E-Recycling Training Book How to safely dismantle e-waste for jewelry assembly Creative Minds Penn State Berks

Welcome to the Creative Minds Training Book!

This handy accessible training book will cover information on basic electronic recycling waste, information

on how to safely dismantle laptop components, what tools to use, and how to assemble jewelry from

recycled electronics.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject

matter covered. Information and images used by other references will be provided at the end of the book.

PUBLISHED BY

Penn State Berks University ENTR 497A: E-Recycling & Product Design Students

Linda Camacho

Joshua Hagy

Timothy Heiler Krystle Morales

Jeffrey Wieland

This training book was published in Reading, PA, United States in May 2011

i

Table of Contents

Preface ii

Chapter 1: Diagram on Laptop and Desktops 1 Provides visual identification of components and the process to tear apart the electronic

waste. The chapter provides labeled pictures of a laptop and parts from a desktop. It is

the foundation needed for the next section on disassembling the identified items from

this chapter.

Chapter 2: Disassembly of the Electronic Waste 8 Provides general instructions to disassemble laptops and desktops from start to finish.

This section instructs you on what components can be salvaged and how to sort them for

the assembly of jewelry.

Chapter 3: General Tools 9 Provides a detailed overview of the general tools required to disassemble electronic

waste, as well as the right tools required for assembling jewelry. The chapter covers how

the necessary tools should be used, the safety concerns of each tool, as well as the

necessary supplies and how to use them to tear apart e-waste. The supplies are also noted

with safety precautions, if necessary.

Chapter 4: Safety Precautions 12 Presents the most important section of this handbook, the safety concerned with

hazardous materials. This section covers the concerns of the materials, environmental

effects, human effects and what to do if a person comes in contact with these materials.

This section also covers minor and intermediate issues of safety. An overview of all the

hazards of certain components that can cause serious body harm is discussed, and with

tips on how to handle it safely. In addition, this chapter covers the issues and first aid

practices if any problems occur.

Chapter 5: Assembly of Jewelry 15 The preceding chapter provided guidelines for how to employ crafty skills to design e-

waste jewelry. In Chapter 4, assembly techniques are covered, and example images of e-

waste jewelry are shown. This section provides helpful tips on the importance of creativity

and thinking “outside the box” when creating one-of-a kind e-waste jewelry. Standard

sizes on rings, necklaces, and earrings are included for future reference. In addition, this

chapter provides a list of specifications for both males and females.

Examples of Jewelry and Art 17

Chapter 6: How to Create a Business Plan 19 This chapter gives a description of how to write a business plan. It can help any

business in many ways, no matter how small the business. This gives the reader an

advantage when their goal is to make money.

References 22

ii

Preface As electronic waste (e-waste) expands three times faster than other waste, it’s becoming a

problem at local dumping sites. E-waste contains toxic chemicals that contaminate the land,

water, air, and people’s health. The cost of disposing this waste is extremely high. How can

this resource of electronic components be used to create business opportunities that are feasible

and safe? Since e-waste is easily available, dismantling computer components safely and using

the parts to create unique pieces of jewelry is one way to help the environment and create a

revenue source. The electronic waste components are small enough to dismantle and handle.

Proper training and handling of the materials and toxic chemicals is necessary.

This handbook will provide the basics of each component; the safety concerns, and how it can

be used or disposed of correctly. In addition, it offers practical techniques and tips to

disassemble laptops, what tools to use and how to the assemble jewelry.

Raw computer components don’t start out looking like jewelry. You will have to dismantle the

elements, separate the parts, and use a creative mind to design and produce the product. If you

are new to this topic, this is your ticket to an exciting opportunity to convert e-waste into

fashionable pieces of art.

This handbook is filled with suggestions to prepare you for an exciting business opportunity in

the emerging e-waste jewelry industry. It will help you develop the proper skills and tools to

use and the safety precautions to take. You will learn, step-by-step, how to make jewelry safely

and properly from the easiest to the most complex stages. You will get insightful tips and

images of different types of jewelry to stimulate your imagination.

