FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2005
CONTACT: Sarah Williams, (850) 245-2112

Capitol City Makes Electronics Recycling Day a Success

--Recycling electronics prevents pollution, safeguards environment--

TALLAHASSEE – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in partnership with the Department of Management Services, City of Tallahassee Solid Waste Services, Leon County Recycling and other local organizations, hosted “E-Day” – Electronics Recycling Day in Florida’s Capitol City this weekend. Tallahassee area citizens made the inaugural event a resounding success with more than 1,400 residents donating 46 tons of unwanted electronic items.

“Recycling electronics helps prevent pollution and encourages the reuse of these items and materials,” said DEP Division of Waste Management Director Mary Jean Yon. “The proper disposal of hazardous waste materials, such as electronics, avoids future threats to both human health and the environment.”

E-Day was organized to encourage Floridians to recycle old or unwanted electronic items, such as televisions or computers, to protect the environment from heavy metals like lead and cadmium that are often contained in these products. Heavy metals can impact groundwater, the source of 90 percent of Florida’s drinking water.

Electronic items collected included computers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, cell phones, telephone equipment, stereo equipment, fax machines, desktop copiers and electronic game systems. Other items, including Christmas trees, hardback and softbound books, cardboard, mixed paper and aluminum cans, were also collected at the site. More than 15 tons of televisions and computer monitors were collected at the E-Day event, and 108,000 aluminum cans were also recycled.