Oregonians ‘e-cycling’ more old tech gear

The Oregon Electronics Recycling Program, Oregon E-Cycles, completed its fifth year of operations in 2013 to collect, transport and recycle computers, monitors and TVs.

The 2013 final figures demonstrate a 3.9 percent gain of covered electronic devices collected over the previous year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which administers the program, said Wednesday.

In 2013, Oregon E-Cycles collected and recycled 27.7 million pounds of covered electronic devices, up from 26.7 million pounds in 2012.

Oregon E-Cycles includes a network of over 300 collection locations and recyclers, in addition to collection events statewide. The number of collection locations across the state has increased more than 37 percent since the program began collections in January 2009. Electronics manufacturers fund the collection and recycling of devices as well as Oregon DEQ’s administrative costs.

“Having completed its fifth year, Oregon E-Cycles continues to provide Oregonians with a productive and accessible solution for the growing amount of unused electronics,” said Michele Martin, Oregon E-Cycles coordinator. “The collection locations have grown for maximum convenience, and recyclers in the program commit to environmentally and socially sound standards for processing devices, proving Oregon E-Cycles is a successful product stewardship program.”

Since the program began, Oregon E-Cycles has collected 123.5 million pounds of electronics for recycling and 158,335 units for reuse.

Oregon DEQ estimates that these recycling and reuse activities over the past five years achieved greenhouse gas reductions of about 141,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is comparable to the benefit of eliminating tailpipe emissions from approximately 30,500 average passenger cars driving for one year.

Beginning in January 2015, Oregon E-Cycles will expand to include the collection and recycling of printers and computer peripherals such as keyboards and mice.

The Oregon E-Cycles website, at www.oregonecycles.org, provides a database of collection locations and list of manufacturers who are compliant with the program, as well as other program information. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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