After reading this handbook, you will have a solid foundation on which you can build jewelry.

The goal is to follow the international desire to clean up the environment and supply services

to help the world become a better place.

1

Chapter 1: Laptops and Desktops

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

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Fig. 3

Fig. 4

3

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

4

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

5

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

6

Fig. 11 (Above) Fig. 12 (Below)

7

Fig. 13

Fig. 14

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Chapter 2: Disassembly of the Electronic Waste

Figure 1: To begin disassembly, first remove the battery, any access panels (one has already

been removed in this picture), and any screws holding the laptop together.

Figure 2: Remove the CD drive. This might involve a clip, a screw or just a paperclip.

Figure 3: Take the CD drive apart. Start removing the two halves of the laptop case. There

will be plastic snaps that can be frustrating.

Figure 4: Once the Laptop case is apart, remove the keyboard. There might be clips, screws

or it might just come off easily. There will be a ribbon-like wire connecting the keyboard to

the rest of the laptop.

Figure 5: Start removing screws so individual chips and boards can be separated from the

main board.

Figure 6: If you haven’t removed the hard drive, you probably can remove it now. Continue

removing screws to separate other chips, heat-sinks, and sheet metal until everything has

been detached from one another.

Figure 7: Start sorting all the parts you have into categories such as: chips and boards

(usually green but sometimes black, blue, or red); steel and aluminum (silver in color);

copper (orange-brown in color); and plastics.

Figure 8: If you can, sort the metal parts into: aluminum (non-magnetic); steel, sheet metal,

and steel-aluminum (all should be magnetic).

Figure 9: Recycle the screen and plastics. Use everything else and be creative!

Figure 10 and Figure 11: A motherboard produced in 2011. Each port or slot will most

likely have something connected to it. Most motherboards have all of these same ports and

slots, but they may change shape, color, or quantity depending on the age and size of the

board.

Figure 12: This is a typical video card. Most laptops do NOT have a separate card for

graphics and some desktops don’t have a separate card either. There are other video cards

that are more powerful and will have a bigger heat-sink and fan.

Figure 13: These are two sizes of hard drives. The smaller one on the left can be found in

laptops. The bigger hard drive on the right can be found in desktops.

Figure 14: This is a heat-sink. All electronics have them. They are made of aluminum,

copper, or both. They are usually held to a board by screws, clips, tape, or thermal grease.

9

Chapter 3: General Tools

Creating handmade jewelry is a very popular hobby that involves creativity and artistic talent.

However, as the first step in the creative process, it is said that the most important decision jewelers

have to make when starting is the selection of jewelry tools. A good jeweler will spend a great deal

of time finding the right tools for the pieces. Utilizing the right tools make the difference in a

professional-looking jewelry design. Several different tools are used, including those for shaping,

cutting, flattening, texturing, and hardening. Finally, you need tools for smoothing sharp bits, for

polishing and cleaning tarnish and oxidation.

When picking a tool for jewelry making, quality is the first thing that should be considered.

Supplies come in many shapes, sizes, and material. Depending upon what type of jewelry being

made, choosing the correct tools can be a challenge. Jewelry tools make quite a difference in the

quality of the finished piece; in this case, the tools are the most important asset, and should be cared

for. Consideration should be taken in selecting the best wire jewelry-making glues and adhesives.

There are special jewelry glues and adhesives for crystal, silver, leather, glass or ceramic jewelry.

The best wire jewelry-making glues and adhesives will transform your experience, making sure the

pieces you create last a long time.

Caution should be exercised when using tools or materials with sharp edges which might be

harmful to the craftsman. For materials with sharp edges, these edges should either be sanded or

ground down dull enough so they do not pose a threat to skin. Exposed sharp edges should be

taped, cut, or ground down to avoid danger.

