Electronics Recycling Program
The Western UP Electronics Recycling Program began in 2004, when RSVP was awarded one of five Community Pollution Prevention grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The program was developed with the goal of providing residents and small businesses with an opportunity to dispose of non-working and obsolete electronic devices in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way.
The Risks of Electronic Waste:
Most electronic devices contain metals and other hazardous materials, which pose a significant threat to human and environmental health if mismanaged, landfilled, or incinerated. Listed below are the materials, which pose the greatest threat from mismanaged electronic waste.
Lead: Computer monitors and televisions contain the greatest amount of lead, approximately 4-6 pounds, in the form of leaded glass. Circuit boards from electronic devices typically contain small amounts of lead in the form of solder.
Cadmium: Most typically found in rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, but may also be present in plated contacts and switches, and PVC wire.
Mercury: Most typically used in bulbs that provide energy-efficient illumination in electronics. Electronic waste is the leading source of mercury in landfills.
How the Program Works:
Non-working and obsolete electronic devices are accepted during scheduled community-wide collections. E-waste collections are mainly open to households, however certain small businesses are permitted to participate. Items accepted by the Western UP Electronics Recycling Program include: alkaline & lead acid batteries, automobile batteries, cell phones, computer monitors and all computer components, copy machines, cordless phones, fax machines, fluorescent bulbs, laptop computers, keyboards & mice, microwave ovens, printers, rechargeable batteries, scanners, televisions, and VCR/DVD players.
What We’ve Accomplished:
Since our first e-waste collection on April 30, 2005, the Western UP Electronics Recycling Program has held 22 collections throughout Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon Counties. More than 2,400 households have participated in the program, recycling more than 150 tons of electronic waste.