Worcester's Electronic Recycling Day

Sat. April 21st • 9am - 3pm
City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks Residential Drop-Off Center
1065 Millbury Street • Worcester, MA (formerly 115 Ballard Street)

FREE household electronics recycling event!
Saturday, April 21 • 9am - 3pm
City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks Residential Drop-Off Center
1065 Millbury Street • Worcester, MA (formerly 115 Ballard Street)

No Appointment Needed

More Info: 508.929.1300 (Worcester DPW) 508.795.1950 (Metech)

Materials Accepted: Computers, monitors, televisions, LCD panels, printers, other computer related equipment, stereos, cell phones, VCR’s, microwave ovens and other household electronics.

Materials Not Accepted: Air conditioners, de-humidifiers, and white goods such as washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators.

http://www.computertakeback.com

In the US, we scrap about 400 million units per year of consumer electronics, according to recycling industry experts. Discarded computers, monitors, televisions, and other consumer electronics (so called e-waste) are the fastest growing portion of our waste stream -- growing by almost 8% from 2004 to 2005, even though our overall municipal waste stream volume is declining, according to the EPA.

Rapid advances in technology mean that electronic products are becoming obsolete more quickly. This, coupled with explosive sales in consumer electronics, means that more products are being disposed of, finding their way into landfills and incinerators. To make matters worse, the FCC mandated transition to digital television (like HDTV) in February 2009, will only speed up the pace, as consumers will soon be dumping large numbers of old TVs that can't receive the new digital-only signals.

Discarded computers and electronics are toxic hazardous waste.
Monitors and televisions made with tubes (not flat panels) have between 4 and 8 pounds of lead in them. Most of the flat panel monitors and TV's contain less lead, but more mercury, from their mercury lamps. 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.