Finance and Administration Cabinet
State employees recycle 17,822 pounds of personal electronic scrap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
State employees recycle 17,822 pounds of personal electronic scrap

 FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 26, 2010) – State government employees in Frankfort contributed 17,822 pounds of old, unwanted personal electronics during a two-day e-scrap recycling project sponsored jointly by the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Waste Management.  The two collections occurred on Jan. 15 and Jan. 22, 2010 before and after work and during lunch.   

“We were pleased that so many people took advantage of this free opportunity to dispose of their unwanted electronics in this environmentally sound method,” said Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet.  “The weather was cold and rainy on both collection days so the great turnout demonstrated to me that there’s a strong interest in e-scrap recycling opportunities.” 

Electronic scrap, or e-scrap, includes “end-of-life” electronic equipment: telephones and cell phones; computers and associated equipment, such as keyboards, computer mice, cables and speakers; audio and stereo gear; VCRs; DVD players; video game consoles; fax machines; printers; and iPods.

The collections were located at two state office buildings in Frankfort: the Fair Oaks Office Building parking lot, located at 200 Fair Oaks Lane; and the parking lot of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services complex located at 275 East Main St.  The Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Division of Surplus Property (DSP) executed the drop off points.

Ted Sloan, information officer supervisor for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, was one of over 300 state government employees to turn in old electronics at one of the drop-off locations. 

“This was a great service. It was quick and easy,” Sloan said.  “I appreciate knowing that these devices will be recycled and won’t end up in a landfill.” 

According to Sec. Miller, state employees can expect more e-scrap programs in the future. 

“We received a lot of very positive feedback from participants so we’re planning to execute another e-scrap recycling effort this spring or summer.” said Sec. Miller.  “I encourage employees to hold on to those old electronics accumulated during their spring cleaning and stay tuned for the next collection drive.”

The state’s e-scrap recycling program ensures that less than 5 percent of the devices collected will end up in landfills and is executed at no cost to the participants or to taxpayers.  Any money generated from this or future e-scrap recycling initiatives in excess of the costs incurred by DSP for execution will be returned to the Commonwealth. 

E-scrap recycling is an extension of Gov. Steve Beshear’s green government initiative to achieve a 50 percent reduction of state government’s carbon footprint in 15 years.  In September 2008 the Governor announced that the Finance and Administration Cabinet had awarded a contract that would result in the eco-friendly recycling of surplus electronics owned by government agencies and educational institutions in Kentucky.

The e-scrap contract was issued as an “all state agencies” contract that allows participation by the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government, schools districts, post-secondary education institutions and any other public not-for-profit entity.

In 2009, more than 50 state agencies, municipalities and school districts participated in e-scrap recycling.  Creative Recycling Systems picked up 3,007,348 pounds of electronics for a total year-end payment of $82,159.  The total charge was $23,487, resulting in net revenue of $58,672, which was returned to those agencies.

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