As the holidays quickly approach, many people will find new electronic equipment high on their Christmas wish lists. But what should electronic gift recipients do with their old computers, stereos and televisions? Eco-Cycle and CompUSA have partnered up to answer that question -- as well as help the environment.
As the holidays quickly approach, many people will find new electronic equipment high on their Christmas wish lists.
But what should electronic gift recipients do with their old computers, stereos and televisions?
Eco-Cycle and CompUSA have partnered up to answer that question -- as well as help the environment.
When customers purchase new electronics from CompUSA's Boulder location, they can recycle their old equipment at the store. CompUSA will pick up the tab to have the electronics recycled through Eco-Cycle's Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, located at 5030 Pearl St.
CompUSA is the newest addition to Eco-Cycle's Partners for Responsible Recycling program, which pairs the nonprofit with local businesses to encourage recycling, said Linda Smith, Eco-Cycle's community outreach manager.
Wade Couch, CompUSA warehouse manager, initiated the idea of starting a recycling program at the store.
"For some time recycling has been a concern of mine," Couch said. "We had a bunch of (old laptops) and I thought, "OK, we need to do something about this.'"
Around that time, Couch said someone from Eco-Cycle walked in CompUSA's door, they went to lunch, and a partnership was born.
On Nov. 15, CompUSA began accepting electronics for recycling.
"The rule of thumb is that if we sell it, we will recycle it," Couch said.
The used electronics are collected at the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, and then are hauled off to different recycling centers mostly in Denver, Smith said.
Smith said an electronics broker then picks out equipment that is still functional. Those items will be repaired and reused.
"The others are crunched up into bits and pieces. They will end up going to wherever they are needed," she said.
Simply disposing electronics in the landfill is both wasteful and harmful for the environment, Smith said. The center is open year-round as a way to make sure locals have an alternative way of getting rid of unneeded gadgets.
"It's kind of a double-edged sword because the computers contain both toxins and valuable resources," Smith said.
Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium can leak out and contaminate surrounding water and soil, she said.
But resources like gold, silver and copper are more valuable and can be reused.
One reason CompUSA chose Eco-Cycle to partner with is because of its good reputation, Couch said. And the organization sends the wastes to companies in the United States, rather than ones overseas, helping ensure they are disposed of properly by workers operating in good conditions.
Despite the excitement from both Eco-Cycle and CompUSA over their new partnership, Mike Bollinger, CompUSA's general manager, said customers have been slow to take part in the recycling.
In order to generate customer awareness for the program, Couch is coordinating a Dec. 15 in-store event. The details are still in the works, but he said it may involve an additional discount for customers.
CompUSA's Boulder store, 1740 30th St., is the only location that offers the recycling program.
"I have talked to other stores and they have expressed interest. They are waiting to see what happens in Boulder," Couch said. "I would love it if this store could be a model nationally -- that would be awesome."
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Source: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
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