The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has named the National Center for Electronics Recycling, based in Davisville, W. Va., to manage day-to-day operations for the statewide electronics waste collection and recycling system.
The system, which will come into full operation on Jan. 1, 2009, will accept covered electronic devices, including desktop computers, portable computers, monitors and televisions. The system will be available for households, small businesses and nonprofit organizations, as well as persons bringing in seven or fewer devices at a time.
DEQ’s contract with NCER will run through Dec. 31, 2012. The contract provides funding for up to $311,060 to set up the program and an annual operating budget of up to $326,613 for the first year of operation, with subsequent budgets to be negotiated on a year-to-year basis. Funding is fully provided by electronics manufacturers participating in the state-run program.
NCER will report to the DEQ; the state agency will provide overall management for all functions of the system in the field, including being responsible for collection, transporting and recycling services.
Portland-based Zero Waste Alliance will serve in a sub-contractor role and will lead management of the collection system and coordination of public outreach services with DEQ. Alcorn Consulting, of Reston, Va., will set up the program’s collection and transportation system, primarily during the start-up period before Jan. 1, 2009.
NCER was selected from a field of three applicants by an evaluation team that included representatives from the recycling and electronics manufacturing industries, a local government and DEQ.
Kathy Kiwala, manager of the Oregon Electronics Recycling Program for DEQ, said NCER and its subcontractors bring proven experience in setting up and running effective statewide e-waste recycling programs or program components in Minnesota, Texas and Washington.
"They all have experience in working with electronics manufacturers and balancing their needs with the needs of the public taking part in the program," Kiwala said.
Walter Alcorn of Alcorn Consulting will serve as Interim Program Manager during the program’s 2008 set-up phase. NCER Executive Director Jason Linnell, who co-founded NCER with Alcorn, will serve as corporate officer. Pamela Brody-Heine and Wayne Rifer of Zero Waste Alliance will round out the team as program development principal.