The City of Atlanta to Sponsor One of the Largest One-Day Electronic Waste Recycling Events in the Southeast

/PRNewswire/ -- Don't just throw it away; bring it to E-Waste Recycling Day!

In observance of Earth Day 2009, the city Atlanta will host one of the largest single-day electronic waste collections in the southeast from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Turner Field's Orange Lot.

According to Forbes.com, Atlanta ranks among "America's Most Wired Cities." And over the last seven years, residents have become increasingly environmentally conscious when it comes to disposing of their household electronics.

Hundreds of residents will drop off their old television sets, computers and other household electronics to be recycled this Saturday. This year the city will also accept lead batteries, including automotive batteries, with the help of the event's newest national partner Advance Auto Parts.

Georgia Power will provide a free energy-efficient CFL light bulb to each participant who commits to replacing their older light bulbs with the newer, cost and energy efficient bulbs.

In addition to Advance Auto Parts, the city of Atlanta is honored to welcome WABE 90.1 FM as new local sponsor. WABE delivers NPR news, classical music, and arts and culture programming to more than 400,000 listeners weekly in metro Atlanta.

"WABE 90.1 FM is pleased to partner with the city of Atlanta and its Electronic Waste Recycling Day," said John Weatherford, Public Broadcasting Atlanta General Manager. "Participating in this worthwhile cause is our way of supporting e-waste recycling. We also encourage the recycling of analog television sets with the approach of our digital conversion on June 12."

Today, electronics account for up to five percent of landfill volume and contribute up to 70 percent of the toxins found in landfills because every year newer and better products are being sold to consumers.

The goal of Electronic Waste Recycling Day is to promote the recovery, reuse, and recycling of obsolete electronic equipment and to encourage the design, manufacture, and purchase of environmentally responsible electronic equipment.

The event is sponsored by Atlanta City Councilwoman Carla Smith; Keep Atlanta Beautiful; Turner Field; Atlanta Recycling Solutions, LLC.; WABE Radio 90.1 FM; Advance Auto Parts; the city of Atlanta Department of Public Works, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Craft Creation & Design, LLC.

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Coca-Cola and the Atlanta Braves team up in 2009 to increase recycling at Turner Field

Coca-Cola and the Atlanta Braves have joined their green initiatives to increase recycling at Turner Field and to highlight the benefits of recycling. Beginning on Opening Day, Braves game day staff will be outfitted in shirts made from recycled PET plastic bottles. Parking attendants, security staff, ushers, game entertainment staff, ticket takers and guest relations personnel will all be wearing the shirts, which contain yarn made from five recycled plastic bottles. The shirts all feature a Braves logo on the chest, a Coca-Cola Recycling logo on the sleeve and the Coke "Give it Back" recycling logo on the yoke.

"We envision a world where our packaging is seen as a valuable resource that can be re-used to produce a number of products, from new beverage containers to shirts and bags," said John Burgess, President and CEO, Coca-Cola Recycling. "This comprehensive program with the Braves is a great way for baseball fans to show their support for their hometown team and the environment."

Throughout the season, Braves fans will be able to recycle their plastic bottles in more than 250 branded recycling bins and barrels placed around Turner Field as part of the recycling and education program supported by Coca-Cola Recycling LLC. To kick off the program, the Coca-Cola Recycling Educational Vehicle will be in front of Turner Field on Opening Day, educating and entertaining fans with contests, videos, music and prizes. A video will be shown during each Braves game that educates fans on the life-cycle of a 20-ounce Coke bottle, from the point of purchase until it is reused to make apparel. An in-game baseball trivia contest sponsored by Coca-Cola Recycling will give fans an opportunity to win a Braves prize pack including items made from recycled plastic bottles.

"Our long-standing relationship with Coca-Cola has given us many ways to engage our fans," said Derek Schiller, Braves Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "I can't think of a better way to educate our fans on the value of recycling than to show them how these fantastic shirts can come to life when people do something as simple as recycle a plastic bottle."

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Keep Georgia Beautiful: Bring One for the Chipper

Bring One for the Chipper is Georgia's annual Christmas tree recycling program. Each year, Keep Georgia Beautiful works with private sponsors to organize the recycling event. In the past, these statewide sponsors have included The Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company and WXIA-TV. Numerous local sponsors and volunteers also make contributions and provide in-kind services across the state.

The Chipper program involves hundreds of Georgia communities and thousands of volunteers. Since its inception, the program has recycled over 4.8 million Christmas trees. The mulch from these trees has been used for playgrounds, local government beautification projects, and individual yards. You can support the Chipper program by bringing your cut Christmas tree to a designated drop off site or volunteering with your local coordinator to collect trees.

To find out where you can take your tree or volunteer to collect trees click here .