Sealant:

Sealant is very important in making jewelry since it allows two items to be joined together to make

something unique. Glue, Epoxy and Silicon are the most common forms of sealant and are found in

most hardware stores. Follow the directions on the bottle to use these products safely and

effectively.

Hand Tools:

There are many handheld tools needed for making jewelry including: torx drivers, screwdrivers,

needle nose pliers, saw, wire-cutters, soldering irons and small hammers.

Wire:

Wire is a useful material to form earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Wire can also be used in

conjunction with beads or stones to create beautiful jewelry designs. Metalsmiths use wire to create

components such as jump rings and clasps. Pieces of wire are also soldered together to build cuff

bracelets and pendants. A large variety of jewelry can be created by simply bending wire into

various shapes and connecting these shapes together.

Wire comes in different size gauges: the larger the gauge number, the smaller in diameter of wire.

A 26-gauge piece of wire is thinner than a 16-gauge piece. For simple wire bending projects, 14-

gauge to 26-gauge should be used, 18-gauge and 20-gauge are the most popular sizes for simple

wire shapes, and 24 to 26-gauge work best for a project requiring the attachment of beads

10

Wire comes in different shapes as well as sizes: half round, round, and square. Round is used most

often, but other shapes of wire can give different looks to the designs. Half round is often used to

wrap around other pieces of wire to connect them. Square wire is most often used for wire

wrapping projects such as wrapping a cabochon or making a bangle bracelet. Round wire is used

for techniques such as wire wrapped loops.

When ordering wire, you’ll notice jewelry supply companies normally offer dead soft, half hard,

and full hard varieties. As the names indicate, the wires have different degrees of hardness. Dead

soft wire is the easiest to manipulate and is often used for sculpted pieces and light-weight wire

wrapped jewelry such as a bead and wire chain bracelet. Fewer tools are needed since these softer

wires can be bent fairly easily. Soft wire works well for many wire projects such as bending into

shapes or using with beads. However, it is not recommended for use with projects that hold large

stones or projects that will have a lot of wear such as bangles. For larger and heavier jewelry

pieces, use half hard or full hard wire. Normally, more tools are needed in order to manipulate hard

wire. Half hard wire is often used for wire wrapped jewelry that is primarily made of wire, like a

wire wrapped bangle bracelet.

Soldering:

Soldering is a method used to connect metal surfaces using heat and solder. By heating the metal,

particles move apart and tiny spaces are created. The solder (a metal alloy) is then able to flow into

these tiny spaces, and this connects the metals together. There are a variety of solders available.

Silver solder is used for silver or copper, and gold solder is best for gold creations. The average

silversmith uses hard, medium, and soft, also known as easy. These types of solder are used

depending on the melting temperature (high to low) and are used when a piece is soldered more

than once. For example, to solder a piece three times without melting the previous work, start with

hard, then use medium for the second solder, and finish up with soft for the third solder. Solder

comes in stick, wire, or sheet. These are the melting temperatures of silver solder:

Soft = 1325 °F

Medium = 1390 °F

Hard = 1425 °F

When soldering silver, or any metal for that matter, there are a few variables depending on what is

being soldered, but for the most part, follow the same series of steps each time soldering the metal

pieces. First, set up a safe area to solder. This normally requires a large ceramic tile, a fire brick or

heat resistance pad, and an overhead lamp. The fire brick is put on top of the tile. Also make sure

to work in a very well-ventilated area. Some other items to have nearby are a pair of copper tongs,

a jar of water, small paint brush, your solder and flux, and a pickle pot.

Once an area is set up, make sure that whatever parts are being soldered fit together well. This

often requires careful filing to ensure there is a tight fit. Next, it’s important that whatever is being

soldering is clean and free from grease and oils that are transmitted to the metal from your hands.

So, each piece that is to be soldered should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. After each piece is

cleaned, it’s recommended to use a pair of pliers or tweezers to handle the metal and arrange it on

the fire brick in preparation for soldering.

