NEWS For Immediate Release

April 15, 2005

Contact: CU Recycling
Jack DeBell, Director
303.492.8307

CU Environmental Center Wins Dell Award- Announces Free Computer Round-Up

The CU Environmental Center’s recycling program has teamed with Dell Computer to hold an old computer round-up for personal (non-CU) computers. CU students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to participate and should bring identification proving affiliation with the University.

The Computer Round-Up is scheduled for Friday, May 6th 12-6pm, Saturday, May 7 th 10am-6pm, Sunday, May 8 th 10am-3pm in the Williams Village Parking lot on Baseline Rd (North Side Williams Village).

This no-charge collection event will accept all brands of computers and peripherals, including computers, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, laptops and more. Cell phones and chargers will also be accepted. No TV’s, copy machines, or other electronics will be accepted. Attendees are encouraged to remove all data.

Using projections from previous computer round-up around the country, the CU round-up is expected to collect 10-20 tons of computers and peripherals. A portion of these materials are expected to be reusable and will be donated to 1-2 non-profit agencies.

The University community generates significant quantities and types of computers and peripherals. The University's Property Management department is responsible for managing state-owned computer equipment. However, personal computers owned by students, faculty, staff, and alumni are not subject to requirements for proper recycling or disposal. Using EPA estimates, there could be as many as 27 tons of computers, monitors, printers, and other peripherals from this segment of the University community.

Dell Computer has provided partial funding to CU-Boulder as part of its Higher Education Recycling Leadership Award. CU is one of three universities nationwide to receive this award and funding. CU was selected because of its commitment to leadership in the areas of technology innovation, environmental sustainability and campus community recycling.

Dell initiated the awards program to raise awareness of responsible product end-of-life options, keep computers out of landfills, empower colleges with a model for successful campus collection events and educate college students – the next generation of leaders – about responsible computer recycling. Olivia Kirby, a CU Student studying e-waste as an intern stated. “This electronic revolution that has been increasing at a fast pace is about to hit the landfills, then our groundwater and this is something we do not want to happen.”

This event is expected to garner local and national media attention regarding the environmental, social, and financial needs to properly manage our electronic waste.

For more information contact CU Recycling (303) 492-8307 or visit their website: www.colorado.edu/recycle