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New Orleans Recycles with Public-Private Partnership Help
As New Orleans' families continue the cleanup efforts, they will face decisions of what to do with their storm-damaged, or otherwise unwanted, electronics. While EPA has been working hard to increase the collection and safe disposal of household electronics, a computer manufacturer lent a hand to the effort. Dell Inc, a Plug-In To eCycling partner, teamed up with EPA and local authorities for a one-day electronics event to collect electronics for recycling. The event collected more than 10,000 pounds of damaged electronics.
Held on Saturday, December 3rd at the Pontchartrain Center parking lot, the free event drew more than 100 residents of the greater New Orleans area and collected a range of electronics, including computer equipment, televisions, VCRs and radios. The two truckloads of electronics were sent to a regional recycling facility to be recycled in an environmentally safe manner. In addition to Dell and EPA, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, National Recycling Coalition, Jefferson Parish, Town of Kenner and the Pontchartrain Center also helped to make the event a success.
"This is exactly the kind of partnership that can support EPA's focus on recycling with communities affected by the Hurricane," said EPA Administrator Steve Johnson, "Recycling obsolete or damaged electronics in a responsible, safe way ensures that yesterday's gadgets do not become tomorrow's environmental problems."
Jake Player, Dell's Asset Recovery Services (ARS) manager, added, "We know that public-private partnerships at all levels of government and industry are an effective way to build solutions for collection and recycling of electronics."
In 2006, Dell expects to offer several free one-day computer recycling events in US cities where Dell has a facility. For consumers who want to recycle their computer equipment now, Dell will pick up any brand of computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor or printer for $10 per unit or free with a new Dell purchase through their Dell Recycling program.
Since November 2005, EPA has been working with local authorities to collect and recycle storm-damaged electronics, including computers, cell phones, and audio/video equipment. As of February 24, 2006, nearly 9,000,000 pounds of electronics have been collected for recycling.
EPA's Plug-In To eCycling partnership works to increase the number of electronic devices collected and safely recycled in the United States. Over the last three years, Plug-In To eCycling partners safely recycled more than 60 million pounds of old electronics through their collaborative efforts. The Dell electronics collection event exemplifies actions consistent with the RCC.
For More Information:
- Plug-In To eCycling - EPA's partnership program to increase safe recycling of electronics
- eCycling - EPA's Web site on reusing or recycling of consumer electronics
- Dell
Consumer Donation and Recycling
- Dell's Web site about their program for donating or recycling
used electronics