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EPA E-Scrap Event Nets Nearly 10 Tons of Used Electronics

Release Date: 04/29/2008
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, (913) 551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., April 29, 2008) - Nearly 10 tons of used electronic equipment will be responsibly recycled instead of going to landfills, thanks to EPA Region 7's successful "E-Scrap for Earth Day" event held last week, organizers announced today.

The April 23 event, staged on a parking lot adjacent to Region 7 Headquarters at 901 N. Fifth Street, Kansas City, Kan., gave employees of all federal agencies in the Kansas City metro area, as well as employees of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., the opportunity to safely dispose of old and unwanted computer equipment, televisions, personal appliances and other electronic junk.

Volunteers collected a total of 19,977 pounds of used electronics in a span of just six hours.

"I want to applaud our staff, as well as our other federal colleagues from across the greater Kansas City community, and our neighbors at Unified Government, for literally pitching in to make such a positive difference for the environment," EPA Regional Administrator John Askew said.

The concept of "E-Scrap for Earth Day" began with an idea for just EPA Region 7 employees to recycle their old electronic equipment. With help from the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board, the invitation was quickly extended to all federal employees in the metro area. Employees of Unified Government, whose offices are close to the EPA Region 7 headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Kan., were also invited to participate.

UNICOR, the federal government's self-sustaining prison industries corporation, provided pallets, carts, trailers and transportation for the project.

"E-Scrap for Earth Day" also gave EPA the opportunity to promote the Energy Star program, which encourages consumers to choose the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly models of electronics, appliances and construction materials available for purchase.