Technological recycling: a group effort

WITS (Web Innovations and Technology Services) anticipated a turnout of at least 600 cars at their recycling event held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beside the MSC on Saturday. By 12:30 p.m., they had seen 300 cars, all carrying various recyclables.

Called the Digital 2009 Changeover TV Recycling Event, WITS, in partnership with KSDK Newschannel 5, collected an assortment of unwanted electronics (specifically televisions) from anyone willing to donate throughout the day.

However, some of those who were willing to donate needed to be prepared to give more than just their old TV. A recycling fee of $10-$20 was charged to all persons bringing televisions to the event. Some donors, and even volunteers, frowned upon the recycling fee.

"I'm a little upset that people have to pay to come here after taking time to come out in the first place. I mean, they are contributing their time and they lift those heavy things out of their house and then they have to pay, I just don't think it's right," Brian Ivanov, junior, biology, said.

In fact, one family that arrived to the event at 9:30 a.m. with several televisions actually had to take their televisions back from volunteers when they found out about the fee.

"It was on all the flyers that there was a recycling fee, but I still understood why they were mad," Julie Kreis, junior, economics, said. "If I had to get rid of a TV, I would probably just take it to Goodwill or something."

Although the recycling fee is tax deductable, many volunteers, like Ivanov, thought that charging a fee could possibly have turned away even more families.

"In Europe, there are no fees, and you even get money back for recycling," Ivanov said. "It should be like that here. [The United States] is the largest energy consumer, and should do all it can to encourage people to save energy and recycle."

Keara Wright, senior, physics, disliked the idea of a recycling fee as well.

"Yeah, that sucks," she said, "but they are not-for-profit and they need money to do the work that they do."

Wright, Ivanov, and Kreis volunteered at the event on behalf of the Environmental Venture Organization (EVO), a student organization at UM-St. Louis whose members are concerned with protecting the environment. The three worked alongside volunteers from Junior League, United Way, Heartlinks Grief Support Center, and WITS.

Angela Haas, president of WITS, organized the recycling event. She explained the reasoning behind charging donors a recycling fee.

"Most televisions have lead in them … the average amount of lead in a small TV is actually four pounds," Haas said.

"We have to take the non-working equipment to a facility in Illinois, where they remove the tubes containing lead, so we can recycle the TVs without harming the environment. Also, these trucks cost money."

Haas also said that most donors do not complain about the fee.

"People are coming today from all over, and in the past the people who donate just really appreciate the fact that we offer this service," she said.

In fact, Dorian Hall, senior, accounting, stopped by the event, not to donate, but just to show his support and appreciation.

"I'm just glad there is a proper way to recycle technology and that there are drives for this sort of thing," Hall said.

Overall, most donors appeared to agree with Hall, and despite the fee, cars continued to pass through Lot E, to the northeast of the Millennium Student Center, throughout the day. All of the volunteers expressed their contentment over the turnout.

"It's a big turnout and that is great," Wright said. Ivanov concurred.

Also recycled were old computer monitors, laptops, and printers, along with a medley of blenders, stereos, DVD players, and cell phones. There was a $5 recycling fee for the monitors and laptops as well, due to the special measures that must be taken.

Most of the working televisions that were collected at the event will be given to inner-city schools, and some will be sold for a minimal fee.

WITS holds similar technology drives throughout the year. Due to the recent postponement of the digital changeover, WITS will hold another Digital 2009 Changeover TV recycling event in June. Just remember to bring cash.