National Technology Day, which falls on January 6 every year, recognizes the transformative power of technology and its impact on our daily lives. However, what do we do with all those gadgets and tech items once we’re done with them or have upgraded to a newer model? You can’t just throw them away.
Electronics such as mobile phones, computers, monitors, copy machines, and air conditioners are made from valuable and reusable resources such as rare materials, precious metals, plastics, and glass. These devices also contain hazardous and toxic materials, and they must be disposed of properly in order to prevent pollution and serious risks to public health.
That’s where eForce Recycling steps in. Founded in 2008 by Jay Segal, eForce is a nationally certified electronic and computer recycling company based in Philadelphia. The company works with the federal government, private companies, municipalities, and consumers to safely dispose of and recycle e-waste.
“People have to take responsibility of their e-waste. Our business provides an important service,” explained Segal. “We understand that each organization has different recycling needs and we provide tailored recycling programs according to those needs while meeting and exceeding environmental compliance regulations.” Some of the company’s high profile clients have included Urban Outfitters, Brandywine Realty Trust, Preit, the Philadelphia Eagles and Cushman & Wakefield.
There are plenty of recyclers, but eForce is one of the greenestand earth friendly in the U.S., and certainly the most compliant when it comes to strict EPA and DEP regulations. The company makes a substantial financial commitment every year oncompliance. eForce has achieved National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) AAA certification, the highest available certification for the industry. “That means we do things the right way when it comes to our clients’ data destruction,” noted Segal. In order for eForce Recycling to achieve AAA certification, the firm had to pass annual, unannounced audits conducted by independent Certified Protection Professionals (CPP). eForce is also an eSteward certified recycler, which means all the material is handled in the U.S. by a network of approved certified downstream processors or vendors.
“We record every pound that we receive and or audit every pound we ship, regardless of the material, which allows for us to provide transparent downstream verification of the materials we process,” said Segal. When reuse or remarketing is not an option, all obsolete material is demanufactured onsite, not shipped overseas. The company’s 50,000 square-foot facilitylocated in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry section is one of only a handful of DEP approved demanufacturing facilities. Demanufacturing — dismantling everything manually and pulling out harmful materials — provides the highest level of safety for the landfill or incinerators.
eForce also offers recycling services for: furniture and equipment; universal waste & battery; fluorescent lamps and bulbs; office decommissioning; and orchestrates recycling collection events for the general public in various communitiesthroughout the region. “Our motto is zero landfill, and I’m extremely proud to lead a company that is doing good in the community while helping the environment,” beamed Segal.
This isn’t the first time Segal has headed up a business whosemission is to reuse. You could say the 84-year-old has been “recycling” his whole career, even before that became a buzzword and common household term. He opened his first business in 1972 — a scrap metal yard in North Philadelphia. Ten years later he pivoted to recycling electronics for their metallic and component value, founding Selectronics, Inc. during the early years of the personal computer era, partnering with giants such as IBM, RCA and Hewlett Packard. In the 1990s he became one of the first independent component distributors and recyclers in the country before establishing eForce Recycling in 2008.
“I didn’t set out to save the planet when I started in this business 52 years ago,” said Segal. “I was happy that we were helping the environment, but I didn’t really focus on the full impact of the good we were doing until a few years ago. It’s a great feeling knowing that my entire team and I are invested in the future of our planet and reducing our region’s carbon footprint, and it’s evident that more and more consumers, building owners, township managers and electronics manufacturers share our focus of helping the Earth.”