Massive E-Waste Cleanup Held in Cottonwood

Cottonwood, Surrounding Area Recycle Nearly 18 Tons of Electronic Waste Saturday in Record Per-Capita Event

PHOENIX (Feb. 16, 2012) – A free electronics waste recycling event at Cottonwood’s public works yard last Saturday had an overwhelming turnout as 416 vehicles turned in nearly 18 tons of discarded material to be recycled.

Eighteen tons of e-waste saved from being landfilled!

  

“Looking at the per-capita population of that area and how many vehicles turned out, this is the most successful electronic waste recycling event we have ever done,” Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Henry Darwin said. “We would like to thank Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens and the many excellent volunteers for their extraordinary efforts to protect the public health and environment of the Verde Valley.”

Debbie Breitkreutz, Cottonwood Utilities Wastewater Superintendent

Of the 416 vehicles that deposited e-waste, 182 were from Cottonwood, Verde Village 78, Cornville 60, Clarkdale 37, 21 from other unincorporated areas of Yavapai County, Sedona 20, Jerome 4, Camp Verde 3 and one each from Chino Valley and Rimrock. The event collected a grand total of 35,353 pounds.

Cottonwood Citizens on Patrol (COPs) volunteer,

Billy Tinnen, watches the line-up of vehicles. People are patiently waiting to recycle their electronics.

The event, sponsored by ADEQ, City of Cottonwood, UniSource Energy Services, Stewards of Public Lands and E-Waste Harvesters, collected more than twice the amount of an earlier 2010 event in Cottonwood, when 210 vehicles turned in 16,965 pounds of electronic waste.

UniSource Energy Services District Manager Jimmy Duncan is always willing to lend a hand. Here UniSource Community Action Team (CAT) volunteer, Jason Knister, operates the forklift provided by UniSource. 

“We all had a wonderful day and there is a great amount of satisfaction that derives from these kinds of events and all the people who give of their time for this important cause,” Mayor Joens said.

Cottonwood City Volunteers, Debbie Breitkreutz, left, and Dan Lueder, right.

Volunteers at this event were:

ADEQ: Mark Shaffer and Sybil Smith. From UniSource CAT (Community Action Team): Justin Knister and Diane Swigart. UniSource provided the fork lift. City of Cottonwood Dan Lueder, Roger Biggs, Debbie Breitkreutz, Casey Gilmore, Jason Blount and Gary Simgen. Cottonwood COPs Billy Tinnen. From Stewards of Public Lands: Jess Tyler, Charles Mackey, Diane Joens, Debbie LaFrance.

Charles Mackey, Stewards of Public Lands faithful volunteer.

Dan Lueder, Roger Biggs, City of Cottonwood

Debbie LaFrance, Stewards of Public Lands. Debbie greeted more than 400 e-waste

recyclers from the region.

Jess Tyler, tireless Stewards of Public Lands Cco-Chair and community volunteer.

UniSource CAT Volunteers Jason Knister and Diane Swigart

ADEQ Communications Director Mark Shaffer and NW AZ Community Liaison Sybil Smith.

The City of Cottonwood says THANK YOU to Mark, Sybil, and Director Henry Darwin!

Once the items reach E-Waste Harvesters' Recycling Facility, every item is broken down by type--metals, plastics, etc. Plastics are ground up in to small pieces and reused. Metals are recycled. Everything is reused.

Jess Tyler, Co-Chair Stewards of Public Lands

Diane Joens, Co-Chair of Stewards of Public Lands

Thank you E-Waste Harvesters. You make a phenonemal environmental partner.

E-waste partners were the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, City of Cottonwood, UniSource Energy Service, Stewards of Public Lands and E-Waste Harvesters.

DATE:	Feb. 16, 2012
CONTACT:	Mark Shaffer, ADEQ Director of Communications Ph: (602) 771-2215