Electronics Recycling to increase after Christmas

Wanted: Electronic Junk

From American Retroworks, Inc.
Friday, December 21, 2001

GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS — So, you've wrapped a new DVD player under the tree? Expect a hug from your spouse, but not from the garbage man. Unless you just crawled out of a cave, this is probably a replacement purchase. What are you going to do with the leftover, high-tech, junk?

Experts expect a fresh rash of outdated electronics to be displaced by what's under our Christmas trees*. But CRTs are now banned from disposal in California and Massachusetts*, and many charities are refusing pre-Pentium computers, non-digital TVs and VCRs.

Recycling old electronics is the hottest topic in waste management*. The National Recycling Coalition, EPA, Electronics Industries Alliance, and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries have all made electronics scrap a major focus*. The National Safety Council is holding a conference on the subject of electronics recycling in Washington, DC*.

Most Americans remember what they spent for the Macintosh in the attic, and would prefer to see it reused. But the prospects are dimming. According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, electronics technician jobs (currently 37,000 in the US) are in decline*. According to an EPA survey, over 50% of TV repair technicians responded they would retire before HDTV arrives*.

So is illegal dumping the only answer? Not according to ElectroniCycle Inc.

Established in 1999 to recycle old TVs and computers, ElectroniCycle Inc. has twice increased capacity this year. In November, ElectroniCycle Inc. received nearly as many TVs and computers for recycling as the company handled in all of 2000. With new staff and larger facility, ElectroniCycle Inc. is betting on a more TVs, VCRs, camcorders, sewing machines, and computers to hit the junkpile.

"We began a second shift in November, and we expect a flurry of material after Christmas," says Robin Ingenthron, VP. "Digital electronics are the hottest item in retail, and we've partnered with charities to take back the old." ElectroniCycle repairs the best sets, and redistributes them to charities for fundraising. The charities also charge a $10 recycling fee from donors, about 1/3 the price of other nationally-advertised programs*.

The only electronics recycler with a 25 year history in TV repair, ElectroniCycle Inc. also harvests working parts for repair shops which can't justify new ones. Repair facilities in poorer countries are also big buyers. "We can't place 14 inch VGA monitors in the US anymore," says Ingenthron. "But they help close the global Digital Divide." World Computer Exchange is one of ElectroniCycle's non-profit partners*; they get monitors for schools in third world countries for $2-3 apiece.

70% of the electronics can't be economically repaired anywhere – those are completely recycled by ElectroniCycle into metal, plastic, wood, glass, etc. "Its not precious, but the yields of copper, gold, silver and paladium are actually higher than you find at a strip mine," says Ingenthron. ElectroniCycle scraps hard drives, TV tuners, wire and circuitry at smelters, reducing the amount of strip mining needed to meet industry's demand – that is, to make new electronics devices for Christmas Eve, 2002.

* External sources available.

Web site: http://www.electronicycle.com



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