Northeast and Caribbean GSA and EPA Regional Administrators visit an e-waste recycler
What do you do with your old computers, cell phones, TV’s, and microwaves? Do you just throw them out? You should be recycling them.
Demonstrating their partnership in the National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship, Northeast and Caribbean Regional Administrator Denise Pease and Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith Enck, along with other GSA and EPA employees, recently toured a local e-waste recycling facility in Islip, New York.
The group was able to see first-hand what happens when electronic waste is sent for recycling and witnessed demonstrations of how computers are broken down, part by part, with hard drives and data tapes being shredded.
Both Pease and Enck addressed the gathering standing in front stacks of shrink-wrapped pallets of e-waste that had recently been picked up from the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City. They discussed the federal role in leading the way by example in promoting electronics recycling, which is also creating new economic opportunities and jobs in this emerging growth industry.
Pease mentioned that GSA's recycling efforts at its New York City office buildings during this past year have already kept 1,330 tons of office and building waste out of landfills.
Federal agencies located in GSA managed facilities can find out more on how to recycle used electronic equipment by contacting their local GSA Building Management office. In addition, many computer or computer–related items (such a printers, etc.) can be reused and are eligible for donation to qualifying educational institutions. More information about the federal Computers for Learning program can be found on the program's website.
