VOA标准英语2010年-New Life for Old Electronic Gadgets

With consumers rushing to buy the latest gadgets¹, the problem of what to do with discarded electronic products is becoming a growing environmental concern.  Although electronic recycling is not yet as popular as paper and plastic recycling, two American college students are betting it can be just as lucrative². 

YouRenew.com buys used electronic gadgets for recycling and, in some cases, for resale. The company was started two and a half years ago by two university students who saw electronic recycling as an environmentally friendly way of making money.

 

"Today, electronic recycling and reuse rates according to the EPA are still hovering³ around 10 percent, while it's upwards⁴ of 50 percent for papers, plastics, things of that nature," said Bob Casey. "Hopefully, we see those recycling rates really creep up, and I hope that we are on the leading edge of that," said co-founder Bob Casey

Analysts⁵ say the market for electronic recycling is expanding in the United States.  Just two years old, YouRenew.com says business has grown over 200 percent.

Company CEO Guy Minetti says the biggest challenge is building awareness⁶. "We still know there are many, many electronic devices that are sitting in businesses and closets in homes, in cupboards, just collecting dust," said Guy Minetti. "And building the awareness that one, people should recycle this for environmental purposes, as well as there is economic gain by doing it too."

As an incentive⁷, the company offers cash for cell phones, smart phones and older laptops. Those that are no longer working go directly to the recycling bin⁸. Others are stripped of data, reprogrammed and sold for a small profit.

Responding to consumer complaints, even Apple has decided⁹ to get into the recycling business, offering gift cards or discounts to customers who bring in select used electronics for recycling.

 

1 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

2 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

3 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

4 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

8 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。