnel essential to providing services people and businesses want,” said Wendy Neu of Hugo Neu and a CAER steering committee member. “CAER members across the country, from small startups to large companies, are energized and engaged to speak out on this important issue.”
|
Technology Conservation Group, Inc. Joins the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling |
| Lecanto, FL – Technology Conservation Group, Inc. has joined the Coalition for American Electronic Recycling, which is leading a campaign in support of the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA) that will create jobs, promote investment and enhance sustainability.
RERA, which will be reintroduced in the current session of Congress, will prohibit unregulated export of non-working electronics and e-waste that contain hazardous materials. Trade in tested, working electronics and recycled commodities would not be restricted and is expected to grow with passage of RERA. According to a recent CAER study, RERA’s passage may generate up to 42,000 new jobs with an annual payroll of $1 billion. Technology Conservation Group, Inc. is among more than 100 companies and supporting members operating more than 185 facilities in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Visit the CAER website for a complete member list. About the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling represents U.S. companies that believe electronics recycling should be performed securely and sustainably, for the benefit of the American economy. The Coalition is committed to growing an American industry with the capacity to manage the volume of e-waste generated within our borders, creating good jobs and expanded trade. About Technology Conservation Group, Inc. Founded in 1996 TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATION GROUP specializes in asset disposition and recycling of waste stream commodities generated through the manufacturing of electronics and electronic components. TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATION GROUP customizes programs for its customers to meet their needs and maximize their revenue return while recycling, reusing and/or remarketing virtually 100% of its intake. TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATION GROUP holds a multi-site certification to R2:2008/RIOS:2006 and ISO 14001:2004 standards, adheres to all levels of environmental regulations, and respects design security without sacrificing returns. TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATION GROUP serves an international customer base through its strategically located facilities throughout North America, Mexico, and India. |
TCG Community Outreach Awards Scholarships |
|
Technology Conservation Group, Inc. has awarded scholarships through Technology Community Outreach, created in 2011 to support and educate the community on the benefits of recycling. TCG Community Outreach has presented scholarships to three Citrus County high school students scoring the highest in an essay contest. The award prized at $1,500.00 for 1st place was given to Kristen Carney from Lecanto High School. The $1,000.00 2nd place award went to Sydney Schantz from Citrus High School. The $750.00 3rd place award went to Lea Whitley from Citrus High School. An award of $250.00 has also been paid to the English department of th…e 1st place winner’s high school. In addition to the annual scholarships, two cash prizes were awarded to winners of an art contest for the creative use of recycled materials. The 1st place winner, Meghan Flaherty from Citrus High School has received an award of $400.00 and the art department of Citrus High School will also receive an award of $500.00. The 2nd place winner is also the 1st place award recipient of the essay contest, Kristen Carney. An award of $250.00 has also been paid to the art department of Lecanto High School. Presentations to the winners of each contest were made at the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, April 23rd. |
Technology Conservation Group Recognized for Exemplary Safety by OSHA, USF SafetyFlorida |
| The Lecanto electronics recycler received OSHA’s SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) award, which is given to private sector, small businesses with exemplary safety and health management programs. This is the company’s second SHARP renewal. It is one of 55 SHARP-certified companies in Florida.
Hamilton Rice, President of TCG stated that “we are extremely honored to have successfully achieved our second SHARP renewal. I would strongly recommend participation in the SHARP program to other businesses because the process really helped us to strengthen our internal Health & Safety program, and it is great to receive recognition for our continued effort. To learn more about Technology Conservation Group, visit www.tcgrecycling.com. Charlene Sitterly, program director of USF SafetyFlorida, says that earning a SHARP award is a badge of honor. “Businesses dedicated to workplace safety and health that earn this award work tremendously hard every day to keep their people safe. I commend Technology Conservation Group for its commitment to their employees’ safety and well-being.” USF SafetyFlorida recommends employers to OSHA for a SHARP award. To qualify, an employer must request a consultation from USF Safety Florida that involves a complete hazard identification assessment and engages employees in the consultation process. The company agrees to correct hazards identified during the consultation, implement and maintain a safety and health management system that addresses OSHA’s Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, reduce its Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate and Total Recordable Case (TRC) rate below national average, and agree to notify its state Consultation Project Office prior to making changes to working conditions or introducing new hazards into the workplace. To learn more about workplace safety and health in Florida and to request a free on-site consultation, visit www.usfsafetyflorida.com. USF SafetyFlorida is the state’s small business safety and health consultation program funded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation. Consultation programs were created as part of the OSH Act of 1970, section 21(d), so that employers subject to the Act may voluntarily undertake efforts to establish and maintain safe and healthful places of employment. The non-profit program is operated out of the University of South Florida College of Public Health and provides free and confidential workplace safety consultations to private sector businesses. To learn more and to request a consultation, visit www.usfsafetyflorida.com |
Technology Conservation Group Reduces Injuries and Illness after Working with On-site Consultation (2/29/2012) |
|
