Spring Break
Partnership creates system of recycling electronics
Marcos Blanco
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: News
The electronic waste program at SJSU is beginning to take shape through the partnership between the Associated Students Computer Services Center, the Facilities Development & Operations (FD&O) and Zak Enterprises, a computer recycling company.
"We're trying to get it out there to let students that there is an e-waste drop-off," said Kevin Tran, operations coordinator at the computer service center.
Terri Ramirez, the recycling and moving specialist at FD&O, is in charge of managing e-waste reduction and the recycling program on campus.
She said the program isn't completely set up for students yet.
"The program is mostly set up for the faculty and staff," Ramirez said.
Tran said something to the contrary.
"A lot of students don't know about the center we have here," he said. "We set up an e-waste center in the back left corner (of the center). Students and staff can come in and drop off stuff that's old, broken and unbroken."
Habib Aziz, a senior business management information systems major and technician in the computer service center, said he thinks people don't pay attention to e-waste as one of the major causes of pollution.
"When laptops become more mainstream, there aren't going to be enough recycling centers for them," he said. "They don't know how bad it is."
Aziz said the e-waste programs should reach out to communities so that more people are aware of the problem of e-waste affecting the environment.
"Have a campaign or foundation to let people know about it. Because for them, ignorance is bliss," he said.
As far as what kind of e-waste is being recycled, Ramirez said FD&O recycles a category of materials called "universal waste."
"Items considered to contain potentially hazardous materials are banned from disposal in landfills and must either be recycled properly or treated as hazardous waste," she said.
Ramirez said that at SJSU, items such as batteries, hard drives, laptops, mobile phones, monitors (CRT, Plasma, LCD), personal computer parts, televisions, fluorescent tubes and lights are sent to processing facilities for recycling.
"We're trying to get it out there to let students that there is an e-waste drop-off," said Kevin Tran, operations coordinator at the computer service center.
Terri Ramirez, the recycling and moving specialist at FD&O, is in charge of managing e-waste reduction and the recycling program on campus.
She said the program isn't completely set up for students yet.
"The program is mostly set up for the faculty and staff," Ramirez said.
Tran said something to the contrary.
"A lot of students don't know about the center we have here," he said. "We set up an e-waste center in the back left corner (of the center). Students and staff can come in and drop off stuff that's old, broken and unbroken."
Habib Aziz, a senior business management information systems major and technician in the computer service center, said he thinks people don't pay attention to e-waste as one of the major causes of pollution.
"When laptops become more mainstream, there aren't going to be enough recycling centers for them," he said. "They don't know how bad it is."
Aziz said the e-waste programs should reach out to communities so that more people are aware of the problem of e-waste affecting the environment.
"Have a campaign or foundation to let people know about it. Because for them, ignorance is bliss," he said.
As far as what kind of e-waste is being recycled, Ramirez said FD&O recycles a category of materials called "universal waste."
"Items considered to contain potentially hazardous materials are banned from disposal in landfills and must either be recycled properly or treated as hazardous waste," she said.
Ramirez said that at SJSU, items such as batteries, hard drives, laptops, mobile phones, monitors (CRT, Plasma, LCD), personal computer parts, televisions, fluorescent tubes and lights are sent to processing facilities for recycling.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Tanukikun
posted 10/10/08 @ 8:57 PM PST
Partnership in the title is spelled wrong. Editors?
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