As the e-waste issue becomes more apparent, schools and organizations around the nation (and the world) are starting to design programs that help reduce the amount of toxins such as lead, mercury, and cadmium from being released into the earth's soil and air. Some schools with great recycling programs (not necessarily for e-waste, although these schools are worthy of mention nonetheless) include San Domenico School, Marin Country Day School, The Willow School, and Green Farms Academy. These leader schools are great examples of what responsible, earth-conscious education is all about! (Click here for a list of more green schools.)
How can your school establish a recycling program that responsibly discards e-waste? There are several options. One option is on the San Domenico School's Web site. They've included a link on their site that redirects visitors to their e-waste recycling company's (Funding Factory) site.
Another alternative is to collect electronics no longer used by students, parents, faculty, and staff, and then bring them to a location near you that has a program already established. You can call local charities, resellers, retailers, and manufacturers to see if they have recycling programs that would accept your school's discarded e-waste. Not many will turn you away.
Yet still, there is another option—E-Stewards. They claim to be the globally responsible way to recycle your electronics. Your school must first become certified, which includes several steps listed on the site, but can then promote yourself as such. (Could be a nice addition to your school's benefits.) However, if there is a certified e-Stewards destination close proximity to your school, you could contact them for more information on how your school's e-waste could be included in their program.
An important thing to keep in mind when looking at options for your campus is to watch out for any recycler who ships discarded electronics to developing countries. In countries like China, Ghana, and even India, there is a huge concern with building trash sites. The images are very disturbing—the effects on populations (children and adults alike) are even more alarming.
For more information about green school projects, click here.
