BALTIMORE, MD (April 25, 2002) – Marylanders in Baltimore and Carroll Counties will be able to recycle their obsolete consumer electronics this weekend at eCycling opportunities, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) announced today.
More than 1,340 cars dropped off end-of-life televisions and computer components at eCycling events held last weekend in Allegany, Harford, Worcester and Cecil Counties and in the Midshore region (Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties).
Manufacturers of consumer electronics items are taking an active role in the year-long eCycling partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region III states--Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia--to recycle obsolete and unwanted electronics and build an electronics recycling infrastructure throughout the region.
Panasonic, Sharp and Sony are taking an industry lead in electronics recycling by paying for the recycling and demanufacturing of their products in these regional eCycling efforts and specifically covering recycling costs for their products collected at events held in Maryland on April 20, 21 and 27. Material manufactured by Sony, Panasonic and Sharp will be weighed separately and subtracted from the cost, thus stretching the funding that pays for the events.
“These companies are at the forefront of electronics recycling stewardship by paying for the recycling of their equipment,” said MDE Secretary Jane T. Nishida. “The examples they are setting for their industry will benefit local governments, citizens and future generations by reducing amount of toxics in the waste stream from old electronic equipment.”
The eCycling project offers a long-term solution to the rapid influx of end-of-life electronics into the waste stream. In 1998, more that 20 million personal computers became obsolete nationally and that number is expected to grow to an estimated 315 million by 2004. Computer monitors, computers peripherals and televisions may contain elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, which, if not handled properly, can be released into the environment.
The data generated from eCycling events will guide the development of a cost effective and sustainable collection system to remove end-of-life computer equipment and televisions from the municipal waste stream.
Televisions and computers (including monitors, keyboards, speakers, printers, scanners, mouses, cables, modems and external disc drives) will be collected at the following eCycling events for the residents of Baltimore and Carroll Counties this weekend:
Baltimore County--April 27, 10 a.m. - 2.p.m., Oregon Ridge Park, Main Parking Lot in Cockeysville
For more info call: 410 887-2791 or ctrombetti@co.ba.md.us
Carroll County--April 27, 8 a.m. - 2.p.m., Northern Landfill, 1400 Baltimore Blvd., Westminster
For more info call: (410) 386-2633
Permanent collections are located in Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George's counties.
For more information on the EPA Region III States eCycling Project, cell phone recycling, and eCycling resources for communities and businesses, visit MDE’s web site at: www.mde.state.md.us and look for the eCycling logo.
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