University of Michigan faculty and staff, along with the Ann Arbor-area community, collected an estimated 440,000 pounds of electronic waste to be recycled at the annual e-waste event last month.
More than 7,000 vehicles passed through the drop-off locations during the April 23-25 event. Area businesses, nonprofits and the public filled 22 semitrailers with broken and unwanted electronics.
“We were happy to see a strong turnout by the community, which has been a trend over the past few years,” said Barbara Hagan, sustainability administrator in the Office of Campus Sustainability.
“The attendance of this event alone demonstrates the need for designated outlets to recycle electronics in an environmentally responsible way.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, e-waste is the fastest growing municipal waste stream in America. Rapid changes in technology, changes in media devices and falling prices have contributed to the surplus of waste.
Since 2008, the event sponsored by U-M and Ann Arbor Public Schools has diverted more than 1,799 tons of electronic waste from local landfills.
The e-waste event brings awareness to the proper disposal of electronics, and supports the university’s overall commitment to sustainability known as Planet Blue.
