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Posted on Sun, Apr 7, 2013 : 1 p.m.

Drowning in outdated electronics? U-M, AAPS to host annual e-waste recycling events

By Amy Biolchini

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Workers load a pallet full of old TVs during the electronic waste recycling event in 2011 hosted by the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public Schools at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor. This year, the event will be April 27 for the public and April 25-26 for businesses.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

Has your home become a graveyard for old TVs, broken cellphones and outdated iPhone cords?

Does your workplace have a room full of computer monitors you haven't used in the past 10 years?

The University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public Schools have announced the dates of their annual electronic waste recycling events for the public and for businesses.

There is no cost to participate and no limit to the amount of electronic equipment people can bring to recycle. Workers at the events will unload the equipment from people's cars.

The recycling event open to the general public will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at Pioneer High School at 601 W. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor.

For businesses, schools, government offices and nonprofit organizations, the event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 and 26 in the parking lot for U-M Tennis and Gymnastics at 2250 S. State St. in Ann Arbor.

Businesses and other organizations planning to drop off large volumes of old electronics are encouraged to pre-register for the event online.

Accepted materials include: CRT monitors, LCD displays, laptops, servers, wires, cables, keyboards, mice, speakers, hard drives, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, stereo systems, camcorders, cameras, radios, video game systems, cellphones, pagers, telephones, fax machines, copiers, typewriters, microwaves, printers and scanners.

Materials that will not be accepted include smoke detectors, household appliances, hairdryers, light bulbs and CRT screens that are broken or cracked.

All materials collected at the events will be dissembled into raw materials at facilities in the U.S. for re-use. Storage devices like hard drives will be mechanically shredded.

In its sixth year, this recycling event hosted by U-M and AAPS has filled a total of 89 semi trucks and prevented 1,168 tons of electronic waste from entering landfills.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Comments

JB SHOOTER

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.

Went last year and it was fantastic. In and out in a flash. Many volunteers to unload the car. Will be back this year with more e waste.

arborani

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.

Does anyone know if there will be another "shredding" event, like the one provided 2-3 years ago? Could surely make use of another of those.

linuxtuxguy

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 2 p.m.

If you have lots of wire/cable, take it to the metal recycling company also on State Street that is a bit past the airport. You'd be surprised how much they'd pay you for it.

Amy Biolchini

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.

Per Barbara Hagan of U-M's Office of Campus Sustainability, the 2012 event filled 18 semi truck trailers with 220 tons of old electronics. 3,268 cars came through the three-day event last year. During the public collection day, 323,701 pounds of old electronics were donated. During the two business collection days, 116,835 pounds were collected.

A2comments

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 10:40 a.m.

Best Buy takes items year round for free. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Global-Promotions/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025 What We Take Seven items per household per day. Nearly everything electronic, including tube TVs and monitors up to 32", flat-panel TVs and monitors up to 60", peripherals, DVD players, home and car audio, cell phones, MP3 players, and cables. Desktop or laptop computers. Small electrics, fans and vacuums. No cost to the consumer. What We Don't Take Console TVs of any size, or tube TVs and monitors larger than 32". Use our haul-away or pickup programs for these items. Electronics containing refrigerants, such as mini refrigerators or air conditioners. Please contact your local waste disposal department. Appliances. Use our haul-away or pickup programs for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers, ranges and microwaves. Disassembled TVs and Monitors

Gyll Stanford

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.

One step better would be to allow scavenging of the junk so Makers could take components out and reuse them in their creations. What would have to happen to incorporate that option into the process? I'm sure the creative Makers from Maker Works, All Hands Active, First Robotics, GoTech and the other creative genius' around town could divert some materials back into local projects.

Nicholas Urfe

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 3:52 p.m.

In a way - this is their event because they are part of the public that is funding the event. The U of M is a tax-free, taxpayer funded entity. So that makes this a publicly funded event. Hard to compete with that.

djacks24

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.

How about the makers hold their own recycle event instead of trying to cherry-pick anything worth reusing off of their event?

Nicholas Urfe

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.

They are making a profit from these, so they would probably want to get paid.

Unknown

Sun, Apr 7, 2013 : 9:59 p.m.

We love this program! Thanks for announcing the date.

RUKiddingMe

Sun, Apr 7, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.

Finally a known end result; dismantling and re-use in the U.S.A. I hear and read of so many other recycling programs, where it all gets shipped to some other country, where it results in just as much environmental damage as if we threw it all in rivers instead. It's good to see this, and I'll be bringing lots and lots of stuff.

djacks24

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.

Let me get there before you because I don't have much stuff.

Jared Mauch

Sun, Apr 7, 2013 : 6:15 p.m.

This is a great event, time to reduce the stuff you have been holding on to because you can't toss it in the trash.