SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY ELECTRONICS RECYCLING E-SUMMIT OCTOBER 22, 2001 Kelley Dennings

 First - Started by researching markets and legislation  Second - Implemented a one-day computer recycling event in association with our Holiday Wrap-Up - logistics, type and amount of material received, and cost of program  Third - Implemented a permanent computer recycling program at our North Wake Multi-Material Drop-Off Facility - logistics, type and amount of material received, and cost of program  Last - Future Initiatives STRATEGIC STEPS

RESEARCHED MARKETS AND LEGISLATION 32 computer recycling or reuse outlets 10 thrift stores in Wake County 15 local, state and national recyclers of non-working computers, 6 local non-profits that donate refurbished computers RCRA Hazardous Waste Rules Wake County will not allow commercial generators of computer monitors to dispose of them in the landfill or transfer station without doing a hazardous waste determination study

HOLIDAY WRAP- UP It is an annual drop-off recycling event for wrapping paper, cards, magazines, polystyrene, cardboard, chipboard, and Christmas trees. Staff decided the event was a good opportunity to implement a new material for recycling such as computer equipment.

BEFORE ONE-DAY EVENT SET UP LOGISTICS OF EVENT: Contractor provided trailer, transportation and labor to load computers. Wake County provided event location, publicity and paid $5.25 per monitor for recycling.

DAY OF EVENT The event had 900 cars drive through in 5 hours and at least half of them had computers for recycling. We filled (1) 24 ft. U-haul, (1) pickup truck with a small trailer, and (1) 17 ft. U-haul with used computer equipment. All the material could not be hauled away at once and sat in the parking lot until it could be loaded.

TOTAL TONS RECYCLED = 14 tons (27,286 lbs.) Monitors = 25 lbs. each = 12,100 lbs. Central Processing Units (CPU) = 10,090 lbs. Printers = 3,400 lbs. Keyboards and Others = 1536 lbs. TOTAL PROGRAM COST = $4126 Monitor Recycling = $2541 Staff = ~$360 Advertising = ~$1225 AFTER ONE-DAY EVENT

LOGISTICS OF ELECTRONICS RECYCLING AT MMDF Wake County’s Permanent Computer Recycling Program is located at the North Wake Multi-Material Drop-Off Facility (MMDF). Our contractor handles the daily operations of the program. The computer recycling vendor sites a van trailer at the loading dock for the storage of the computer equipment. When the van trailer is full, the contractor calls the vendor who provides transportation back to its facility.

LOGISTICS OF ELECTRONICS RECYCLING AT MMDF The customer drives over the scales and is directed to the MMDF to drop off their material. The contractor counts each monitor that is unloaded by commercial businesses. The commercial customer receives a receipt which is taken to the scalehouse upon leaving to pay $5.00 per monitor. There is a minimum charge of $5.00 per commercial load for other equipment if there is no monitor. Residents may recycle their equipment for free.

TYPE OF ELECTRONIC MATERIAL ACCEPTED AT MMDF If any customer has over 10 monitors per load, it is requested that they make an appointment with the Contractor to drop them off. Computer MonitorsCords Processing UnitsComputer Speakers ScannersParts PrintersKeyboards MiceFax Machines Copiers

STATISTICS OF ELECTRONIC RECYCLING AT MMDF TOTAL TONS RECYCLED SINCE 9/4/01 = ~6 tons Monitors = 7370 lbs. Central Processing Units (CPU) = 2616 lbs. Printers = 1723 lbs. Total of 11,709 lbs. ESTIMATED ANNUAL PROGRAM COST = ~$200,000 Vendor provides the storage trailer(s), transportation, and the pallets and Gaylord boxes. Wake County pays for the labor, bobcat rental, advertising, administrative costs and ~$200 per ton for recycling of the equipment.

FUTURE INITATIVES Collect computers for recycling at the South Wake Multi- Material Drop-Off Facility. Partner with municipalities to increase computer recycling. Continue educating residents and businesses on computer recycling and reuse options through our web page. Continue researching new electronic recycling markets. Promote retail and manufacturer take-back programs. Research the option of an Electronics Advance Disposal Fee.

CONTACT INFORMATION Wake County Solid Waste Management Division (phone)