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Dec
12

E-Waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, almost 3.4 million tons of electronics were disposed of in 2014 and, of this amount, only 41 percent were collected for recycling. The rest ended up in landfills and incinerators. Recycling conserves resources and keeps toxic materials out of the landfill. Glass, plastic, and metals can be recycled and used again in other products. Many of the heavy metals can also be recycled and safely reused.

King County agencies are required to recycle obsolete computer and electronic equipment (including keyboards, mice, monitors, chargers, telephones, calculators, etc.) via an e-Stewards certified recycler. For leased laptops or other leased equipment, return to KCIT or other leasing agent when finished with product. In 2020, the County recycled 68,947 pounds of electronics through local recyclers.

Policy and Goals:

As stated in King County's Sustainable Purchasing Executive Policy (CON 7-22-EP),

  • Recycle all electronics per e-stewards standard or equivalent

Quick Tips

Choose

 
  • Return leased laptops to KCIT when given a new one
  • Send working electronics (including keyboards, mice, monitors, chargers, telephones, calculators, etc.) to surplus
  • Send broken or non-functioning electronics to e-Stewards certified recycler

Avoid

  • Non-Certified Recyclers 

An EPA checkmark indicates a certification or standard is recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).



Technical Specification Language

Basel Action Network e-Stewards standard

 

What can you do?

As individuals, please recycle electronics responsibly. Since 2009, a new law began requiring manufacturers to provide electronic product recycling services for televisions, desktop computers, laptop computers, and monitors at no cost to households, small businesses, charities, school districts, and small governments.

 

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E-Cycle Washington now has a FREE, convenient and environmentally responsible recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops and televisions for households and small businesses.

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