Reuse & Recycling Electronic Equipment

In the News

June 20, 2006, BNL Received a DOE Award for Participation in the Federal Electronics Recycling and Reuse Challenge. BNL recycled over 69,000 pounds of electronics, leading the East Region for Federal Facilities. DOE won the FERRC Agency Award for the federal agency recycling the most electronics.

• Award Transmittal Letter (pdf)

Mike Bebon presents Donna King with DOE award for participation in the FERRC. June 29, 2006

BNL donated six computer systems to Bayshore Senior High School, for the purpose of improving the math and science education curricula. (May 17, 2006) Point of contact Kathy Gurski.

BNL donated excess computer equipment to the Kid's Place Early Childhood Day School, for the purpose of improving the math and science education curricula. (March 23, 2006) Point of contact Kathy Gurski.

What is the difference between reuse and recycling?

Reuse: The computer would be used again in its original form for the same purpose. Or, it would be used again for another purpose after changes in the location/user or minor changes to the software/hardware. An example of reuse would be donation to a non-profit organization.

Remanufacturing: The computer would be rebuilt, upgraded or refurbished into a useable product for sale.

Recycling: The computer would be separated into its component parts, broken down into raw materials such as metals and plastics that can be marketed as recyclables.


Why reuse electronics?

Reusing electronics or reducing the amount of equipment at the source is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preferred method of for managing potential waste. The USEPA solid waste hierarchy, is as follows:

1. reduce/reuse
2. recycle
3. incinerate with energy recovery
4. landfill

By promoting electronic equipment reuse and recycling BNL is reducing the quantity of heavy metals and other toxic substances in landfills.

Electronic Reuse & Recycling at Brookhaven

BNL actively promotes environmental stewardship of its surplus electronic equipment by:

Reuse

• Internal equipment transfer, through Procurement and Property Management, contact your Division Property Management Representative.
• BNL's "gifting" program, in accordance with Executive Order 12999, BNL donates useable surplus computer systems and printers to schools or non-profit organizations for furthering educational development. Point of contact Kathy Gurski.
• External Equipment transfer, to other Federal Facilities, via GSA

Recycle

BNL is currently conducting the following activities related to electronics recycling:

• Participant in the Federal Electronics Recycling and Reuse Challenge (ends April 22, 2006).
• Procurement and Property Management (PPM) won a P2 proposal to evaluate UNICOR as a facility to recycle BNL's excess computers.  http://www.unicor.gov/recycling/

The following activities related to electronics recycling are currently being evaluated

• EWMSD is currently evaluating the Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC)
• Participation in the EPA READ program

Links

• Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
• Plug-in to e-cycling
• Executive Order 13101,"Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition"
• Executive Order 13148, "Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management"

Presentations

• Building Managers Meeting Presentation (ppt)
• Federal Electronics Challenge Presentation (pdf)

Last Modified: February 1, 2008
Please forward all questions about this site to: Keith Klaus

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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