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February 27 , 2006
Recycle event brings unwanted electronics to Emory

by robyn Mohr

A two-day recycling event on Emory’s Briarcliff campus netted more than 40,000 pounds of unwanted electronic goods last month.

Nearly 336 people from throughout metro Atlanta donated hundreds of discarded monitors, PCs, televisions, laptops and other electronics during the recycling fair, held Jan. 29–30 and sponsored by Emory Recycles and Atlanta Recycling Solutions.

“I believe we provided a much needed service for the Emory community and the Atlanta area,” said Claire Wall, recycling coordinator for Emory Recycles, calling the event a success.

Organizers at Emory Recycles said they decided to focus solely on electronics because 4 billion pounds of waste are dumped into landfills each year. Although electronics only account for 5 percent of the volume in most landfills, the decaying merchandise generates 70 percent of the toxins found in landfills, authorities said.

Organizers said they created the recycling program to raise awareness about the need to conserve resources.

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