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Recycling Bulletin

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Recycling Bulletin #29
news from a national leader in campus recycling

November 8, 2005

In this Bulletin:

CU Recycling Report: Computer Round Up Results, Global Jam, Move In 2005

Local Recycling Info: Styrofoam Collections at CHaRM

Industry News: CAFR and Electronic Waster

Frightening Fact: Electronic Waste Problem is Growing

Glimmer of Hope: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Electronic Waste

Get Involved / Upcoming Events: America Recycles Day November 15th

1. CU Recycling Report

CU RECYCLING’S 1ST COMPUTER ROUND UP WAS A SUCCESS

On May 6 – 8, CU hosted the first Computer Round Up for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Over 650 people participated bringing in 19.9 tons of computers and peripherals and keeping toxic chemicals like lead, mercury and arsenic out of landfills.  About 3 tons worth of computer systems will be distributed to local community organizations in need of computers. Dell Computer provided partial funding for the event to CU-Boulder as part of its Higher Education Recycling Leadership Award.  CU Recycling worked with Eco-Cycle Inc and Guaranteed Recycling experts for equipment, transportation and processing of equipment.  A full report is available at http://www.colorado.edu/recycling.

CU’S FIRST ZERO-WASTE EVENT: GLOBAL JAM

When over 5,000 students arrived on Farrand Field to enjoy a picnic lunch of food from around the globe, there were no trashcans for them to toss their garbage.  That's because the Aug. 19 Global Jam picnic featured only compostable and recyclable materials, and nothing needed to be thrown away.
 
The ultimate goal of zero-waste is to eliminate all waste.  At Global
Jam upwards of 85% of the waste was diverted from the landfill.  Over 4,000 pounds of compost was collected, along with 500 pounds of cans and bottles, and 200 pounds of cardboard.  The environmental impact was huge, with the collections saving the equivalent of 4 cubic yards of landfill space, 443 gallons of gasoline and three trees.
 
The zero waste at Global Jam was a collaboration between the Department of Housing and Dining Services and the Environmental Center.  We hope Global Jam's will be the first of many future campus zero waste events.

18 TONS OF CARDBOARD COLLECTED IN TWO WEEKS DURING STUDENT MOVE IN!!

Facilities Management, Department of Housing, CU Recycling and the students and staff in the 17 residence halls on CU Boulder’s campus recycled 35,880 pounds of cardboard during Move In 2005!
 
By recycling cardboard we prevented 23 metric tons of air emissions and waterborne waste from being released into the environment, 125,580 gallons of water, 53.8 cubic yards of landfill space, saved 183 million BTUs equivalent to powering 1.8 American homes for a year, and kept 17.74 metric tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted equivalent of taking 16.9 cars of the road for one year.

2. Local Recycling Info

To celebrate its 4th birthday the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is are adding white block foam packaging to its list of regularly accepted materials, starting November 14th, 2005.
 
Block foam will be accepted free of charge from residents. Businesses will be charged $6 per cubic yard.
 
ACCEPTABLE
#6 CLEAN WHITE BLOCK FOAM
(typically used to pack computers, TVs, wine, etc.)
and RIGID WHITE FOAM INSULATION
(typically used around building foundations)
 
UNACCEPTABLE
Food-grade packaging (to-go containers, meat trays, disposable cups, etc.)
Packing peanuts*
Bubble wrap*
Any foam other than #6
Foam with tape or moisture
 
For more information http://www.ecocycle.org. 

3. Industry News

The Colorado Association for Recycling (http://www.cafr.org) is a non-profit organization formed as the independent voice of public, private, and citizen recyclers in Colorado. An ad hoc committee forming through the CAFR is making electronics recycling more responsible in the state by developing a base of commonly accepted definitions, developing a set of standards for companies who process electronic waste in the state of Colorado; and lobbying on issues pertaining to the electronics industry.
 
To receive updates on the important work of this committee, contact sammie.baratta@lifespanrecycling.com.

4. Frightening Fact

The problem of outdated, unwanted computers is still huge - and still growing. Studies estimate that 315 to 600 million desktop and laptop computers in the U.S. will soon be obsolete. Discarded computers and other consumer electronics (so called e-waste) are the fastest growing portion of our waste stream- growing almost 3 times faster than our overall municipal waste stream
 
This waste contains a total of more than 1.2 billion pounds of lead. About 40% of the heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, in landfills come from electronic equipment discards. The health effects of lead are well known; just 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury can contaminate 20 acres of a lake, making the fish unfit to eat.
 
Less than 10% of discarded computers are currently recycled. Some discarded equipment is handled by firms that operate under strict environmental controls and high worker safety protections. Considerably more equipment is shipped overseas for dismantling under horrific conditions, poisoning the people, land, air, and water in China, other Asian nations, and possibly Mexico as well. In addition , electronic recycling operations are increasingly active within America's prison systems.
 
For more information about the problems of electronic waste, visit: http://www.computertakeback.com.

5. Glimmer of Hope

The University of Colorado Recycling Services supports the guiding principle called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for post-consumer electronics waste. The objective of EPR is to make brand name manufacturers and distributors financially responsible for their products when they become obsolete.

Perhaps the most effective campaign underway for increasing EPR among electronics manufacturers is the Electronic Recyclers Pledge of True Stewardship. As consumers, we need to become familiar with this pledge and make sure the places we work and companies we support through our purchases have taken this pledge and abide by it.
 
For details, see:
 
www.computertakeback.com/the_solutions/recycler_s_pledge.cfm
www.ban.org/pledge1.html

6. Get Involved / Upcoming Events

America Recycles Day November 15th, 2005
 
America Recycles Day is our opportunity to create awareness around recycling and buying recycled. 
 
At CU: This year students at CU Recycling are creating five displays demonstrating the environmental benefits of recycling. Each display represents a conservation success of the CU Recycling Program:  gasoline, water, electricity, trees and landfill space saved.  Student staff and volunteers will set up tables and collect surveys on November 15 – 17 from 11:30 am – 2 pm on Norlin, Math, and Fine Arts Lawns.  Participants will be able to enter a raffle to win an iPOD NANO!  For more information visit http://www.colorado.edu/recycle.
 
Statewide: To promote America Recycles Day 2005 (ARD), the Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR) wants to share what you do within your community or in your workplace and show our appreciation for your efforts.  Write 250 words or less about what you do to close the loop. What types of recycled content items do you use consistently? Have you increased the quantity of recycled materials you use, or use more types of recycled items?  Do you make or sell recycled products?  Everyone who submits a response will be invited to an Appreciation event November 16, 2005.  One of the participants will be awarded with CAFR’s America Recycles Day Recognition Award. Send your responses to marjie@cafr.org or fax to 970-535-0924. Visit www.cafr.org for more information.

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The Recycling Bulletin is circulated via a closed list;  only CU Recycling has access to the rest of the subscriber list.  Subscribers' names and e-mail addresses are not available to any other group or used for any other purpose.

About University of Colorado at Boulder Recycling

The University of Colorado's recycling program is a non-profit, campus-based organization whose mission is to instill awareness of the benefits of waste reduction and recycling.  CU Recycling is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading campus programs. Awards have been given by such groups as the EPA, National Recycling Coalition, and the Office of Federal Environmental Executive, who in 2000, announced CU Recycling the model campus program in the United States.

The university community is encouraged to get involved in CU Recycling's many activities.  For more information, call (303)492-8307 or visit http://www.colorado.edu/recycle

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