BALTIMORE, MD (July 21, 2004) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is excited to support a recycling partnership between Office Depot and Hewlett-Packard (HP) to collect unwanted electronics in Maryland at no cost to consumers.
From July 18 to Sept. 6, Office Depot stores will accept information technology and digital entertainment products, including desktops, notebooks, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, handhelds, digital cameras, fax machines, desktop copiers, flat panel displays, monitors, TVs (27 inches or smaller), TV/VCR combinations and cell phones. Each customer may return one piece of equipment to an Office Depot retail store per day.
“We look forward to seeing the results of the Office Depot and HP project” said Kendl P. Philbrick, secretary of the environment. “Based on our experience with electronics recycling and the increase in participation in these activities by our citizens, we anticipate Maryland will contribute significant electronics recycling tonnage to this effort. We hope that other manufacturers and retailers can reach out, as Office Depot and HP have, to foster environmental stewardship and recycle these valuable materials.”
Maryland is a leader in electronics recycling or “eCycling” in the Mid-Atlantic region, collecting nearly 5.7 million pounds of unwanted electronics since October 2001, when eCycling began in the state. Materials have been collected through 50, one-day and four, two-day collection events and at four permanent collection locations in Howard, Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Wicomico counties.
Demand for eCycling continues to be high in Maryland as citizens learn that electronics can be reused and recycled, saving valuable landfill space and preventing potential groundwater contamination from leaching of heavy metals that may be contained in the products.
During the 2004 General Assembly session, a bill was passed requiring MDE to conduct a study for the funding and implementation of an electronic waste collection and recycling system in Maryland. A workgroup consisting of representatives of local governments, environmental groups, electronics manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers, solid waste industry and members of the Maryland General Assembly will begin meeting in August to find the most economical, convenient and efficient way to handle waste electronics. The Office Depot/HP program will provide valuable information regarding the feasibility of this type of activity in Maryland.
In announcing the joint recycling program, Office Depot said that it may reject stand-alone VCRs, TVs greater than 27” measured diagonally, DVDs, and any product that presents a hazardous condition, including monitors with broken glass.
All products collected from Office Depot stores will be recycled at HP’s recycling facilities in Roseville, California and near Nashville, Tennessee. Office Depot has stores at the following locations in Maryland:
- 569 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park
- 6623 Governor Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie
- 2550 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis
- 6501 Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore
- 1953 East Joppa Road, Baltimore
- 1630 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville
- 1920 York Road, Timonium
- 8640 Pulaski Highway, Rosedale
- 11130 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring
- 7933 Annapolis Road, Lanham
- 101-123 Bowie Road, Laurel
- 15790 Shady Grove Road, Gaithersburg
- 12137 Rockville Pike, Rockville
- 5600-B Urbana Pike, Frederick
For more information about the Office Depot/HP electronics recycling program, visit www.officedepot.com/recycle
For more information about eCycling in Maryland, please visit MDE’s website at: mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/RecyclingandOperationsprogram/Pages/ecycling.aspx
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