E-waste is an issue of resource conservation, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In short, electronics contain many re-usable and valuable raw materials. However, if improperly disposed of or illegally dumped, electronics can pose a serious risk to the environment – releasing toxic metals like lead into our water and soil. On Saturday, March 13th, Placer Nature Center is teaming up with OneBigBin.com, Auburn Journal, 49er Printing & Copy Center and Sims Recycling to receive e-waste for recycling at the Gold Country Fairgrounds between 9AM-1PM.

Recycling electronics helps reduce pollution in more than one way. It reduces the pollution that would be generated during new product manufacturing and reduces destructive mining needed to extract valuable and limited virgin resources. On average 80% of the population has a computer sitting on a shelf somewhere in their house. Recycling one million desktop computers prevents the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of 16,000 passenger cars.

According to the US Geological Survey by recycling 100 million cell phones, approximately 7,500 pounds of gold could be recovered. Recovering the gold from cell phones, rather than mining it from the earth, would prevent 12,000,000,000 pounds of loose soil, sand, and rock from having to be moved, mined, and processed.

Placer Nature Center’s programs focus on the relationship between humans and nature; the center teaches why sustainability is so important to the health of the environment and people. The nature center’s e-waste drive partner, Sims Recycling Solutions (SRS), ensures all electronics collected are truly 100% recycled. Also, SRS's 200,000 sq/ft facility is part of the City of Roseville’s Green Energy Initiative and powered by renewable energy.

Some of the E-Waste will even raise needed program funds for the Nature Center, the rest will be disassembled and 100% recycled at Sims' local facility in Roseville. Placer Nature Center’s Board of Directors has recently toured the plant and learned about Sims' operations and are excited to be partnering with them. More information about the event, ewaste and recycling can be found at www.PlacerNatureCenter.org/recycle

This drive is made possible by OneBigBin.com (a collaborative effort between the Western Placer Waste Management Authority, the City of Roseville and Placer County), Auburn Journal, and 49er Printing & Copy Center.

********Accepted Items********

Computers, Televisions (TVs), Laptops, Cell Phones, Printers, Monitors, Speakers, Keyboards, Computer Mice, PDAs, Radios, Stereos, MP3s, DVDs, CD Players, VCRs, Laptops, Fax Machines. (Any electronic device that has a 4” screen or larger will generate funds for Placer Nature Center)

********Items Not Accepted ********

No Household Appliances, Microwaves