U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Contact:  Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2006)  Why trash your old computer when you can pass it on for reuse?  That's the thinking behind EPA's "Pass It On Week," April 16 – 23, 2006.  EPA and its Plug-In To eCycling partners created Pass It On Week to encourage the collection and reuse of personal computers.  EPA's Plug-In partners will host several regional collections during the week.

"Americans have the opportunity to pass on access to technology as well as a cleaner environment," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.  "Technology's advances leave behind computers and electronics in its wake.  Although some people make upgrades every few years, computers are built to last much longer – so instead of throwing them out, passing them on."

As part of Pass It On Week, EPA is also promoting "100 Percent Day."  Created by the Computer Reuse Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations, refurbishers, governments and manufacturers, this national effort aims to collect more than 100,000 computers throughout the United States on or near Earth Day.  Businesses are asked to donate computers on April 21 and individuals are asked to donate on April 22.  Three Plug-In partners are hosting or sponsoring collection events.

Formed in 2002, Plug-In To eCycling aims to increase the safe recycling of used electronic products by encouraging private and public sector partners to advertise, promote, or provide actual opportunities to recycle old consumer electronics.

EPA's Plug-In To eCycling:  http://www.epa.gov/rcc/plugin

Pass It On Week Events:

·         RECONNECT, a Goodwill Industries and Dell partnership, will host multiple electronics collection events across Michigan and in the San Francisco Bay area.

·         Staples will host in-store collections of computers at all 21 locations in Chicago, Ill., from April 20 – May 1, at 13 Ohio stores from April 22 – April 30, and at its Franklin Boro, N.J., store from April 23 – May 7.

·         Intel will cosponsor an electronics collection event with Advanced Recovery in Getzville, N.Y., on May 5 – 6.

·         Best Buy will sponsor a collection event in Orleans Parish, La., for computers and other electronic equipment destroyed by the effects of Hurricane Katrina.  Week of April 24.

100 Percent Day Events Occurring April 21-22:

·         Intel will sponsor a computer collections event on April 21 in Denver, Colo.

·         Intel will cosponsor an electronics collection event with Advanced Recovery on April 21 – 22 in Hudson, Mass., and Parsippany, N.J., with Agilent Technologies and Future Business Leaders of America on April 22 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and will cosponsor several collection events with Data Doctors on April 22 across Arizona.

·         Sharp will host, in cooperation with Clark County, an electronics collection event at its site in Camus, Wash., on April 21.

·         Toshiba and Best Buy will cosponsor an electronics collection event at Best Buy's Mission Viejo and Westminster, Calif., stores on April 21 – 22.

Although EPA does not endorse specific clubs, businesses, or organizations, the agency is willing to cooperate with other groups on similar computer recycling collections.

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