Most homes in Arkansas have at least one television and a computer, as well as several other consumer electronics devices. Most Arkansas businesses and industries rely on electronics in their work. From banking to the traffic signals on city streets, electronic equipment makes our world comfortable and productive. But what happens to all of these electronics when they break down or no longer serve the users’ needs? They become part of the fastest growing component of our daily solid waste stream – electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste.

Many electronics contain elements – lead, mercury, and cadmium for example – that are safe when the items are used as directed, but can be hazardous if disposed of in household trash and compacted at landfills. Televisions and CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors contain an average of four pounds of lead and could contain double that amount depending on size and make. Mercury from electronics has been cited as a leading source of mercury in municipal waste. The largest source of cadmium in municipal waste is rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, commonly found in laptops, cell phones and cameras. In addition, brominated flame-retardants are commonly added to plastics used in electronics. If improperly handled, these toxins can be released into the environment, posing a threat to human health.

Realizing the potential effects on Arkansas’ environment and people, the state Legislature gave ADEQ the authority to ban electronic waste from Arkansas’ municipal solid waste landfills beginning in January, 2010. This ban has not been put into place yet, so residents can dispose of e-waste with other household items unless restricted by local landfills. Non-household generators, such as businesses and government offices, may be subject to hazardous waste rules. (Consumer electronics are generally handled as universal wastes.) The Department of Environmental Quality has worked and will continue to work to provide alternatives for everyone in the state. As with other materials, the agency encourages you to explore the three R’s – reduction, reuse and recycling – of e-waste.

Reduce – Smart purchasing and proper maintenance can extend the life of your equipment.
- When possible, upgrade your equipment instead of purchasing a whole new unit.
- Purchase a quality monitor that you can keep to use with the next computer you purchase.
- Lease equipment so you can trade it in at the end of the lease or when you are ready for new technology.
- Protect your equipment by using a surge protector and keeping equipment covered.
Reuse – Equipment that does not meet your current needs may be perfect for someone else.
- Purchase used equipment if it is available and meets your needs.
- Donate unwanted equipment to local charities or organizations to be used for teaching tools or activity centers for after school programs.
- Contact your local school district or library to see if it can use some or all of your equipment.
- Even equipment that is no longer working may be useful to others for parts or technical training.
- Explore other avenues of reuse.
Recycle – Most electronic equipment can be recycled, but not necessarily in your local area.
- Contact your regional solid waste management district, local elected officials or sanitation department to see if your community has an electronics recycling center or is planning a one-day collection event.
- Check the paperwork that came with the equipment or the manufacturer’s web site for recycling information and costs.
- If the manufacturer of your equipment does not have a recycling program, check the Internet for other recycling options. Some manufacturers will accept competitor’s equipment in their recycling programs.
- Spent rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries can be recycled through many retail outlets. Find out where you can recycle them using the consumer information at www.rbrc.org.
- Discover other recycling options.

For more information, contact:
Robert Hunter
(501) 682-0609
hunter@adeq.state.ar.us

Reuse Options

If your unwanted electronics are extremely out-of-date or are not working, you will probably need to look at recycling. Otherwise, the first choice for reuse should be any local entities that would take them for reuse or resale. For instance, there may be a used electronics store that would take them on consignment or actually pay you for the items. Charitable thrift stores, including national programs such as Salvation Army or Goodwill, may also take them off your hands. Check your local telephone book for possibilities in your area.

There are a number of organizations that collect cellular telephones for reuse or recycling, and you might see drop boxes at one or more local businesses. One of these organizations is The Wireless Foundation – www.wirelessfoundation.org – which collects and distributes cellular phones for domestic safety programs. Click on “Call to Protect” in the left column for more information and to find a drop-off location in your area.

Using the Internet is another way to find reuse options for your old electronics. Some of the most useful match available electronics (and sometimes other items) with organizations that can use them. There are a number of matching services you can check out, including:

iLoveSchools.com is a free donor-matching service for education. School teachers request materials and supplies; potential donors search for teachers in need of their gift of classroom equipment, materials or supplies. For more information, go to www.iloveschools.com/.
Every day, across America and around the world, National Cristina Foundation is working to ensure that used computer technology resources that no longer meet an enterprise's or an individual's needs are given a second productive life as a tool for developing human potential. Go to the foundation’s Web site - www.cristina.org/ - to see if your computer meets their needs.