11

Once the pieces to solder are cleaned and arranged on the brick, it’s time to cut the solder. Just as

the metal should be clean, so should the solder. Use wire cutters or very sharp scissors to cut tiny

pieces of solder. Set them aside on your tile for later. Now it’s time to flux, which helps the solder

flow and bond. There are two different kinds of flux. It’s a matter of personal choice.

A. The first way uses a type of flux called Battern’s. It’s light yellow in color. The flux is

applied to the area to be soldered using a thin paint brush. Then the solder is placed on

the metal. This way the flux and solder are heated at the same time.

B. The second way uses a borax based flux that is more like a paste. The flux is again

applied with a thin brush. However, instead of immediately applying the solder, the

metal is heated first until the fluxed area looks like glass. Then the solder is placed on

the metal.

If extra time is needed to arrange the solder, then it seems like choice B works better because it also

makes the soldered area a little on the sticky side. However, it seems like an unneeded extra step

because choice B requires that the metal be heated twice, while choice A allows the flux and heat

the solder at the same time.

Tweezers work well for placing the tiny pieces of solder onto the metal. When placing solder on the

metal, it should be positioned between the areas that will best join the metal. A little solder will go a

long way if placed correctly. Unfortunately, this requires some practice.

Once the solder is in place, it’s time to start up the torch. First, all the metal should be heated so that

the temperature for soldering is reached at the same time. The solder will follow the heat, so try not

to point the flame right at the solder. Draw the solder through the joint being connected. Continue

to keep the flame on the metal until the solder runs through the joint, and then remove the flame

immediately.

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Chapter 4: Safety Precautions

Due to rapid technological advancement, many electronic products become obsolete within a very

short period of time, creating a large surplus of unwanted electronic products, or “e-waste.”

Disposing of e-waste in landfills has the potential to cause severe human and environmental health

impacts.

We cannot realistically put all the lead and cadmium for example, back into the earth and cover it

up. We need to deal with their presence. At best, we can find better ways to measure them in our

water, our air, our food, and our body; learn more about where we obtain them; and work

preventively to avoid excessive exposure. Most of these heavier metals are quite stable and

decompose fairly slowly, if at all, so they remain in the environment. Luckily, the human body is

able to clear much of the modest amount we pick up by eliminating it through our urine, sweat, and

feces. Absorption of these metals is usually pretty low as well. But when our natural means of

elimination are reduced or our exposure is increased, we may run into trouble.

Hazardous materials or HazMat, are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living

organisms, property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations.

"HazMat” teams are personnel specially trained to handle dangerous goods. Dangerous goods

include materials that are radioactive, flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, bio

hazardous, toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic. Also included are physical conditions such as

compressed gases and liquids or hot materials, including all goods containing such materials or

chemicals, or may have other characteristics that render them hazardous in specific circumstances.

The most common hazardous materials found in E-Waste can include, but are not limited to:

Arsenic

Antinomy

Beryllium

Cadmium

Chromium

Copper

Lead

Mercury

Nickel

Zinc

Protective Measures - Whenever it is feasible, controls must be used to reduce personal

exposures to hazardous materials. The two most common controls are the use of local exhaust

and general ventilation. These measures limit personal exposure to airborne contaminants.

When these controls are not available, or they fail to adequately reduce hazards, other personal

protective equipment is required. Examples of personal protective equipment include: safety

glasses, hearing protection, gloves, respirators, etc.

In order to safely and properly handle and store hazardous materials, it is important to know the

hazards of those materials. University personnel working with hazardous materials must be

aware of the hazards those materials present. Hazardous materials may generally be assigned to

one or more of the following classifications:

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Flammable liquid: any liquid having a flash point below 1000F (37.80C); i.e., at 1000F or

less

Combustible liquid: any liquid having a flash point between 100 and 2000F (37.8-

93.30C). These liquids produce enough vapors to ignite if exposed to an ignition source.

