Electronic waste disposal slated for Friday

September 26, 2007|By DON AINES

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Businesses seeking to dispose of outmoded or broken electronics, especially those with internal memories, can do so this Friday at an Electronic Waste Disposal Event sponsored by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber and Reclamere, a company certified by the National Association for Information Destruction, have teamed up for the recycling event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the administrative parking lot of the Chambersburg Area School District at 435 Stanley Ave.

The two big issues facing companies disposing of electronic equipment are environmental hazards and data security, said Doug Harmon, the chamber's membership director. Companies face potential liability for disposing of such equipment improperly, or if the data the devices contain falls into the wrong hands, he said.

All the data destruction will be done by Reclamere, either physically or "electronic sanitization" to U.S. Department of Defense standards, according to a chamber news release. The equipment will be refurbished and resold, or recycled, and certificates verifying data destruction will be mailed out no later than 10 days after the event, according to the chamber Web site.

While primarily aimed at the business community, Harmon said individuals looking to discard eligible used electronic equipment may do so. "White goods," such as refrigerators, microwaves, stereos and other appliances will not be accepted.

A representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will be on hand Friday if any questions arise about a piece of equipment posing an environmental hazard, Harmon said.

Computer monitors, PC towers, laptops, computer speakers, keyboards, computer mice, desktop and larger model printers, copiers, fax machines and cell phones will be accepted, the release stated. Disposal costs range from $2 for a computer mouse to $20 for a large printer, copier or fax machine, according to the advanced registration form available in the chamber's September Outlook newsletter and on its Web site, www.chambersburg.org.

Certified data destruction is $28 and there is an additional fee of 25 percent for those who are not chamber members.

The Mercersburg (Pa.) Area Chamber of Commerce and Advance Recycling Technology hosted a free electronic waste day in August and received a good response.

According to Mary Anne Gordon, executive director of the Mercersburg Chamber, large drop-offs by Tuscarora School District (seven skids), First National Bank of Greencastle (a full Ryder truck), First National Bank of Mercersburg and Whitetail Resort and many car loads helped add up to more than 23 four-foot high skids of recyclables.

If you go

What: Electronic waste disposal event for businesses

Where: The administrative parking lot of the Chambersburg Area School District at 435 Stanley Ave.

When: Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost: Disposal costs range from $2 for a computer mouse to $20 for a large printer, copier or fax machine.

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