Electronics Recycling

Where do electronics go after they are collected? How can you trust that they end up where they should?

Electronic waste, or e-waste, contains toxic chemicals, including lead and mercury, both harmful to the environment. E-waste accounts for 40 percent of the lead and 75 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills.

However, electronics can still serve a purpose if recycled properly. Computers contain valuable metals, including gold, silver, palladium, platinum, aluminum and copper.

Why Recycle?

There are many reasons to recycle old electronics, including legal reasons, financial reasons, practicalities and concern for the environment.

As awareness grows regarding the hazardous nature of electronics, regulations for proper management have been put in place as a way of protecting public health and the en- vironment. Businesses must comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Under RCRA, the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure for lead is set at a maximum of 5 mg/L.

Anything higher is deemed hazardous waste and must be recycled properly and documented. Keep in mind the average color monitor contains about 18.5 mg/L of lead. Those who violate this act face heavy penalties.

Environmentally Friendly

In regards to e-waste, efforts made by government organizations, environmental protection groups and concerned citizens have helped reverse the growth of landfill expansion through awareness of e-waste disposal. Without these efforts, Iowa could lose countless more acres of land to soil erosion, see natural habitats destroyed and lose biodiversity.

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E-waste contains a “bouquet” of elements that can be recycled and reused to make new products while creating jobs and protecting our environment at the same time. More jobs are created per ton of recycling than if that waste was sent to a landfill.

How to Choose an E-Recycler

Sometimes it’s not easy to tell who is a responsible recycler and who is not. Before using any recycler, make sure to conduct due diligence on the company. If possible, take a tour of the facility.

Recyclers should provide a certificate of recycling and be able to tell you where each piece of de-manufactured equipment is sent. In addition to being familiar with the manner in which electronics will be recycled, it is important to research the recycling facility to determine if it has any compliance problems.

Proper recycling includes ensuring that the recycling facility processes electronic equipment in a timely manner. If electronic equipment is not recycled properly, and it is a hazardous waste under RCRA, both your company and the recycling facility will be liable for cleanup costs associated with improper disposal of hazardous materials.

In Iowa, collectors of e-waste that contains a cathode ray tube must register with the Iowa Department of Natural Recourses. E-waste that typically contains CRTs are televisions and computer monitors. CRT recyclers in Iowa must obtain a DNR permit.

Protect Your Data

If you are donating or recycling a laptop or desktop computer, personal data could still be on the hard drive.

Most recyclers have hard drive wiping policies, but it is always in your best interest to protect personal information by erasing or destroying the hard drive. There are many hard drive wiping software programs available.

National Manufacturers’ Programs

Most major computer companies run their own mail-back programs, usually for a fee. The EPA also runs its own Plug-In To eCycling program in which participants agree to maintain strict standards in recycling electronics and computers.

Local E-Recyclers

The following businesses accept some forms of e-waste:

A-Line Iron & Metal 101 High St • Kellogg, IA (641)526-8040

No monitors or tube TVs

Gralnek-Dunitz

1428 N. 19th Ave. E. • Newton, IA (641)792-1484

No monitors or TVs

H & W Recycling 204 Townsend Park Rd • Baxter, IA (641)227-3200

No monitors or TVs

Midwest Recovery

3300 Henry St. S.W. • Bondurant, IA (515) 957-8000

Accepts monitors and TVs for a fee

Keep Iowa Beautiful Other Efforts

Keep Iowa Beautiful has a mission of educating the public about the many ways they can enhance their communities, and offers a number of programs intended to encourage communities to become litter-free, or to improve their entryways.

67 Ways to Make a Difference

Keep Iowa Beautiful provides a list of 67 Ways to Make A Difference at its website, www.keepiowabeautiful.gov, and encourages the public to suggest its own ideas to help the list grow.

Reference Resource

Keep Iowa Beautiful staff can connect the public with local recycling coordinators, waste exchange representatives, commu- nity enhancement groups and green building professionals to guide and support environmentally-friendly and responsible community or neighborhood projects.

Illegal Dumping & Littering

Illegal dumping is the most severe form of littering. It costs Iowan’s millions of dollars annually as a result of those that don’t comply with proper disposal and/or recycling opportunities.

Much of it is related to construction/demolition waste, tires and appliances. As noted in other portions of this publication, there is place for all of those materials.

Keep Iowa Beautiful has programs and equipment that can aid in the development of a prevention program through the use of surveillance equipment.

If your area or community has a problem and would like to explore assistance from Keep Iowa Beautiful contact KIB staff.

If you see someone who is dumping illegally or littering, you can do something about it by calling 1-888-NOLITTR.

Adopt-A-Highway

Iowan’s have a strong history of not depending on government. One way to help keep public areas clean and attractive is by taking a certain level of responsibility for cleaning up or making the areas attractive.

The Adopt-A-Highway program through the Iowa Department of Transportation has many opportunities for individuals, families, organizations or groups to adopt areas.

Recently, a number of USAgain (pronounced “use-again”) bins have popped up in the community. The for-profit company collects unwanted textiles and resells them in the U.S. and abroad, effectively diverting millions of pounds of clothing from landfills, while also fueling economies in the U.S. and emerging countries.

But, the concept of donating gently-used textiles and household items for resale is not new to the Newton Sanitary Landfill’s service area. In Newton, both the Salvation Army Thrift Store receives donated items that it sells at substantially reduced prices to those in the community who want them.

Goodwill — which is also a for-profit company — operates the same way. Both organizations also provide a number of much-needed work opportunities, and are economic drivers for the Newton community.

Whatever goes to these stores and can be resold within the community won’t end up in the landfill.