Flammable solid: a substance that can cause a fire through friction, absorption of

moisture or spontaneous chemical changes and, when ignited, will burn so vigorously

that it creates a hazard.

Oxidizer: a substance that readily yields oxygen or other electron acceptor to stimulate

the combustion of any fuel.

Corrosive: a liquid that corrodes steel (SAE 1020) at a rate greater than 6.35 mm (0.250

in.) at a test temperature of 1300F (550C) or has a pH less than 2 or greater than 12.5.

Organic Peroxide: an organic compound containing the chemical bond -0-0- (oxygen

joined to oxygen).

Poison: a substance so toxic that it presents a risk to life or health.

Explosive: any chemical compound, mixture or device that reacts or decomposes with

substantial instantaneous release of gas and heat.

Compressed Gas: a substance in gas or liquid form contained in a vessel under pressure.

This includes cylinders, lecture bottles, and aerosol cans. These substances may be

flammable, non-flammable, or poisonous.

Why Is Lead Harmful?

Lead Poisoning - Long-term exposure to lead, can cause serious health problems, particularly in

young kids. Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children are at greatest risk

for health problems from lead poisoning — their smaller, growing bodies make them more

susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead. Each year in the United States 310,000 kids aged 1

to 5 years old are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood. This can lead to a wide range

of symptoms, from headaches and stomach pain to behavioral problems and anemia (not enough

healthy red blood cells). Lead can also affect a child's developing brain.

When the body is exposed to lead — by being inhaled, swallowed, or in a small number of cases,

absorbed through the skin — it can act as a poison. Exposure to high levels of lead in a short

period of time is called acute toxicity. Exposure to small amounts of lead over a long period of

time is called chronic toxicity.

Lead is particularly dangerous because once it gets into a person's system. It is distributed

throughout the body just like helpful minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc. And lead can

cause harm wherever it lands in the body. In the bloodstream, for example, it can damage red

blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues that need it, thus

causing anemia.

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Most lead ends up in the bone where it can cause major problems. Lead can interfere with the

production of blood cells and the absorption of calcium that bones need to grow healthy and

strong. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, and nerve and blood

vessel function.

Effects of Long-Term Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning can lead to a variety of health problems in kids, including:

Decreased bone and muscle growth

Poor muscle coordination

Damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or hearing

Speech and language problems

Developmental delay

Seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of extremely high lead levels)

Signs of Lead Poisoning

Many kids with lead poisoning don't show any signs of being sick, so it's important to eliminate

lead risks at home and to have young kids tested for lead exposure.

When kids do develop symptoms of lead poisoning, they usually appear as:

Irritability or behavioral problems

Pica (eating of non-nutritious

things such as dirt and paint chips)

Difficulty concentrating

Headaches

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Sluggishness or fatigue

Abdominal pain

Vomiting or nausea

Constipation

Pallor (pale skin) from anemia

Metallic taste in mouth

Muscle and joint weakness or pain

Seizures

Treatment

Treatment for lead poisoning varies depending on how much lead is in the blood. Small amounts

often can be treated rather easily; the most important part of therapy is reduction of lead

exposure. Gradually, as the body naturally eliminates the lead, the level of lead in the blood will

fall.

Kids with severe cases and extremely high lead levels in their blood will be hospitalized to

receive a medication called a chelating agent, which chemically binds with lead, making it

weaker so the body can get rid of it naturally.

All siblings of a child found to have lead poisoning also should be tested. Doctors will report

cases of lead poisoning to the public health department

15

Chapter 5: Assembly of Jewelry and Art “Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts, and never hope more than you work.”

-Rita Mae Brown

Creativity: the ability to use your imagination, and originality, on a traditional idea and make a

meaningful new idea, form, method and/or interpretation. Fun Fact: the word creativity was first used in 1875 Being creative is the one thing in the world where there is no right or wrong answer. It should

come from the heart and the mind, and you should never second guess your doings.

