Finance and Administration Cabinet
STATE AWARDS E-SCRAP RECYCLING CONTRACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   

STATE AWARDS E-SCRAP RECYCLING CONTRACT
All government agencies can participate

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Date) – Governor Steve Beshear has announced that the Finance and Administration Cabinet is awarding a contract that will result in recycling of more than 5 million pounds of electronic scrap generated by government agencies and educational institutions in Kentucky each year.

The e-scrap contract with Creative Recycling Inc. of Tampa, Fla., will assure that this large volume of scrap will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner with 5 percent or less of the remaining scrap going to landfills. It also ensures the proper sanitization of any data/information remaining on hard drives and in memory. 

In addition, revenue will be generated through reimbursements for most e-scrap. Currently, many communities and schools do not receive any reimbursement or pay a fee for e-scrap recycling services.  

This contract was issued as an “all state agencies” contract that allows participation by the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of government, school districts, postsecondary education institutions and any other public/not-for-profit entity.
 
“This is major step forward,” said Jonathan Miller, Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary.  “This is green in the truest sense of the word. Not only are we reducing the amount of stuff that goes into landfills by recycling our old equipment, but we are also making money for the state by selling it to this company.”

Agencies involved in the project are the Division of Waste Management in the Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Finance’s Division of Surplus Properties and Office of Procurement Services, the Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology – K-12, and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

EEC Secretary Len Peters said, “This contract addresses the disposal issue raised by the legislature. Although e-scrap isn’t tracked by state or federal government, it is believed that most e-scrap goes to our landfills. E-scrap continues to be the fastest growing part of the solid waste stream. While modern landfills are designed to safely contain limited amounts of toxic metals, throwing away e-scrap is a waste of a valuable resource. Recycling is better for the environment and the economy.”

During the 2008 session, the General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Senator Denise Harper Angel of Louisville, directing the Energy and Environment Cabinet to submit an e-scrap report to the Legislative Research Commission by Dec. 15 containing recommendations for a comprehensive statewide system for electronic waste disposal and recycling.  E-scrap includes “end-of-life” telephones and cell phones, TVs, computers and associated equipment, audio/stereo gear, VCRs, DVDs, and video game consoles.

Awarding of this contract is the first major accomplishment of the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s Green IT Program Initiative.

Creative Recycling plans to establish an e-scrap sorting and recycling processing facility in Kentucky.  The company will be developing a Web site with details about the service.

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