Aug. 5, 2010
'E-cycling' saves landfills, dollars
by Paula Van Brocklin
The university's "Green Your Scene" efforts this summer so far have diverted 21,741 pounds of electronics from landfills. Campus crews also collected about 11 tons of mixed paper in June, and still are gathering unused paint for disposal. Look for an update in next week's Inside Iowa State on the paint collection campaign, which concluded July 30.
Electronics recycling
Since June 1, ISU surplus has donated nearly 11 tons of computer monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners and other plastic electronics to the Apple computer company's free education recycling program. The initiative not only keeps electronics from littering landfills, it saves the university money.
Normally, ISU pays a collection service to dispose of its used electronics. So far, the Apple program has saved ISU about $1,500. One or two more shipments to Apple are planned before the end of August. If you have old electronics lying around your office, contact Mark Ludwig, ISU surplus, at 4-7300 before the end of August to have your items included in the shipments.
An excess property disposal form is required for items with an ISU inventory number. The form is available on central stores' website (click on "inventory control" in the left column, then "excess property form").
Updated Aug. 23: Appliances recycling
In addition to electronics, university departments purged 101 old, energy-zapping appliances, totaling 10,539 pounds, during the summer "Green Your Scene" event.
