University of Michigan faculty and staff, along with the local community, collected an estimated 230 tons of electronic waste to be recycled at a recent annual e-waste event.
More than 4,400 vehicles passed through the drop-off locations during the three-day event, May 5-7. Local businesses, nonprofit organizations and the public filled 23 semi-trailers with broken or unwanted electronics.
"Each year the U-M campus and the local community help keep our landfills clear of harmful materials by disposing of electronics in an environmentally safe way," said Barbara Hagan, sustainability administrator in the Office of Campus Sustainability. "It has been truly exciting to see the amount of materials being recycled grow each year."
Since 2008 the event has filled a combined total of 172 semi-trailers, diverting nearly 2,030 tons of electronic waste from local landfills. The event is sponsored by the Office of Campus Sustainability at U-M and Ann Arbor Public Schools.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, e-waste continues to be a fast-growing municipal waste stream in America. Rapid changes in technology, changes in media devices and falling prices have contributed to this surplus of waste. It is estimated that for each new product introduced in the market, one or more becomes outdated or obsolete.
This effort supports the university's broad commitment to sustainability education, research, operations and community engagement, known as Planet Blue.