Tacoma/Pierce CountyElectronics Recycling Event

May 11-12, 2002

Preliminary Processes

Vendor Survey to all electronics retailers, repair facilities, suppliers to assess interest in forming a network similar to King County

Disabled worker training center interested in electronics demanufacturing

Few retailers were interested

Bid Process/Documents

Prepared a Bid that was sent to everyone we were aware of in the Electronics Recycling field in the local area

Surprised that many HW companies responded

Prebid meeting held to answer questions-made arrangements for conference calling capability for those unable to attend in person

Product Stewardship Components

Contract Language prohibiting overseas shipment of unprocessed materials

Charged a fee to residents to participate $5 per vehicle covered first 2 monitors/CRT’s $5 for each additional monitor/CRT

Wrote a letter to all electronic equipment manufacturers asking for financial support

Product Stewardship Components

Intel, Panasonic and Sharp were only three that responded positively

Panasonic and Sharp paid for the processing of their equipment through Nextel

Intel offered volunteer labor through STRUT PS Handout given to all attendees

Target Audience/Team Members

Who We Collected From Tacoma and Pierce County Residents

Who was Involved City of Tacoma Pierce County Local Non-Profit Agency (Students Recycling

Used Technology or STRUT)

Advertising

How we publicized the event Article in Enviro Talk Press Releases Internet TV Tacoma appearance on City Line Movie Theaters Cheney Stadium insert Display ads in News Tribune Recycling Truck Billboards Billboards

Event Costs

What Did It Cost? We estimated costs from $30,000-$200,000

depending on the attendance and the amount of material brought to the event

Recycling Costs of $56,065.58 Additional Costs for City/County staffing and

advertising

How Did We Pay For It?

We charged $5 per vehicle which covered the first two monitors (TV’s and/or computers)

Additional monitors were $5 each Total Collected from entrance fees was

$9,200

Electronics Recycling Update

Who Did the Recycling? Phillips Services Corporation a well-known

local hazardous waste materials handler from Seattle

Material was removed from vehicles by Phillips staff and placed in separate containers

Reusable material was segregated for use in schools by Students Recycling Used Technology

What Did We Collect?

1132

1243

1094

935

768

485

578

67

472

112

1150

14% 15% 14% 12% 10% 6% 7% 1% 6% 1% 14%0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Television Monitor Computer Other Comp Printer Stereo HH Elec Scanner VCR Copy/Fax Other

Who Attended?

City30%

County70%

How Did They Hear About It?

51.0%

8.2%

33.5%

0.5%

3.0%

0.7%2.3%

0.4% 0.5% 0.1%0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Newsletter TV Tacoma Newspaper Rainiers Internet Landfill Billboard Spring Fair MovieTheater

Truck

Future Collection OptionsFuture Collection Options

Ongoing collection at Recycling Center Add to Call to Haul program Partner with local reuse network to divert

reusable/repairable/upgradeable equipment back into local community

Diversion to a local collection infrastructure Currently three private sector recycling options:

Phillips Services Total Reclaim PC Salvage

Survey Results

Do You Want Regular Service?

Yes97%

No3%

How Would You Like Electronics To Be Collected?

Curbside44%

Dropoff31%

Bulky Item Pickup18%

Other7%

What Are You Willing To Pay?

0%

84%

14%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

$0 $5 $10 Other

Next Steps

Establish private drop off/collection services for business

Determine whether to accept electronics for recycling at our Hazardous Waste Facility at the Landfill

Determine whether to ban the disposal of CRT’s at the landfill

Determine what fees to charge for the services

Ready to Start

Happy Staffers

Gary Working

Shannon Working

Unloading Vehicles

Backstage Area

Too Much Stuff

Lessons Learned

Expensive to mobilize for events (two day event made more sense cost wise than a one day event)

Most people willing to pay for service Most companies aren’t It makes more sense to provide regular drop

off service than to do events