Recycling Options

Computers and other old electronics are accepted at some household hazardous waste collection centers and some recycling centers in the state. Call the one closest to you for more information.

Earth 911 – www.earth911.org – lists a variety of recycling options based on ZIP code. Scroll down the main page and click on cell phone and computer recycling to see if there is anything in your area.

Several electronics recycling businesses service Arkansas. Contact the following for details about their services and fees.

Access Computer Products, Inc. – www.accessrecycling.com – in Springdale. Contact: Martin Hornberger at 800-783-1523 or 479-236-4429 or martin@accessrecycling.com.
Computer Recycling Center, Inc. – www.computerrecyclingcenter.org/ - in Springfield, MO, 417-866-2588.
eSCO Processing and Recycling, LLC – www.escoprocessingandrecycling.com – in Rogers. Contact: Rachel Barton at 479-899-6443 ext 204 or rbarton@escomarine.com.
TechnologyRecycler.net – www.technologyrecycler.net – in Little Rock.
Unicor, the Federal Prison Industries – www.unicor.gov/recycling/ – in Texarkana, TX. Contact: Terry Whiteside at 903- 223-4487 or terryw@central.unicor.gov.

Many computer manufacturers will recycle computer equipment for a fee. Some will accept only their own products; others will accept equipment from any manufacturer. (Several major electronics suppliers – including Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba – participate in special electronics recycling events, but do not have on-going recycling programs. Toshiba and NEC also have trade-in programs when you purchase new products from them.) Check the manufacturer’s Web site for details:

Apple – www.apple.com/environment/recycling/nationalservices/us.html
Dell – www.dell.com/recycle/
Epson - www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Recycle/RecycleProgram.jsp
Gateway – www.gateway.com/about/corp_responsibility/env_options.shtml
HP – www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/recycle/index.html
IBM – www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/pcrservice.shtml
Lexmark - http://www1.lexmark.com/content/en_us/about_us/collecting-recycling_program/recycling_program_other_countries.shtml

Some cell phone manufacturers also have recycling programs in place. Most of these programs are free; they may even earn money for schools or charities.

Nokia - http://www.nokiausa.com/A4410062

In addition, many stores that sell cellular phones will accept them for recycling or reuse. Ask about recycling when you purchase a new cell phone.

Additional Resources

EIA Consumer Education Initiative (CEI) – www.eiae.org – The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), a trade association for the electronics industry, has developed the Consumer Education Initiative Web site to help households and small businesses find environmentally responsible options for donating and recycling electronics in their community. This web site also provides information on what member companies are doing to incorporate environmental attributes into electronic products.
International Association of Electronics Recyclers (IAER) – www.iaer.org/search/ – IAER has an online directory of electronics recyclers. This database is ideal for large organizations that are looking for a company to handle used electronics. The IAER web site also has information on electronics recycling news and industry events.
Wireless … The New Recyclable – www.recyclewirelessphones.com – is working to reduce the environmental effects of wireless communication products. A program of the CTIA – The Wireless Association, the Web site provides information about environmental programs, including recycling, of member organizations and companies.
ElectronicXchange.Org – www.electronicexchange.org – is a non-profit clearinghouse for businesses and government agencies looking for information about electronic equipment recycling and recovery. Registered users can submit information about equipment that is available or wanted for recycling. Registration is free for this site operated by the Southern Waste Information eXchange (SWIX).
EPA’s Product Stewardship Program – www.epa.gov/epr/ – EPA’s Product Stewardship program encourages environmentally sustainable management of a variety of products, including electronics. Visit the program’s web site for information about electronics stewardship projects that are occurring across the country.
National Recycling Coalition (NRC) – www.nrc-recycle.org – NRC is a non-profit group dedicated to advancing recycling and source reduction. NRC’s Electronics Recycling Initiative web site contains information on procurement and other electronics recycling issues.