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Proper E-Waste Disposal
When an electronic device reaches the end of its useful life, it’s time to properly dispose of it. But how? Surely it doesn’t go in the recycling bin! Throwing it in the trash could result in harmful components and pollution entering the environment. In this article, we will review three places where you can safely dispose of electronic appliances so they can be correctly recycled.
- At Your NIH Campus - Non-accountable electronics are gathered at the NIH Bethesda campus annually and sent to the NIH Warehouse in Rockville, MD.1 Remote sites may also have similar programs during America Recycles Day or Earth Day. To surplus accountable electronics, contact your IC Property Accountability Officer. Reach out to your regional recycling coordinator for more information on what services your campus offers.
- At Your Local Recycling Center - It is very likely that your local municipality offers special recycling services for large electronics. These drop-off areas will often be at recycling centers or places known as “convenience centers,” where other unique recycling options may be available. Look up your county’s recycling or convenience center for more locations and times.
- At Your Nearest Supply Store - Commercial stationary retailers, such as Staples and Office Depot, offer e-waste options for select electronic appliances. These can be drop-offs or ship-ins. Unlike previous options, you may receive benefits, or have to pay fees, depending on the store and method of disposal you choose.
By taking advantage of these e-waste recycling methods, you are contributing to stronger recycling infrastructure, decreased amounts of harmful landfill waste and reduced need for production of new components from raw materials. Whether it is an old laptop, a clunky television, or even an ancient freezer, remember there is always a safe place for it to be disposed of.
Are you able to Take Action this month? We want to see! Send us a picture of you carrying out one of these ideas, and we might feature it in a future article.
Featured Article
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Lifecycle of Electronic Stewardship
What do magic potions, vampire hunters and necromancers have in common? The first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t electronic stewardship. But in this article, we’ll show you how these concepts can apply to practices that lower energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent pollution.
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Spotlight
| Greg Leifer, Energy Management Branch Chief
Greg Leifer works as the Branch Chief for the Energy Management Branch in the Division of Facilities Stewardship (DFS). He oversees a plethora of new and existing energy projects across all the NIH campuses. From energy audits to installing solar arrays, if it deals with energy, Greg is on the case.
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NEMS Training
Did you know? E-waste can contain toxic materials like lead, mercury, beryllium and cadmium. If improperly disposed to a landfill, these hazards can leech into the soil and water and pollute the nearby environment. To learn more about waste disposal at the NIH, please visit the NEMS Training webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.
The NIH Green Zone Newsletter is a publication intended to inform NIH staff about the Division of Environmental Protection and NIH Green Teams projects and initiatives. The text contained in this newsletter is not copyrighted and can be reprinted without permission. If you use portions of this newsletter in your own publication, we ask that you please credit the source. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
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Division of Environmental Protection | Office of Research Facilities | Office of Management
National Institutes of Health | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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