Mecklenburg County Electronics Recycling Program October 22, 2001

Mecklenburg County Population - 700,000 26,000 Businesses Mecklenburg County generated 1.2 million Tons of SW in 1999

Why Recycle Electronics? 1997 NC State house Bill (HB-859) requires counties to develop a 10-year waste management plan. Mecklenburg County’s plan calls for a 23% reduction over ten years. Because of the aggressive goal and growing concern regarding toxicity all waste streams had to be evaluated for recycling. Including Electronics.

Plan -Drop Centers Four Staffed Drop Centers for Mecklenburg County residents (not businesses) Collect fiber, #1 & #2 plastic, aluminum cans, appliances, scrap aluminum, motor oil, tires, batteries, HHW (2 locations), foam rubber and ELECTRONICS. Open Tuesday-Saturday 7am-3pm.

Drop Centers Electronic recycling begins when a resident brings their items to one of the 4 staffed drop centers Electronic items include personal computers, laptops, fax machines, copiers, telecommunication equipment, and VCR’s (No TVs)

Electronics Program Vendor History 1999 Waste Management Inc. Kernersville, NC 2000 Oliver Trading Lexington, SC 2001 Computel Charlotte, NC

Annual Program Cost Salaries & Wages –Staff Time Coordinating (40 hrs) $1000 –On-Site Labor (104 hrs) $1956 Capital Cost –320 SF (storage space) $500 Non-Capital Direct Cost –Advertising$500 –Supplies (pallets, shrink wrap, gloves, forklift, etc) $1500 Total Annual Cost $5456 Cost Per Ton(75 Tons)$72.00

Program Cost Breakdown

Waste Management 31 tons of electronics shipped 1999/2000 Average cost $253 per ton -$57 per ton for program cost -$196 Disposal and Freight

Oliver Trading 13 tons recycled Program Cost $87/ton - program development –Transportation Cost ( collected electronics and brought to central location for pick up) –Supplies No freight or disposal cost

Computel County’s cost $72/ton Vendor does milk-run style collection from drop centers (saves county from having to transfer electronics to central location) Recycle est. 75 tons yearly Vendor refurbishes and sells 50-60% computers they collect

Vendor Comparison Waste Management Program Cost- $ per ton Oliver Trading Program Cost $87.00 per ton Computel Program Cost $72.00 per ton

Conclusion Continue to use the Drop Centers Events for Mecklenburg County Business 2002 goal to recover 100 tons Continue to combine efforts with other groups for cost effective programs

Steve Hoffman Mecklenburg County 700 North Tryon Street Charlotte, NC (704)