Success Brief: Technology Conservation Group (TCG) in Lecanto, Florida had always strived to create and maintain safe working conditions for its workers, and even had an existing environmental safety and health program in place at the worksite. However, in 2005, TCG’s injury and illness rates were slightly above the industry average. After working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) On-site Consultation Program in Florida, the company was able to significantly improve its injury and illness incidence rates in addition to its safety and health management system (SHMS) to such an extent, that the company was recognized in OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in 2006. SHARP recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary SHMS. Acceptance of a company into SHARP is an achievement of recognition that singles out the company among its business peers as a model for worksite safety and health. “When it comes to achieving SHARP success,” says TCG President, Hamilton Rice, “it’s not about one person. It takes everybody to make this happen.” Rice continued, “The On-site Consultation Program has raised the profile of safety and health within our organization, and we are extremely proud of the fact that our Florida facility has achieved OSHA SHARP [recognition].” As of 2012, other TCG facilities have become inspired to follow the lead of the Lecanto facility. Company Description: TCG has its corporate headquarters in Lecanto, Florida. TCG (NAICS 562920, Materials Recovery Facilities) is a total recycler of electronic scrap, by-products and other technological products. The Situation: In 2005, TCG reported that their Days Away, Restricted, and/or Transfer (DART) rate was 5.88. DART measures the number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees that resulted in days away from work, restricted work activity and/or job transfer and is a tool used to assess the degree to which workers are exposed to hazards in a company or industry. For comparison, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average DART reported by other companies in NAICS 562920 was 5.1 in 2005. While TCG had an existing environmental safety and health program, the company’s management was determined to improve efforts to protect its workers. TCG first learned of the OSHA On-site Consultation Program in 2005, when a company representative attended a safety conference in Orlando, Florida. In March 2005, management at TCG decided to address workplace safety concerns and requested a safety and health consultative visit from OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program. This federally funded program, which offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses, is available to businesses in all U.S. states and several territories. In Florida, the On-site Consultation Program is administered by the University of South Florida (USF) through its “USF SafetyFlorida” program. According to Neil Lukey, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager at TCG’s Lecanto facility, “It really was a ‘no-brainer’ to utilize this fantastic resource to improve health and safety within the company. In addition, we wanted to improve the health and safety program at the facility and also wanted to get recognition for our firm commitment to health and safety within the company.” The Solution: During the initial walkthrough of the Lecanto facility in April 2005, the USF SafetyFlorida consultant who worked with TCG to educate them on the benefits of consultation, identified several hazards related to electrical safety and compressed air piping. These were remedied immediately after the audit. In addition, USF SafetyFlorida assisted TCG with developing a SHMS, which includes a Corrective and Preventive Action system for addressing all non-compliance issues that are identified. TCG built on the advice provided by the USF SafetyFlorida consultant and implemented a “5 Whys Root Cause Analysis” (RCA) as well as a verification of effectiveness system. The practice of RCA is based on the belief that problems are best solved by attempting to address, correct or eliminate root causes, as opposed to merely addressing the immediately obvious symptoms. By directing corrective measures at root causes, it is more probable that problem recurrence will be prevented. The USF SafetyFlorida consultant recommended TCG pursue recognition in SHARP. “At first, management and employees did not understand the significance of the SHARP,” says Debra Jackson, TCG’s EHS administrator, “but once the benefits of earning SHARP were explained by the consultant, everyone was on board.” According to Neil Lukey, “The main challenges that we identified while improving the SHMS have been keeping the momentum moving forward. We have conquered this challenge by using improvement goals as part of the continual improvement requirements of our Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety (QEHS) Management System. Additionally, health and safety performance is reported to Corporate on a monthly basis as well as during our quarterly Management Review. This has really kept the profile of our QEHS Management System high within the company.” The Impact: After working with USF SafetyFlorida for about a year, TCG earned recognition in SHARP in September 2006. In 2008, TCG recorded only two injuries and illnesses, giving it a Total Recordable Case Rate (TRC) of 2.4, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 3.9. TCG’s DART rate that year was 2.4, also below the 3.1 industry average. In 2009, TCG had a TRC of 1.0 and DART of 1.0. By contrast, according to the BLS, 2009 industry average rates for TRC and DART were 4.2 and 2.1 respectively. That same year, as a result of the company’s dedication to improve workplace safety, TCG earned its first SHARP renewal. Consequently, the company is actively working towards achieving OSHA SHARP status at its other facilities located in Kentucky and Oregon. The benefit of working with OSHA On-site Consultation is very evident. According to Neil Lukey, “TCG conducts EHS audits of all of our downstream vendors as part of our QEHS Management System. During these audits we recommend the On-site Consultation Program to other companies that we do business with whenever we have the opportunity.” |
Technology Conservation Group, Inc. Offers Local College Scholarships |
| Lecanto, FL – TECHNOLOGY CONSERVATION GROUP, INC., through its Community Outreach program, will host its second annual high school essay and art contests. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each contest will be presented with scholarships toward the college of their choice in the amounts of $1,500.00, $1,000.00 and $750.00 for the essay contest and $400.00,$250.00, and $100.00 for the art contest. In addition to the scholarship funds, donations of $500.00 will be awarded to the 1st place winner’s school science and art departments respectively.
Technology Conservation Group believes that education is the key to increasing the recycling rate. In an effort to encourage the public to recycle as well as raise awareness of the harmful materials that end up in landfills when electronics are disposed of improperly, Technology Conservation Group visits local schools to educate children, hosts facility tours for students and awards annual college scholarships using recycling-based contests. |
Enterprise Scale
Support for projects across the United States and Mexico.
Secure Process
Chain-of-custody controls and detailed documentation.
Responsible Outcomes
Reuse, recovery and accountable recycling.
Transparent Reporting
Customer visibility from pickup through settlement.