Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grant
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Title:
Missouri Obsolete and End of Life Electronics Project
Project
Number: 99013
Purpose:
To
divert an additional estimated 4,000 tons of solid non-hazardous waste, in the
form of obsolete and end-of-life business and household consumer electronics,
by:
1)
Developing, on a state-wide basis, the forum for implementing solutions for
managing obsolete and end-of-life electronic equipment;
2)
Promoting, developing and coordinating a state-wide
program for the effective collection and processing of the targeted electronics;
3)
Providing specific reuse, recycling and business training, on a statewide basis, to
those Missouri regions and municipalities wanting to develop business equipment
reuse and recycling programs for the purpose of diverting these targeted
electronics from the waste stream.
Project
Components:
Though
the proposed project does include a state-wide Electronics Recycling and Reuse
Forum, this project is not just about providing theoretical reuse and
recycling ideas. The intent is to
develop and provide the State of Missouri’s regions and municipalities with
proven reuse programs and strategies that are long term solutions for reducing
waste and conserving resources. Surplus
Exchange will not only draw upon its 15 years of reuse and recycling expertise,
but will also utilize the expertise of other Missouri and national reuse and
recycling solution providers, including The Reuse Development Organization (ReDO),
and the EPA, to accomplish the goals of this project.
Through
this project, The Surplus Exchange is committed to not only raising the level of
awareness about electronics reuse and recycling, but to also provide programs
that work, and hands-on training for those municipalities and regions wanting to
make more electronics reuse and recycling
happen faster!
1)
Electronic Reuse and Recycling
Marketing and Education
A)
Sponsoring a one day State-Wide Electronics Reuse and Recycling Forum.
The Forum will be open to all state regions and municipalities, and will
be presented by regional and national electronics reuse and recycling experts
(including the Reuse Development
Organization) whose training segments will help create a coordinated
state-wide effort. The Forum will showcase electronics reuse and recycling
programs and strategies currently in operation, which successfully address the
obsolete, and end-of-life electronics concerns. Secondly, it is our intent to
utilize this aspect of the proposal to further coordinate statewide efforts in
keeping these problematic electronics out of the landfill by:
1)
Showing participants how to add simple, or complex electronics reuse and
recycling strategies to their existing municipal and county collection programs.
2)
Coordinating state-wide collection consolidation points, and unified sales to
major recyclers in order to “cut-down” on the high costs associated with
electronics collection and processing.
3)
in particular, coordinating all efforts for the environmentally sound disposal
of the more problematic electronics such as broken monitors, broken and/obsolete
terminals, broken TV’s, and “other” recyclable electronics which incur more
cost to process than revenues received.
4)
Developing product stewardship initiatives, for the purpose of presenting the
reuse of electronic products as a more attractive and feasible alternative to
their disposal.
B)
Developing and distributing a State of Missouri Electronics Reuse and Recycling
Guide. This on-line and printed
guide will inform the public of:
1)
Businesses and programs throughout the state which are sources for businesses
and individuals to send their electronics to for either reuse or recycling.
2)
Non-profit organizations throughout the state, which are in need of reusable
electronics.
3)
Descriptions of strategies for businesses and individuals to follow, which will
help them, get maximum, extended use out of their existing electronics – thus
creating less waste.
4)
Specific electronics events such as “Second Chance Week” (see below), or
electronic drop-off events scheduled throughout the state.
5)
All information collected regarding this concern.
C)
As part of America Recycles Day, this project will help the Solid Waste
Management Districts develop and promote “Second Chance Week” – a week of
activities promoting electronics reuse
as a means to reduce waste by finding second lives for what are perceived as
obsolete and end-of-life electronics. There
are many benefits associated with Second Chance Week, such as increasing the
number of useful donations to non-profits, charities and schools, as well as
providing bargain hunters, thrift store shoppers, re-users and recyclers more
opportunities to purchase inexpensive reusable electronic items. It is not
our intent to reinvent the wheel, we will model our Second Chance Week
activities after the very successful
California and Indiana programs.
2)
Specific Reuse Training and Pilot Programs For State Districts
A)
Successful electronics reuse and recycling projects throughout the country come
in many forms, and provide a variety of services and programs.
The common thread is that each project is based on their community’s
specific needs and available resources. And
like with any “good business”, needs and resources are first determined by
utilizing a business plan or feasibility study.
Based
on each districts’ population and their number of businesses, not everyone can
justify operating a full-service business equipment reuse and recycling center
such as The Surplus Exchange. Even
so, other forms of electronics reuse and recycling programs are feasible, and
can impact the amounts of electronics entering the landfill.
This project proposes two distinct reuse and recycling pilot programs:
1)
Electronic Equipment Drop and Swap Pilot Programs
Arrangements
have been made, contingent upon receiving funding for this project, with
Donna
Burris, Region D, SWMD, and Terry Gilman, Region N, SWMD for the development of
one weekend electronics drop and swap program for each of these SWMDs. Each
program will allow area individuals and businesses to bring their reusable and
broken electronics (no hazardous materials) to the collection
site. Reusable electronics will be set aside for verifiable non-profit
organizations and their constituents
to have on a donation basis, and for the general public to purchase.
Revenue realized from these sales will be utilized to fund future drop
and swap programs, or for however the SWMD deems appropriate.
Those electronics which are not readily reusable will be loaded on the
Surplus Exchange recycling truck and brought to our facility for processing and
shipping to major regional and national recycling companies. In addition,
Surplus Exchange, along with volunteers from the participating region, will
provide the trained technical staff to help test the collected electronics.
2)
For other municipalities or districts, a business equipment reuse and recycling
center is appropriate,
and can be sustained. For this
project, Region L SWMD, (based on their population and the number of businesses
in their district), has identified themselves as a viable candidate for a
successful business equipment reuse and recycling center.
Surplus Exchange proposes to consult with Region L, and provide the
expertise and business planning skills specific to this industry, which are
required to help insure a successful program.
Surplus
Exchange will provide 100 hours of contact time (both on site and phone) for
this aspect
of the project. A business plan
approach will be utilized, including:
• Market Analysis (identifying amounts of materials available,
and potential users)
• Market Plan (for the collection and processing of targeted materials)
• Organizational Structure and Administration (how will the business be
structured)
• Product and Service Descriptions (will it be a general business
equipment center, or just electronics; what other related programs or services
will be offered)
• Site Selection Criteria
• Cash Flow Analysis (three year projections)
In
addition, Surplus Exchange will share with Region L its fifteen-year history and
knowledge of this industry, including:
• Successful reuse and recycling marketing and advertising
• Setting up a successful equipment donation program
• Staff training
• Fund raising strategies
• Equipment purchasing
• End-user sales marketing and advertising
• Sharing of existing recycling and metals markets
• Developing community occupational and educational programs based on
reuse
It
is the intent for both of these pilot projects to provide a beginning structure
for an actual (not just theoretical) unified and statewide, electronics reuse
and recycling program. We would
like to show that Missouri could make more electronics reuse and recycling
happen faster, efficiently and in a cost effective manner.