Oregon's E-Cycles is a free recycling program for computers, monitors and TVs. The program is financed by electronics manufacturers and jointly implemented with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). So far, people have been receptive to the E-Cycles program. The number of pounds have increased over (2009) with the same number of collection sites. The increase could be due to several factors. 2009 was the first year of the E-Cycles program where computers, monitors and TVs could be recycled for free.
In 2010, once the disposal ban went into affect where computers, monitors and TVs could not be disposed of in the landfill, the number increased. "Approximately 36 semi loads of electronic were shipped out of Central Oregon - that was almost 1 million pounds," says Brian Stone operations manager with Deschutes Recycling.
If that old TV or computer is recycled in Bend it will be sent to IMS Electronics Recycling in Vancouver, Washington to be dismantled, and its component parts are likely to be sent to additional recyclers across the country. Eventually those parts will end up in new Products.
Recycling TVs, computers an monitors is free for households, as part of the state program. For other items, such as fax machines, printers, keyboards and cell phones, Deschutes Recycling charges a fee.
For more information visit www.oregonecycles.com or www.deschutesrecycling.com
