Sustainability and Nomadism at Alcova

Berrien County residents have an extra chance to get unneeded electronic items recycled for free Wednesday. Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams tells WSJM News Green Earth Electronics Recycling in St. Joseph will stay open later than usual so people can drop off items. They’ll take anything with a cord or that runs on batteries. Adams says it’s better to dispose of those items in this way for multiple reasons.  “All electronics contain things like plastic, metal, glass, and other recyclable materials, but some electronics also contain hazardous components such as lead or mercury,” Adams said. “So keeping these materials out of the regular waste stream is good for environmental health as well as public health.”

Think about how many different pieces of technology the average household has purchased in the last decade. Phones, TVs, computers, tablets, and game consoles don’t last forever, and repairing them is difficult and often as expensive as simply buying a replacement. Electronics are integral to modern society, but electronic waste (e-waste) presents a complex and growing challenge in the path toward a circular economy—a more sustainable economic system that focuses on recycling materials and minimizing waste. Adding to the global waste challenge is the prevalence of dishonest recycling practices by companies who claim to be recycling electronics but actually dispose of them by other means, such as in landfills or shipping the waste to other countries.

NoMuWood is a digital platform that aims to inspire and inform Nordic Municipalities on the possibilities of wood construction.

The finance and sustainability worlds are converging faster than ever before. For investors and companies, that means having a clear understanding of the key issues, both now and in the coming months, from setting targets and timetables to learning the language of Wall Street. It means having a shared understanding with internal stakeholders: the risk department, government relations, investor relations and those overseeing energy, emissions reductions, water use and more.  All of this has been taking place for years, never more so than in the past 24 months. So, where are we? What are the emerging issues? What are the changing expectations of investors, regulators and financial institutions around the world? And, perhaps most important: Are we even making progress?