Connecticut DEP Joins the Northeast States Electronics Challenge

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has joined the Northeast States Electronics Challenge to reduce the environmental impact of electronics products that it purchases, uses and needs to replace, according to a press release.

“Through the Northeast States Electronic Challenge, the DEP is committed to purchasing ‘greener’ computer products, taking steps to reduce the energy demands and impact of computers during use and making certain that we properly manage the disposition of obsolete equipment,” says DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy.

McCarthy says DEP is moving forward to finalize details of a statewide “e-waste” program that will lead to a system of free and convenient municipal collection points for unwanted computers, monitors and televisions by July. With this system, the public will be able to take obsolete electronic equipment to a location where it will be properly stored and then recycled, the press release says.

“This collection and recycling system was called for in landmark legislation that established Connecticut as a leader,” McCarthy says. “The ‘e-waste’ program will remove thousands of tons of electronics equipment from our waste stream. This new system will also eliminate threats to the public health and environment caused by the release of hazardous materials when old computers and televisions are improperly discarded.”

The Northeast States Electronics Challenge is managed by the Northeast Recycling Council Inc., with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

More information about Connecticut’s program is available at www.ct.gov/dep/recycle.