History of Jewelry Making

The first and oldest types of jewelry were created by

primitive humans found in Bombos Cave in South Africa.

They were small mollusk (shellfish) used as beads.

Advanced jewelry

making developed

approximately 3000-5000 years ago.

Egyptians, Europeans, and Chinese all used jewelry as a sign

of wealth, power and social status. During this time jewelries

were worn only during religious ceremonies.

Today’s jewelry began during the Modern

Jewelry Movement, which began after the end of World

War II. Many jewelers advanced the idea of “wearable

art” and it made it more financially available to larger

percentage of the human population.

Standard

Jewelry Size

Women

Men

Bracelets 7”-9” 8.5”-9”

Rings 5-8 8-11

Necklaces See Picture

Below

18”-24”

Anklets 8”-11.5” -

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Tricks and Tips for Making Jewelry

1. Before starting a project, make sure you know all your tools, how they are used and what

they are used for. Also learn about the materials you will be using, even though the

materials provided would be relatively harmless, but having knowledge about what you

are working with can be very beneficial.

2. Always keep your mind open for inspiration. What is great about the world we live in is

that inspiration can be found right in your own backyard. They can be found in nature,

magazines, and television shows; the opportunities are endless. Prior to creating your

pieces you should write out or sketch your ideas. Take note of sizes and be aware of the

materials and tools you will need.

3. When gathering your materials, make sure you stay focused on the task at hand. Getting

things that are not necessary can be overwhelming, and may cause you to lose focus on

your creation. Create a list before you gather you materials.

4. Always stay focus and organized. And never second guess your artistic instinct.

5. JUST HAVE FUN!

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Examples of Jewelry and Art:

18

19

Chapter 6: How to Create a Business Plan (Abrams, 2003)

What is a business plan?

A business plan is any plan that works for a business to look ahead, allocate resources, focus on

key points, and prepare for problems and opportunities.

Unfortunately, many people think of business plans only for starting a new business or applying

for business loans. But they are also vital for running a business, whether or not the business

needs new loans or new investments. Businesses need plans to optimize growth and development

according to priorities.

What’s in a business plan?

A business plan should prove that your business will generate enough revenue to cover your

expenses, but a business plan may vary depending on your audience. If you are writing a plan for

your colleagues and partners to expand an existing business, then the focus of that plan may be

more operational than financial. If you are writing a plan for a bank, the most important aspect to

the bank manager will be your financials. Are your assumptions realistic? Will the cash flow be

enough that you can make the monthly payments for the loan you have requested? If your

business is making $1,000 a month and your payments are $1,200 a month, the bank is likely to

turn you away.

If you are writing a plan for a venture capitalist, the most important factor in a decision to invest

in a company is the quality of the people. In real estate, where the three biggest criteria are

“location, location and location,” the venture capital axiom is “people, people and people.” VCs

will ask, how experienced are the people that are going to run this business? Do they have

knowledge of the industry? Have they started successful ventures in the past?

What’s a startup plan?

A simple startup plan includes a summary, mission statement, keys to success, market analysis,

and break-even analysis. This kind of plan is good for deciding whether or not to proceed with a

plan, to tell if there is a business worth pursuing, but it is not enough to run a business with.

No time to plan? A common misconception

“Not enough time for a plan,” business people say. “I can’t plan. I’m too busy getting things

done.” A business plan now can save time and stress later.

Too many businesses make business plans only when they have to. Unless a bank or investors

want to look at a business plan, there isn’t likely to be a plan written. The busier you are, the

more you need to plan. If you are always putting out fires, you should build fire breaks or a

sprinkler system. You can lose the whole forest for too much attention to the individual trees.

20

Successful implementation starts with a good plan.

