Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County recently set a new standard for the collection and recycling of electronic equipment. According to federal and state environmental officials, more than 1,000 families from Luzerne County dropped off over 108 tons of unwanted or obsolete electronics equipment that were destined for the local landfills.
“We applaud the efforts of the Luzerne County Commissioners and the recycling professionals of the County’s Solid Waste Management Department. Congratulations to Luzerne County Solid Waste Director, Ed Latinski, for publicizing this event so well, which was a key element to the event’s success ” said Greg Voorhees, vice president of Envirocycle, Inc. “The residents of Luzerne County should also be applauded for their concern for the environment and their effort to dispose of unwanted electronic equipment in an environmentally sound and friendly atmosphere.
The May collection event is part of an expanding program supported by many consumer electronics manufacturers, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and JVC teamed with Envirocycle and various environmental agencies, to underwrite the cost of recycling their branded products collected at this and other Envirocycle electronic equipment collection/recycling events throughout the year.
All materials collected at the May event were processed by Envirocycle for use in producing new products. Of the more than 108 tons of materials collected at the recent event, more than 50 tons of cathode ray tubes -containing devices (e.g., televisions, computer monitors) were dropped off.
A total of 39 tons of glass was recovered from the CRTs and provided to glass manufacturers for inclusion in new cathode ray tubes used in televisions. Additionally, more than three tons of lead incorporated in the CRT glass was recycled.
“Since 2000, Envirocycle, Inc. has held hundreds of residential recycling events throughout the country”, said Joe Nardone vice president of Market and Development for Envirocycle, Inc. “Keeping our landfills free of unwanted electronic equipment is everyone’s responsibility, and we’re encouraged by the support from a wide variety of groups –including electronics manufacturers, State and Federal environmental agencies, local governmental groups, retailers and consumers.”