Finance and Administration Cabinet
E-Scrap recycling service extends to state employees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

E-Scrap recycling service extends to state employees

FRANKFORT, Ky (January 15, 2010) – State government employees have an opportunity to recycle their old, unwanted personal electronics today and Jan. 22 in a free, environmentally friendly recycling service.   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.

"E-scrap continues to be the fastest growing contributor to our landfills and most electronic recycling facilities charge a fee to dispose of these items," said Jonathan Miller, Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet.  "This program offers state employees the opportunity to clean out their closets and garages of unwanted electronics in a free, environmentally sound manner."

Today’s collection is located at the Fair Oaks Office Building parking lot, located at 200 Fair Oaks Lane.  On Jan. 22, the location will be in the parking lot of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services complex located at 275 East Main St.

Collection hours for both days are from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The collection will be staffed by the Division of Surplus Properties. 

The effort 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.

“E-scrap recycling is a perfect example of Gov. Beshear’s ongoing commitment to make government more efficient and green,” said Sec. Miller.  “State agencies require computers and office equipment to serve the public in the most effective manner.  When that equipment is recycled, the revenue generated is returned to the agency for operating costs and the purchase of updated current electronics, saving taxpayer dollars.”   

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.

Today’s collection program is offered to state employees for the disposal of their personal products at no charge to them or to taxpayers.  Any money generated from the recycling in excess of the costs incurred by the Division of Surplus Properties for execution will be returned to the Commonwealth. 

The company, Creative Recycling Systems Inc., assures that products will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner with five percent or less of the remaining scrap going to landfills. It also ensures the proper sanitization of any data or information remaining on hard drives and in memory.

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