Tekserve and the Lower East Side Ecology Center are once again sponsoring an electronic recycling drive, inviting New York City residents to properly recycle their eWaste free of charge on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 10am to 4pm. The collection point will be at 119 W 23rd Street, in front of Tekserve’s retail store in Chelsea.
Acceptable items for this eWaste recycling event include both working and non-working computers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, CD, DVD and VCR players, stereo equipment, TV’s and cell phones. Home appliances, such as microwaves and air conditioners are not acceptable, and only individuals can drop-off - we cannot accept drop-offs from businesses.
To celebrate this event, anyone bringing electronics to be recycled can register at Tekserve and enter a raffle to win a new MacBook Pro. All participants in the event will also receive a $25 discount coupon towards a new computer or current iPod (expect iPod shuffle) to be purchased within 30 days.
Tekserve is New York’s largest independent Apple store and service facility and realizes the importance of proper disposal of unwanted electronic equipment, and has offered free collection drives in partnership with the Lower East Side Ecology Center since 2007. Improper disposal of consumer e-waste, the most hazardous component of City waste, generates as much as 70% of the toxic heavy metals (such as lead and mercury) found in landfills.
As New York City's residents purchase and upgrade their personal electronics, mounds of toxic e-waste are building up in NYC’s waste system. NYC residents buy nearly 12 million electronic devices every year (which adds up to roughly 92,000 tons), and, as a result, the NYC Sanitation Department picks up around 21,840 tons annually - yet there is still no comprehensive system in place for managing and recycling this growing problem. Although New York City passed an e-waste recycling bill in 2008, making electronics manufacturers responsible for the end-of-life of their products, the bill is currently stalled from being implemented because of a lawsuit by industry groups.
Contacts:
Tekserve
Rose Barrett, 212-929-3645 x374
rose@tekserve.com
