PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon E-Cycles Program showed its third consecutive year of gains in total pounds of materials collected in 2011, according to final figures released by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Oregon E-Cycles is a network of more than 220 collection sites and recycling facilities statewide that accepts unwanted computers, monitors and televisions for free.
The program launched on Jan. 1, 2009 and has shown collection gains each year, surpassing statewide annual recycling goals. For the year 2011, Oregon collected a total of 25.9 million pounds of materials, up 7 percent from the 2010 total of 24.2 million pounds collected. During its inaugural year, the program collected 19 million pounds of discarded materials.
“We continue to streamline the program and make it easier for the public to use,” said Mary Lou Perry, DEQ solid waste specialist. “More Oregonians are aware of the program as it matures, and we’re confident of seeing continued gains in 2012.”
The program’s 2012 recycling goal is 27.1 million pounds, 7.1 pounds per capita.
Electronics manufacturers fund Oregon E-Cycles by paying fees to the state. DEQ administers the program and sets collection goals each year. DEQ oversees the four recycling programs which make up E-Cycles. Three are manufacturer-run and the fourth is a state contractor program operated by the National Center for Electronics Recycling under contract with DEQ. Combined, the four programs include more than 160 manufacturers.
The 25.9 million pounds of electronics waste Oregon collected in 2011 represents 6.71 pounds per Oregonian and has an energy savings equivalent to 3 million gallons of gasoline. Greenhouse gas reductions seen through the recycled amount is the equivalent of tailpipe emissions of 6,100 cars per year.
SOURCE: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
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