Colorado Agency Names Computer Recycling Sites

The Computer and Electronics Recycling Task Force, established by Colorado’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation, has worked to design and choose sites to collect various computer-related equipment. In addition to establishing collection points, the public/private partnership also is geared toward educating consumers on computer waste.

The OEMC issued a ``Community Computer Recycling Events Solicitation'' on February 14, 2002, throughout the state of Colorado. OEMC and members of the Task Force evaluated proposals based upon geographic location, community partnerships, local support and availability of matching funds. OEMC's partnership with EcoCycle and EPA Region 8 sponsored a series of computer recycling events in Boulder County. These events served as a learning ground for the development, design and selection for future events.

The first collection event was hosted by BETTR, Better Environment Through Technology Recycling, in Colorado Springs late last week

The group also announced a number of other collection events to be held from June through September. Susan Castellon, program manager at OEMC, said, ``OEMC and its partners hope to collect 300,000 pounds of obsolete computer equipment from these events.''

Other computer recycling collection events include the following: Fort Collins, April 27; Louisville, May 10-11; Valley Resource Management in Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Basalt and Carbondale, June 1; Eagle County, June 8; Southeast East Central Recycling Association in the cities of Burlington, Limon, La Junta, Lamar, June 8; Elbert County in Kiowa, June 8; Pueblo County Public Health Department, in Pueblo, June 22; Yampah Valley Recycles in Steamboat Springs, July 27; Summit Recycling Project, in Dillon, August 3; Grand Recycles in Winter Park, August 3. Dates are to be announced for the Montrose, Delta and San Miguel County events, which will also serve Gunnison, Ouray and Hinsdale counties. San Juan Basin Recycling Association's event will serve five surrounding counties: La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, Dolores and San Juan and will also be held in September.

The computer recycling events will accept monitors, CPUs, keyboards, scanners, printers and other computer peripherals. There will be a nominal charge in order to offset overall recycling costs.