New Yorkers E-waste Le$$
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 04.16.07
Laptops, printers, iPods, cell phones, and other electronics are an integral part of the lives of many a busy citizen. These gadgets allow us an unprecedented amount of flexibility and mobility. But what happens when they break? Full of hazardous materials, toxins and heavy metals, machines that once were indispensable become potential toxic waste. Valuable resources in every scrapped product are being trashed in rising volumes worldwide. Unscrupulous treatment of e-scrap leads to serious environmental problems, especially in developing countries.
The coming week offers New Yorkers the opportunity to learn more about the e-waste problem and also a chance to recycle their once beloved but now defunct electronics.
Drop off your unwanted or broken electronics for recycling this Earth Day, April 22nd at Union Square North Plaza from 8am-2pm. Clothing and linens will be accepted as well. For more info on this event visit NYCWasteLe$$ or call 311.
On April 19th from 2:00pm - 5:00pm the United Nations University in partnership with HP, Dell and several other technology companies and UN agencies is hosting an event to introduce a new global public-private initiative “Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP)." Goals for StEP include, standardizing recycling processes globally, in order to harvest valuable components in electrical and electronic scrap, "e-scrap," extending the life of e-scrap products and markets for their reuse, and harmonizing world legislative and policy approaches to e-scrap. You can register for this event and others here.
:: United Nations University :: StEP :: NYCWasteLe$$
The Goodwill Industries drop off site near me now advertises that they take all working and non-working electronics and that they properly dispose of non-working items that they cannot sell. So you can donate these, get a tax deduction and know that the items are being properly handled.
For those treehuggers in the U.S.'s 3rd largest city, Chicago has a household chemicals & computers dropoff program year-round.
Dropoff is at 1150 N. Branch St. (on goose island), Tuesdays from 7am till noon, Thursdays from 2 to 7 pm, and the first Saturday of every month from 8 am to 3 pm.
More info @ the program's website
here's another electronics recycling event, this saturday in park slope brooklyn:
Earth Day 2007
EcoFair and Recycle-In
Saturday, April 21st 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rain or Shine
In honor of Earth Day 2007, join us for an Eco Fair at the The Old Stone House on Saturday, April 21st from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Old Stone House is located in J.J. Byrne Park on 5th Avenue at 4th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
This recycling day is brought to you by RecycleThis! with support from The Park Slope Civic Council.
What about non NY'ers. I have a bunch of old stuff I would like to get rid of but don't know where to take it other than the dity dump.
Chicago operates a household chemicals and computers site year-round... it's located on Branch St. on goose island, and accepts leftover household chemicals, computers, batteries, cell phones, etc, Tuesday mornings, thursday afternoons, and on the first Saturday of every month.
The exact details are on the city's website...
Collection events are great, but New York City needs more comprehensive recycling for e-waste.
The City Council will soon be voting on Intro. 104 (link), a recycling bill that requires manufacturers to recycle their electronics at end of life.
These are the current sponsors (link); if your council member isn't a sponsor, get them to sign on.
-Ari
Can you trust HP, DELL to be self policing? In Canada, such brands have formed the EPSC (Electronic Producer's Stewardship Council) to look after their own best interests (and not the interests of the environment). The EPSC cares only about it's member brands and how to dodge responsibility for their products waste. In fact, they are pushing off ewaste program development back onto the public (see: http://www.epsc.ca/pdfs/betts_orlando_speech.pdf)
In the document above, it is worth noting the comments "We are a not for profit corporation financed and managed by our member companies" So, this not for profit company is financed and managed by the member companies, not exactly independant and free to do what is right, just be a puppet and do what those who pull the strings say.
The document goes on to say "We consider the financing we have received an advance that will be paid back to member companies following program intriduction". Yes, definately offloading ewaste program development from the source, to the consumer. So much for polluter pay.
The EPSC is out trying to find governments that will enact regulations to favor their own views of ewaste responsibility. Keep an eye out for this group coming to your state and finding willing politicians to fall into their trap.
Discuss.