Climate Savers Computing Initiative at the University of Michigan, in conjunction with local partners at all three campuses and Ann Arbor Public Schools, recently hosted an e-waste recycling event that yielded nearly 263 tons of e-waste for recycling -- 525,841 pounds, to be precise.
The e-waste was collected as part of free e-waste recycling events designed to help southeast Michigan residents, small businesses and non-profits responsibly recycle electronics they no longer need or want.
More than 2,800 cars came through the free e-waste recycling events, yielding 21 trailers filled with e-waste for recycling, according to Bill Wrobleski, project director of CSCI @ U-M.
"In its second year, U-M's e-waste event grew by over 50 percent, showing the clear need for and interest in responsible recycling," Wrobleski said. As our dependence on technology and electronics grows, so does the need for e-waste recycling."
E-waste collected at the 2008 event filled 11 semi-trailers, keeping 145 tons of hazardous e-waste out of local landfills.
E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the country and frequently contains hazardous materials like lead and mercury, which can adversely affect the environment. E-waste includes everything from laptops to desktops to televisions and telephones. Throwing away electronics like this consumes landfill space and wastes precious raw materials that could be reused to manufacture new materials.
The CSCI @ U-M is a green computing effort focused on saving energy and conserving natural resources. The two-year project aims to spread awareness about computers' energy consumption, promote best practices and change behaviors on and off campus.
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