Electronics Recycling Works In Mid-Atlantic States
More than 2,100 tons of used electronics have been collected from residents in the mid-Atlantic states over the past year through a collaboration between state government agencies and the electronics industry.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with state environmental agencies in the mid-Atlantic region, announced the results of eCycling, the nation’s first of a kind partnership to promote reuse and recycling of old computer equipment, televisions and electronics.
“We are proud to bring recycling to the electronic age. By safely recycling old computer and electronic equipment, this project is paving the way to sustainable eCycling and helping to save precious landfill space,” said Donald Welsh, the EPA’s mid-Atlantic regional administrator.
Using funds from the EPA, mid-Atlantic state environmental agencies, and manufacturers Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and other members of the Electronic Industries Alliance, eCycling prevented more than 21,000 cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from going into regional landfills and incinerators.
eCycling is a year long pilot project to evaluate different methods of collecting end of life electronics from residents and small businesses. The project is intended to reveal the costs and the best processes for electronics recycling, and define the roles and responsibilities of government, consumers, and electronics manufacturers, retailers and recyclers.
Electronic equipment collected during 45 eCycling drop off events in 31 counties and cities included televisions, monitors, computers, printers, keyboards and scanners. Both government and manufacturers shared the cost to transport and process the equipment collected through eCycling.
Other electronics manufacturers who contributed financially to eCycling included Canon, Hewlett Packard, JVC, Kodak, Philips Consumer Electronics – North America, and Thomson Multimedia.
Electronics recyclers who helped to transport, recycle, and refurbish three million pounds of eCycling electronics were Envirocycle, Inc., Elemental, Inc., and Waste Management, Inc. – Recycle America.
In a meeting held in the EPA regional office in Philadelphia on October 9, these government and industry partners agreed to continue offering mid-Atlantic residents electronics reuse and recycling opportunities for another year, and to try recruiting additional television and computer manufacturers to join eCycling.
Provided by the Lycos Environmental News Service.
