Ann Arbor Public Schools and University of Michigan had organized a ‘three-day free recycling of electronic waste' event which concluded recently. The venues for the e-waste disposal event were the U-M State Street Commuter Parking Lot and Pioneer High School where telephones, televisions, desktops and laptops were accepted for disposal.

Recycling Your Electronic Waste

Containing toxic materials such as mercury and lead, electronic waste is not only bad for the environment, but for humans as well. In keeping with the facts and figures provided by the United Nations led e-waste plan, the United States is the world's biggest producer of e-waste and produced an estimated 9.4 million tons of e-waste in 2012. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency only a small percentage of electronic goods nearing their end – an estimated 25 percent – are recycled.

Since the inception of the annual event in 2008, Ann Arbor Public Schools and the University have turned away electronic waste amounting 1,374 tons from landfills in their neighborhood and filled up 106 trailers as a result of the move. By allowing people to safely dispose of their electronic goods, the event organizers tried to keep local landfills from being damaged by harmful toxins generated by electronic waste.

At the same time, over the years many people have wholeheartedly begun to capitalize on this opportunity to safely dispose their e-waste without causing harm to the environment. The collected e-waste is broken up, demolished and recycled at various certified North American centers. Items that are hazardous in nature along with household electronic appliances, light bulbs, hairdryers and Styrofoam are not accepted for disposal.

The recycling event is part of the University's environmental initiative called Planet Blue. Headed by the Office of Campus Sustainability, the annual event is open to the general public, non-profit organizations and local business owners.

Using Eco-Friendly Promotional Items for Encouraging Electronic Waste Recycling

Businesses have an important role to play when it comes to encouraging people to recycle their electronic waste. One of the ways that eco-friendliness can be developed in people is through the use of eco-friendly promotional items. By choosing to use such eco-friendly products, companies end up conveying the message that they are an environment friendly organization and their products or services do not harm the environment.

Businesses can also use eco-friendly promotional items to start an environmental awareness drive as part of their corporate responsibility or to launch a new product range manufactured using recyclable materials, thereby influencing people to go green through such initiatives.

It is important to properly dispose of electronic goods so that the environment is not damaged by their harmful toxins. Both businesses and individuals can do so through many environment-friendly ways and programs.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/04/recycle_unwanted_electronics_t.html