Holy Cross and the Worcester Tornadoes to Host Free Electronics Recycling Event

WORCESTER, Mass. – To encourage consumers to recycle electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, Sony Electronics Inc. and Waste Management Recycle America are asking Worcester-area residents to take action and recycle their old electronics Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the College of the Holy Cross. Waste Management and Sony Electronics are sponsoring the event in association with the College and the Worcester Tornadoes baseball team.

The drop-off location is at the College’s Maintenance Building on lower campus, which can be accessed by entering the campus at Fitton Avenue, at the foot of College Street. The event will take place before the Tornadoes’ 7:05 p.m. game with the Nashua Pride that night. Everyone who drops off electronics to be recycled will receive a voucher good for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket at a 2008 Worcester Tornadoes game.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2 million tons of e-waste ended up in landfills in 2005, while only about 380,000 tons were recycled. By recycling old electronics products, useful materials – such as glass, plastic and metals – can be collected and re-used in the manufacture of other products.

Typically, residents would need to pay for their televisions to be properly collected and recycled, but as part of their ongoing efforts to help consumers recycle electronic devices safely, Sony Electronics and Waste Management are picking up the tab.

“We intend to lead the industry in environmental stewardship by providing consumers with end-of-life solutions through our Take Back Recycling Program,” said Mark Small, vice president of environment, safety and health for Sony Electronics. “These special recycling events help us inform consumers that with Waste Management, Sony has established a local permanent drop-off location which they can use all year long to recycle their electronics when unplugged for the last time.”

This coming February, all television stations will transition from broadcasting on analog airwaves to digital. Some older televisions will not be able to pick-up the digital transmission, so Sony Electronics and Waste Management are taking a proactive approach to this issue by offering residents a permanent network of drop-off points that gives consumers a convenient way to recycle their old televisions through the Take Back Recycling Program, through which this weekend’s event is possible.

“People are seeking services to help them recycle electronic waste responsibly and economically,” said Joe Aho, senior manager of eCycling, Waste Management Recycle America. “We hope to collect as much recyclable material as possible through this free event. It is our way of demonstrating a shared commitment with the community, by providing outstanding customer service and environmental stewardship.”

According to Ellen Ryder, director of public affairs at Holy Cross, the event is a way to reinforce the College’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship.

“Holy Cross’ students, faculty, and staff are proud to participate in this event with Sony Electronics and Waste Management. It is a natural extension of our extensive campus recycling efforts – of both electronic and other material – and offers us an opportunity to provide a free service to our neighbors in Worcester,” she said.

The collection drive is part of Sony’s ongoing Take Back Recycling program, which provides free recycling for Sony products. A complete list of eCycling drop-off centers can be found at www.sony.com/recycle.