Old broken monitors, after the glass lead shielding is removed, are shredded and then processed to extract and recover any base metals as well as precious metals. The aluminum and steel components of computers are sorted and sold to local scrap metal companies. Hallmark is currently installing equipment to process and granulize several different types of plastics, including some plastics recovered from computer equipment. Once the plastics processing equipment is installed, Hallmark will sell the granulized plastic to plastic recyclers such as Interstate Plastics, located in Vancouver, Washington, or other brokers that specializes in processed plastics. These products originate from sustainable forests that have been certified by an independent third-party certification organization.
Forest certification is site-specific.
The only standards that currently meet the criteria established by the Certified Forest Products Council are those of the Forest Stewardship Council. In order for products to receive the certification, two types of certification audits are conducted. Home Depot hopes to use its purchasing power to dramatically increase the supply of certified forest products and improve forest management around the world. Although their policy is rooted in environmental responsibility, Home Depot also believes that the decision makes good business sense, and will ensure an ample supply of forest products for generations to come. Recently proposed regulations from the Washington State Department of Ecology will affect how businesses handle the disposal of their fluorescent lamps.