Public invited to eWaste drop off Friday, Saturday

The public can participate in the free electronic waste recycling program during Education and Government eWaste Disposal Days this Friday and Saturday at the Kaua‘i Community College parking lot fronting the KCC Performing Arts Center.

Hours for the collection are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Friday being designated as the collection from institutions and Saturday being the residential drop off day.

Acceptable eWaste items include computer systems and accessories, hand-held devices, office equipment, audio and video equipment.

Items which will not be accepted include batteries, which are not integral to computer systems, cracked or broken CRT screens, hairdryers, household appliances, microwaves, cardboard, paper and Styrofoam.

Hosted by the Kaua‘i Community College, the eWaste program is open to all Hawai‘i residents, public or private schools and universities, the county, state and federal or military branches, small- to medium-sized businesses (less than 100 employees), and nonprofit organizations, states a KCC release.

Pre-registration is required for any of the institutions planning on utilizing the drop off. Visit www.hawaii.edu/ewaste for the registration form.

There is no need to register for Hawai‘i residents.

Equipment collected during the eWaste will be processed in North America in an environmentally responsible manner.

The recycling and disposal services are provided courtesy of Apple.

The term eWaste is a popular informal name for consumer and business electronic equipment, which has reached its useful life cycle, states the eWaste website.

Statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reflect what in 2010, more than 2,440,000 tons of eWaste was generated in the United States with 27 percent of that equipment, or 649,000 tons, were recycled.

Visit www.hawaii.edu/ewaste for a map to get to the area, a complete listing of acceptable material and suggested methods on securely erasing files.