University of Pennsylvania
OP-20: Electronic Waste Recycling Program

Electronics can be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling via the campus’ computer store, Computer Connection. A battery recycling program offered through the Computer Connection in collaboration with the Office of Environmental Health & Radiation Safety (EHRS) provides safe disposal and recycling of batteries from laptops, mobile phones and other devices using rechargeable batteries. Computer and electronic equipment that cannot be donated must be sent to an electronics recycler. Elemental Inc. and E-Force, approved University vendors, will pick up all types of computer and electronic equipment. www.upenn.edu/computing/provider/recycle/ Through a 2012 Green Fund grant, the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) Green Team re-designed an existing trash room to incorporate an area that readily accommodates the growing recycling needs of the SEAS community. In this project, SEAS carved out a space designated for recycling collection out of a room already designated for waste stream collection - thus, transforming it into an accessible, organized & flexible area for the SEAS community and other University partners at large. As a compliment to the University system of single stream recycling the SEAS Recycling Room addresses the need for centralized systems for the collection & proper removal of the following items that currently lie outside of the University’s single stream recycling plan, including: CFL's and light bulbs, ink and toner cartridges, electronic waste, pens and markers, batteries, paper towel composting. SEAS Recycling Room project has spurred the development of other recycling rooms on campus. www.upenn.edu/sustainability/news/recycling-center-seas-sees-high-usage-soon-after-launch

Penn Computing’s Green IT website, www.upenn.edu/computing/greenit, provides extensive information on how Penn faculty and staff can recycle their e-waste. Additionally, the University has two preferred vendor contracts with two e-waste recyclers, E-Force and Elemental. Both of these firms were fully vetted with support from Penn’s Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety to ensure environmental standards are met. http://www.upenn.edu/computing/provider/recycle/

Students can recycle cell phones, batteries, and mercury-containing bulbs in receptacles in the lobbies of all Penn’s dormitories. Electronics can be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling via the campus’ computer store, Computer Connection.