Staples to take electronics for recycling.Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard The Staples office supply chain is celebrating Earth Day by launching a two-week computer-recycling collection program at its Oregon stores starting on Earth Day, April 22. From April 22 to May 8, consumers can drop off old desktop computers, monitors and notebook computers A laptop computer that weighs in a range from five to seven pounds. The term originated when laptops were routinely more than 10 pounds, and those that became lighter were placed in a special "notebook" category. In practice, notebook computer and laptop computer are synonymous. at any of the 10 Staples stores in Oregon. The Eugene Staples store is at 2370 W. 11th Avenue. Staples is sponsoring the program to support Earth Day and to try to reduce electronic equipment waste, which contains lead and other hazards to health and the environment when disposed of improperly. Electronic equipment waste is an increasingly prominent issue, with states, including Oregon, evaluating ways to increase recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. rather than throwing old computers and other electronic gear into landfills. In Lane County, BRING Recycling in Glenwood and Lane County Waste Management in years past have hosted roundups, allowing residents to drop off electronic equipment waste for recycling. Later this year, the county expects to introduce a permanent collection venue. The state, meanwhile, has a committee of recycling experts, environmental advocates and electronics manufacturers to study the problem of e-waste. They'll make recommendations to the Legislature next year. For the Staples program, individuals dropping off equipment are asked to make a $10 donation, which will benefit local school districts. Staples will cover the cost of recycling the computers at Envirocycle Inc., a recycler of electronic equipment and cathode ray tube See CRT. (hardware) cathode ray tube - (CRT) An electrical device for displaying images by exciting phosphor dots with a scanned electron beam. CRTs are found in computer VDUs and monitors, televisions and oscilloscopes. glass based in Hallstead, Penn. Staples is asking for the cash donation to dissuade TO DISSUADE, crim. law. To induce a person not to do an act. 2. To dissuade a witness from giving evidence against a person indicted, is an indictable offence at common law. Hawk. B. 1, c. 2 1, s. 1 5. people from "just dumping" used computers on the store, said Staples spokeswoman Karen O'Neil. Staples is looking into ongoing computer recycling Most major Computer manufacturers offer some form of recycling, often as a free replacement service when purchasing a new PC. At the user's request they may mail in their old computer, or arrange for pickup from the manufacturer. efforts. The retailer is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and on a computer-recycling pilot project in Massachusetts, O'Neil said. "We're testing various ways, and it's wait-and-see," she said. "It's good for everybody if we can make this work - especially the monitors," O'Neil said. "With more and more people getting into flat-screens, there are a lot of those old, bulky bulk·y adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est 1. Having considerable bulk; massive. 2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit. 3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy. monitors around." |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion