IDEM Encourages Community to Bring Unwanted Electronics to Indiana University collection

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis are offering a free, safe and friendly opportunity to dispose of electronic equipment that is no longer useful during “Electronic Waste Collection Days,” which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

In Bloomington, all drop-offs will take place in Memorial Stadium’s north parking lot. In Indianapolis, all drop offs will take place in the parking lot directly south of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, at the corner of 38th Street and Coliseum Avenue.

As electronic products are replaced with newer models, the stockpile of used and obsolete products grows. The National Safety Council projects that nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years and mobile phones are discarded at a rate of 130 million per year.

Hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, can be found in a variety of electronics. A television or computer monitor contains, on average, four pounds of lead. Circuit boards, batteries and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are just some of the common electronic parts that can release hazardous materials into the environment if not properly disposed.

“Electronics contain heavy metals, like lead and chromium, that are hazardous if released to the environment,” said Thomas Easterly, IDEM commissioner. “This is why collection opportunities such as what Indiana University is offering for free are so important.”

Apple Computers will collect all of the equipment dropped off, and none of the electronics will be processed for resale.

“Millions of pounds of electronic waste from Indiana residents and businesses end up in landfills every year,” said Indiana University Sustainable Computing Graduate Assistant Kristin Hanks. “Unfortunately, most people don’t know where to drop off used electronics or even what’s recyclable. But I think if you give the public an opportunity to do the right thing, they will.”

For more information about the Indiana University collections, visit www.Indiana.poweron.com. For additional information about recycling opportunities in Indiana, visit www.recycling.IN.gov.

Please refer to the following lists for materials that will be and will not be accepted. 

MATERIALS ACCEPTED

Computer systems and accessories

• CRT monitors

• LCD displays

• CPUs

• All-in-ones

• Laptops

• Servers

• Switches

• Hubs

• Keyboards and mice

• Speakers

• Hard drives

• Optical drives

• Wires and cables

Handheld devices

• Cellular telephones

• Pagers

• PDAs

• Two way radios

Miscellaneous

• Microwaves

Audio & video equipment

• Televisions

• DVDs

• VCRs

• Stereos

• Radios

• Camcorders

• Cameras

• Radios

• Gaming systems

Office equipment

• Fax machines

• Photo copiers

• Printers scanners

• Scanners

• Surge protectors

• Telephones

• Typewriters

• Adding machines

MATERIALS NOT ACCEPTED

• Hazardous materials of any type

• Batteries not integral to computer systems

• Contaminated equipment of any type

• Cracked or broken CRT screens

• Smoke detectors

• Household appliances

• Hairdryers

• Styrofoam

• Cardboard

• Paper

• Light bulbs