By JESSE DAVIS
Recycling as an idea has almost always received strong support, but participation in actual programs tends to be lower. This is especially true in the realm of e-waste — televisions and computers.
It was in response to this and in dealing with their own e-waste that RedPost Inc., launched the RedPost/Recycle program, accepting the items from local residents and businesses, and processing them properly through a partnership with Chesapeake Recycling in Winimac.
The company initially charged residents $12.50 for CRT/LCD monitors and $20 for televisions, the fee they had to pay for the processing. They eliminated the fees after receiving $2,500 in funding through the county solid waste district.
“What we found was that, once there was no fee, the e-waste brought in quadrupled. So the money the county set aside for us for a year we used up in four months. When that money was gone, we started charging again, which dropped the amount brought in back to the level it was at before everything was free for residents,” company Chief Executive Officer Eric Kanagy said in a RedPost blog about the program’s future.
On Thursday, Kanagy went before the Elkhart County Solid Waste Advisory Board to request additional funds to keep the program going. Although board members were supportive of the program’s efforts, board members requested Kanagy come back with a more detailed proposal including estimated costs and billing procedures.
He later described his reaction to the county’s current e-waste collection procedures in a letter to board member and state representative for District 48 Tim Neese.
“I was shocked to hear that the e-waste collected at the county’s monthly household hazardous waste program is buried in the landfill. It does not make sense that items like paint, solvent and weed killer are treated properly while lead, mercury and cadmium go into the ground,” he said.
The company has created a new proposal since the meeting, which gives a more thorough explanation of the program’s costs.
If approved, residents would be charged $5 per monitor and television, and RedPost/Recycle would send a monthly bill to the solid waste district for reimbursement of their remaining costs.
Beyond further explaining the company’s request, it also gives some explanation as to why Kanagy is as adamant as he is about proper handling of the waste.
According to the proposal, “Household paints, solvents, motor oil, car batteries and weed killers are all regulated as hazardous waste. E-waste, containing mercury, lead, cadmium, other heavy metals and PCBs, is not currently regulated. A single TV contains five to 10 pounds of lead, most in the glass tube. This is a growing problem, especially with the coming digital TV transition.”
Even if RedPost receives approval for additional funding through the county, Kanagy said their activities represent only a small step toward dealing with a large problem.
“I think it’s a much bigger issue than just what RedPost is requesting,” he said. “One dropoff point in Goshen isn’t going to make a huge difference, especially if you can just drop (e-waste) in your trash can. The reality of it is if there’s a free option for residents they’re going to take it.”
RedPost/Recycle
theredpost.com/recycle
(574) 971-4753
Hours: Monday-Friday,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on major holidays
Accepted materials: Cathode ray tube/liquid crystal display monitors, computers, servers, laptops, keyboards, mice, cables, circuit boards, phones, televisions, videocassette recorders, digital video disc players, printers, cell phones, copiers, video games, uninterruptible power supply backups, disks, compact discs, DVDs, audio/video/VHS/any other sort of tapes, game cartridges, hard drives, printer cartridges, rechargeable batteries, battery chargers and cables, plastic bags
Fees apply for CRT/LCD monitors, laptops, TVs, floor copiers, large servers and UPS backups.
