Summary

King County would become the first County in the state – and only the second in the nation – to formally ensure that all County agencies recycle electronic waste like computer monitors, TVs, and cell phones in an environmentally responsible manner, under legislation proposed today by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Story

King County would become the first County in the state - and only the second in the nation - to formally ensure that all County agencies recycle electronic waste like computer monitors, TVs, and cell phones in an environmentally responsible manner, under legislation proposed today by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

"King County agencies recycled more than 90,000 pounds of electronic equipment in 2010 and they did it the right way - under contract with an excellent local e-Steward recycler Total Reclaim," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "This ordinance will ensure that our agencies always use an approved recycler and pursue the most responsible recycling practices for their electronic waste."

The proposed e-waste recycling ordinance would codify the e-waste recycling practices of County agencies and qualify the County to earn the "e-Steward Enterprise" designation from the Basel Action Network's (BAN) standard for responsible recycling and reuse of electronic equipment. Santa Clara County in California's Silicon Valley is the only other local government to achieve this certification.

As an e-Stewards Enterprise, King County would agree to always make best efforts to work with e-Stewards Recyclers, ensuring that its e-waste does not contribute to the global toxic waste crisis. E-Stewards Recyclers undergo a professional audit every year to guarantee they do not export hazardous recycling byproducts to developing countries, use U.S. prison labor, or dump in municipal landfills. E-Stewards recyclers also ensure that private data is kept secure, and that their operations protect both workers and the environment everywhere.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than four billion pounds of e-waste was discarded in the U.S. in 2005, accounting for as much as 4 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. Only about 12 percent of the total was recycled.

Jim Puckett, Executive Director of BAN, said e-waste is the fastest growing part of the U.S. garbage stream and he applauded King County's efforts to become an "e-Stewards Enterprise."

"At this pivotal moment in the worldwide e-waste crisis, King County joins a growing number of business, academic and governmental leaders taking action to stem a toxic tide," said Puckett.

The proposed legislation would also update the county's surplus auction practices by requiring that all electronic equipment be functioning and in good working order before it can be auctioned off.

The proposed ordinance aligns with the goals and objectives of the King County Strategic Plan by addressing the goal to safeguard and enhance natural resources and environment by promoting desirable environmental practices by individuals and businesses. It also minimizes King County's operational environmental footprint by contracting with vendors that have been certified as companies that process electronic equipment in the most environmentally sound manner possible.

Located in Seattle, Total Reclaim is the leading recycler of computers and electronics in the Pacific Northwest and offers a variety of environmental services for management of electronics and other hard-to-handle materials, including fluorescent lamps, refrigerant gases and appliances.

The proposed legislation must be approved by the Metropolitan King County Council.

Learn more about Total Reclaim at

www.totalreclaim.com