PA Prohibits Disposal of Electronic Devices
New Regulations in Pennsylvania Prohibit Disposal of Electronic Devices in Landfills Effective Today, eForce Recycling to Help Residents Comply with the Law.
The everyday electronic devices that have become an essential part of our daily lives have a little secret. Nearly all electronic devices contain potentially hazardous heavy metals that make landfilling undesirable and potentially dangerous to the environment.
Fortunately, many states recognize that electronics must be recycled properly and are banning common disposal of obsolete electronics. Effective today in Pennsylvania, The Covered Device Act goes into full effect and all residents must now responsibly recycle their old computers, printers, monitors, and accessories as they can no longer be thrown in landfills. As part of the new Act, manufacturers are responsible for providing consumers with convenient drop-off locations, and ensure that certified electronic recycling companies preform all recycling.
eForce Compliance, a dual certified electronic recycling company with a 100,000 square foot operation in Philadelphia, provides an extensive network of special collection events in the metro-Philadelphia area to help residents responsibly recycle electronics. eForce hosts over 60 localized collection events throughout the year in partnership with municipalities, non-profit groups, and civic associations in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. In 2012 alone eForce recycled over 3,000,000 pounds of electronics through their collection programs and expects to nearly double that amount in 2013.
eForce provides communities with the most comprehensive collection services in the industry staffed with trained professionals to accept “anything with a plug,” except large appliances, at their collection events, and also ensures that all sensitive data are wiped or destroyed at their facility. “Our collection events have provided residents in the Greater Delaware Valley with a safe and efficient means to responsibly recycle obsolete electronic devices,” said Jay Segal, President of eForce. “What is not seen from these programs is the creation of local, sustainable jobs. Since a majority of our materials are processed within 10 miles of our facility, the impact on the local community is significant, and results in even more job creation by our vendors who need to hire more staff to accommodate the extra volume of material sent to their facilities,” added Segal.
As the first electronic recycler to become certified to the e-Steward, R2, and ISO 14001 standards, eForce has been active in outreach programs to educate the public about the necessity of responsible recycling and has partnered with the EPA to become the first Sustainability Partnership Program Member in the region. eForce was also awarded the inaugural William M. Heenan Markets Development Award for its innovation and commitment to developing new market opportunities for recycled-content materials in Pennsylvania.
