Science & Outdoors
Recycling goes high-tech
The Pointer
kbose675@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is known for its many sustainably focused initiatives and one student is taking the lead on investigating how UW-SP students can better dispose of electronic waste. Amanda Dent, a senior majoring in waste management, received a $6,000 UW-System Student Research Grant to assess the amount of e-waste (electronic waste) being dumped into regional landfills by students, faculty and staff.
“I wanted to create a program that would inform the community and students about the hazards of e-waste,” said Dent. “Our goal is to get this e-waste to recyclers, rather than in our overburdened and overfilled landfills.”
During the fall semester, Dent spearheaded an on-campus collection of e-waste, which includes cell phones, televisions, DVD and VHS players, computers and microwaves. Approximately 13,110 pounds of e-waste was collected along with two, five gallon buckets of batteries and a box full of cell phones and cell phone chargers. The e-waste was then recycled by 5R Processors, who takes care of all of UW-SP’s recyclables. 5R is the only recycling company in the area that meets the green standards for e-waste recycling. According to UW-SP Facilities Services, student e-waste makes up approximately 26 percent of the city of Stevens Point’s e-waste.
“Computers and computer monitors were by far the most prevalent e-waste collected on campus,” said Dent.
E-waste can contain such impurities as lead, mercury, lithium, bromine, cadium and other heavy metals. The UW-Extension reported that Wisconsin residents dumped a minimum of one million computers into our state’s landfills from 2002-2005.
Dent plans on continuing her efforts once students begin to leave the residence halls at the end of spring semester. She will hold a second collection of e-waste at the 13 residence halls and the greater campus. This recycling drive will also be opened for the community to bring in their own electronics for recycling.
The final phase of Dent’s project will be to report her findings, which should be completed mid-summer, with a proposed management plan to continue this effort into the future. Aga Razvi, her advisor, will receive the findings, as will the entire campus and it’s leadership.
“Part of my goal,” said Dent, “is to educate campus students and personnel on how to properly dispose of electronic components.”
