Mecklenburg County Electronics Recycling Program

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Mecklenburg County Electronics Recycling Program

• October 22, 2001

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Mecklenburg County

• Population - 700,000
• 26,000 Businesses
• Mecklenburg County generated 1.2 million Tons
  of SW in 1999

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Why Recycle Electronics?

• 1997 NC State house Bill (HB-859) requires
  counties to develop a 10-year waste management
  plan.
• Mecklenburg Countys plan calls for a 23
  reduction over ten years.
• Because of the aggressive goal and growing
  concern regarding toxicity all waste streams had
  to be evaluated for recycling.
• Including Electronics.

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Plan -Drop Centers

• Four Staffed Drop Centers for Mecklenburg County
  residents (not businesses)
• Collect fiber, 1 2 plastic, aluminum cans,
  appliances, scrap aluminum, motor oil, tires,
  batteries, HHW (2 locations), foam rubber and
  ELECTRONICS.
• Open Tuesday-Saturday 7am-3pm.

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Drop Centers

• Electronic recycling begins when a resident
  brings their items to one of the 4 staffed drop
  centers
• Electronic items include personal computers,
  laptops, fax machines, copiers, telecommunication
  equipment, and VCRs (No TVs)

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Electronics Program Vendor History

• 1999
• Waste Management Inc. Kernersville, NC
• 2000
• Oliver Trading Lexington, SC
• 2001
• Computel Charlotte, NC

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Annual Program Cost

• Salaries Wages
• Staff Time Coordinating (40 hrs) 1000
• On-Site Labor (104 hrs) 1956
• Capital Cost
• 320 SF (storage space) 500
• Non-Capital Direct Cost
• Advertising 500
• Supplies (pallets, shrink wrap, gloves, forklift
  , etc) 1500
• Total Annual Cost 5456
• Cost Per Ton (75 Tons) 72.00

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Program Cost Breakdown
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Waste Management

• 31 tons of electronics shipped 1999/2000
  
• Average cost 253 per ton
• -57 per ton for program cost
• -196 Disposal and Freight

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Oliver Trading

• 13 tons recycled
• Program Cost 87/ton
• - program development
• Transportation Cost (collected electronics and
  brought to central location for pick up)
• Supplies
• No freight or disposal cost

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Computel

• Countys cost 72/ton
• Vendor does milk-run style collection from drop
  centers (saves county from having to transfer
  electronics to central location)
• Recycle est. 75 tons yearly
• Vendor refurbishes and sells 50-60 computers
  they collect

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Vendor Comparison

• Waste Management Program Cost-257.00 per ton
• Oliver Trading Program Cost 87.00 per ton
• Computel Program Cost 72.00 per ton

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Conclusion

• Continue to use the Drop Centers
• Events for Mecklenburg County Business
• 2002 goal to recover 100 tons
• Continue to combine efforts with other groups for
  cost effective programs

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• Steve Hoffman
• Mecklenburg County
• 700 North Tryon Street
• Charlotte, NC 28202
• [phone]
• hoffmss_at_co.mecklenburg.nc.us