There are elements that will make a plan more likely to be successfully implemented. Some of

the clues to implementation include:

1. Is the plan simple? Is it easy to understand and to act on? Does it communicate its

contents easily and practically?

2. Is the plan specific? Are its objectives concrete and measurable? Does it include specific

actions and activities, each with specific dates of completion, specific persons responsible

and specific budgets?

3. Is the plan realistic? Are the sales goals, expense budgets, and milestone dates realistic?

Nothing stifles implementation like unrealistic goals.

4. Is the plan complete? Does it include all the necessary elements? Requirements of a

business plan vary, depending on the context. There is no guarantee, however, that the

plan will work if it doesn’t cover the main bases.

Does your plan include the following necessary factors?

A Sound Business Concept: The single most common mistake made by entrepreneurs is not

selecting the right business initially. The best way to learn about your prospective business is to

work for someone else in that business before beginning your own. There can be a huge gap

between your concept of a fine business and reality.

Understanding of Your Market: A good way to test your understanding is to test market your

product or service before your start. You think you have a great kite that will capture the

imagination of kite fliers throughout the world? Then craft some of them and try selling them

first.

A Healthy, Growing and Stable Industry: Remember that some of the great inventions of all

time, like airplanes and cars, did not result in economic benefit for many of those who tried to

exploit these great advances. For example, the cumulative earnings of all airlines since Wilber

Wright flew that first plane are less than zero. (Airline losses have been greater than their

profits.) Success comes to those who find businesses with great economics and not necessarily

great inventions or advances to mankind.

Capable Management: Look for people you like and admire, who have good ethical values, have

complementary skills and are smarter than you. Plan to hire people who have the skills that you

lack. Define your unique ability and seek out others who turn your weaknesses into strengths.

Able Financial Control: You will learn later the importance of becoming qualified in accounting,

computer software and cash flow management. Most entrepreneurs do not come from accounting

backgrounds and must go back to school to learn these skills. Would you bet your savings in a

game where you don't know how to keep score? People mistakenly do it in business all the time.

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A Consistent Business Focus: As a rule, people who specialize in a product or service will do

better than people who do not specialize. Focus your efforts on something that you can do so

well that you will not be competing solely on the basis of price.

A Mindset to Anticipate Change: Don't commit yourself too early. Your first plan should be

written in pencil, not in ink. Keep a fluid mindset and be aggressive in making revisions as

warranted by changing circumstances and expanding knowledge.

TOP TEN DO'S

1. Prepare a complete business plan for any business you are considering.

2. Use the business plan templates furnished in each session.

3. Complete sections of your business plan as you proceed through the course.

4. Research (use search engines) to find business plans that are available on the Internet.

5. Package your business plan in an attractive kit as a selling tool.

6. Submit your business plan to experts in your intended business for their advice.

7. Spell out your strategies on how you intend to handle adversities.

8. Spell out the strengths and weaknesses of your management team.

9. Include a monthly one-year cash flow projection.

10. Freely and frequently modify your business plans to account for changing conditions.

TOP TEN DON'TS

1. Be optimistic (on the high side) in estimating future sales.

2. Be optimistic (on the low side) in estimating future costs.

3. Disregard or discount weaknesses in your plan. Spell them out.

4. Stress long-term projections. Better to focus on projections for your first year.

5. Depend entirely on the uniqueness of your business or the success of an invention.

6. Project yourself as someone you're not. Be brutally realistic.

7. Be everything to everybody. Highly focused specialists usually do best.

8. Proceed without adequate financial and accounting know-how.

9. Base your business plan on a wonderful concept. Test it first.

10. Don’t skip the step of preparing a business plan before starting.

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References:

Abrams, Rhonda. The Successful Business Plan. Palo Alto: The Planning Shop, 2003. Print.

Africa. Ministry of Environment & Ministry Resources. Guideline for E-Waste Management in

Kenya. Web.

E-Waste Management in South Africa, Kenya and Morocco: Developing a Pathway to

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