County Executive Falk, Mayor Cieslewicz Urge Residents to Recycle Computers, TVs and Cell Phones this Saturday

November 12, 2003
Sharyn Wisniewski, county executive’s office (608) 267-8823 Melanie Conklin, mayor’s office, (608) 266-4611
County Executive

Recycling keeps hazardous metals out of landfills and groundwater Dane County, the City of Madison and Cascade Asset Management, a company that recycles and reclaims computers and other technology equipment, will co-sponsor an electronics recycling program this Saturday, November 15 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event coincides with national America Recycles Day. “I’m glad we can partner with Cascade Asset Management to offer this service. Cascade does a great job recycling obsolete and damaged electronics in an environmentally responsible way,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. “The recycling of computers and other electronics is important for two reasons. As people buy newer models, the quantity of old equipment is growing rapidly. And, electronics contain toxic materials that we need to keep out of our landfills and groundwater,” said Falk. For example, computer cathode ray tube monitors and TV picture tubes have five or more pounds of lead in them, while other components can have lead, cadmium, mercury and lithium. These heavy metals are associated with a wide range of negative health effects including decreased intelligence in children, nervous system disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, immune dysfunction, muscle weakness, headaches and other disorders. “Recycling old computers is not only good for our environment, it also benefits public health,” said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. “America Recycles Day is a great time to think about how we can protect the planet in very simple but significant ways.” The drop-off program is a public-private partnership that began in 1999. To date, nearly 3,500 monitors and 240,000 pounds of material has been reused and recycled rather than landfilled. The material received at the program is tested for reuse, including for donation to non-profit groups or, if not capable of being reused, is separated for recycling and remanufacture into new products. Anyone can drop off equipment, as long as the equipment is personally owned and not from a business or institution. There is a limit of two computer systems and two televisions per vehicle. The drop off will be at Cascade Asset Management, 2601 Seiferth Road, which is one block east of Highway 51 (Stoughton Road) just south off of Pflaum Road. There is a $5 charge for computer monitors and laptops and a $25 charge for most TVs, with no charge for Sharp, Panasonic, Quasar or Technics brand televisions due to financial support from these manufacturers. Cell phones and all other computer equipment are accepted at no cost. More information about the Computer Round-up can be found on Cascade Asset Management’s website at http://www.cascade-assets.com/individual/roundup.htm # # #