Contact:

April 22, 2002                                                                                                                                                  Janet Schneider

                                                                                                                                                                  Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                   (925) 906-1801                                                                                                                                          email: authority@wastediversion.org

Public Agencies Partner to Hold Electronics Recycling and

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event for Earth Day

Danville – On Saturday, April 22, 2002 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. approximately six hundred and fifty (650) households brought unwanted electronics and household hazardous waste (HHW) to a collection event sponsored by the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, and the City of San Ramon for recycling.  Residents from central Contra Costa dropped-off electronic items such as old TVs, computers, microwaves and small appliances, as well as household hazardous wastes like paint, antifreeze and batteries.

“This is the largest number of participants we’ve had for a mobile collection event in Danville.” said Elaine Jacobs, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District HHW collection facility manager.

The Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA) and the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) cosponsored the event with cooperation from Valley Waste Management and Philips Services. Residents drove to the event location, answered a brief survey and then trained technicians, dressed in safety gear, removed electronics and HHW from their trunks. Electronics was sorted by type, then transported for refurbishment or recycling to the Asset Recovery Group of Waste Management. HHW will be sorted separately, packed safely and then recycled or taken to a hazardous waste landfill.

“In the past Central San successfully operated HHW collection events. Changes in the California landfill regulations prompted us to work with Central San to include electronics, especially televisions and monitors that can no longer be disposed in landfills,” said CCCSWA Executive Director, Janet Schneider.

The State of California recently determined that TVs and monitors are hazardous waste and cannot be landfilled because their cathode ray tubes (CRTs) contain 4-5 pounds of lead. The CCCSWA has taken a proactive approach to divert many types of old electronics from the waste stream through collection opportunities.  These agencies held a similar collection event last October 13^th in Lafayette drawing over 900 cars.  “The Lafayette event was staged at the Lafayette Bart station, which has a lot of visibility.  Many people drove by, saw the event, and then returned with materials,” said Louis LaMagra, Valley Waste Management. “Now another six hundred and fifty (650) households reduced hazards from their households and handled them in an environmentally responsible way.”

“We’re hoping to hold these events three times a year, rotating them from Lamorinda to the TriValley for Central Contra Costa residents to have a convenient way to do the right thing,” said Kevin Carunchio with the City of San Ramon.

For additional information about electronics recycling or HHW disposal visit the CCCSWA’s or Central San’s website www.wastediversion.org or www.centralsan.org, respectively

Return to Press Page