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Waste Management and Sony Electronics to Host Free Electronics Recycling Event

PRNewswire/ -- To encourage consumers to recycle electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, Sony Electronics Inc. and Waste Management Recycle America are asking Atlanta-area residents to take action and recycle their old electronics for free Nov. 22 at Turner Field from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first 2,000 participants to drop off their unwanted electronics will receive a free, environmentally friendly cloth tote.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 82 percent of the 2.25 million tons of old TVs, cell phones and computer products generated in the last two years ended up in landfills. By recycling old electronics products, useful materials -- such as glass, plastic and metals -- can be collected and re-used in the manufacture of other products. Since their partnership began, Sony Electronics and Waste Management have collected more than 11.1 million pounds of electronics waste, and the companies anticipate that number will grow exponentially as they continue to host events throughout the country.

Typically, residents would need to pay for their electronics to be properly collected and recycled, but as part of their ongoing efforts to help consumers recycle electronic devices safely, Sony Electronics and Waste Management are picking up the tab for this weekend's event, where any brand of electronics will be collected for free. In addition, the companies have committed to collecting and processing these items in an environmentally sound manner.

Both Sony and Waste Management are signatories to the Basel Action Network's Manufacturers' Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling. The actions signify the companies' agreement to conduct their electronics recycling programs transparently and in accord with rigorous environmental and worker safety standards, and adhere to measures to prevent the export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries.

The event is part of Sony Electronics' ongoing Take Back Recycling program, which provides free recycling for Sony products. This national effort is also bringing attention to recycling e-waste and educating the public that there are alternatives to trashing electronics, and that -- through recycling -- natural resources can be used again and greenhouse emissions are reduced in the process.

"Sony Electronics intends to lead the industry in environmental stewardship by providing consumers with end-of-life solutions through our Take Back Recycling Program," said Mark Small, vice president of environment, safety and health for Sony Electronics. "These special recycling events help us inform consumers that with Waste Management, Sony Electronics has established a local permanent drop-off location which they can use all year long to recycle their electronics when unplugged for the last time."

This coming February, all television stations will transition from broadcasting on analog airwaves to digital. Some older televisions will not be able to pick up the digital transmission, so Sony Electronics and Waste Management are taking a proactive approach to this issue by offering residents a permanent network of drop-off points that gives consumers a convenient way to recycle their old televisions through the Take Back Recycling Program, through which this weekend's event is possible.

"People are seeking services to help them recycle electronic waste responsibly and economically," said Matthew Coz, vice president of Growth and Commodity Sales, Waste Management Recycle America. "We hope to collect as much recyclable material as possible through this free event. It is our way of demonstrating a shared commitment with the community, by providing outstanding customer service and environmental stewardship."

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Georgia Tech Recognized for Green Initiatives

The Georgia Institute of Technology has been named the 2008 “Outstanding College or University Program” by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC). The Institute was one of 10 award recipients recognized at the 27th Annual Congress & Expo September 22, 2008, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event is considered the nation’s premier conference for recycling professionals.

“NRC’s award winners are a diverse group, from small nonprofits to global corporations, that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and have created innovative solutions that benefit society in many ways,” said David Refkin, President, NRC Board of Directors.

Cindy Jackson, manager of Georgia Tech’s Office of Waste Management and Recycling, received the award on behalf of the Institute. Georgia Tech was cited for operating a comprehensive recycling program that provides collection opportunities for a variety of materials including: mixed office paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, mixed metal, pallets, plastic and tires at established collection sites and regular pick-ups for campus wide recycling. Through recycling and other recovery programs, the Waste Management and Recycling Office was credited with helping to make Georgia Tech a sustainable campus.

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Georgia Power's Refrigerator Art Wins National Contest, Kicks off Refrigerator Recycling Campaign

GFP Note: Be sure to visit http://www.recyclemyoldfridge.com/artfridges.aspx to view Georgia Power's winning entry. There are some great fridges to see at the site.

PRNewswire/ -- What do art and refrigerators have in common? In many households, the refrigerator is a place for grade school artwork, but usually not the stuff that wins national acclaim. However, in an effort to bring attention to energy conservation, Georgia Power took its vision of decorating a recycled refrigerator to a new level, creating artwork that got noticed.

Displayed August 25 to September 2 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., during the Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR(R) The Art of Recycling exhibition, Georgia Power won "Judges Choice" in a nationwide call for old refrigerator units that have been recycled and converted to very creative works. Georgia Power Product Manager Vicki Nichols accepted the top award on behalf of the company at a ceremony September 2 in Washington, D.C.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign, Georgia Power's "slot machine fridge" was selected among artwork submitted by students, institutions, utility companies, private organizations, and individual artists across the country.

"Georgia Power's old recycled refrigerator was decorated using vinyl vehicle decals on the sides, brush aluminum framing on the front with black acrylic signs," said Nichols. "There is an actual slot machine metal token tray at the bottom with slot tokens in the tray. It seemed a fitting design as Georgia Power is promoting a 'jackpot' of energy savings worth more than $100 a year."

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Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) Expands Collection Program for the First Time in Seven Years

PRNewswire -- The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries, has expanded its rechargeable battery collection program for the first time in seven years to encompass a new chemistry, Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn). Ni-Zn is now the fifth rechargeable chemistry recognized by RBRC, joining Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead (Pb) rechargeable batteries.

Representing more than 350 manufacturers of rechargeable batteries, RBRC licensees comprise more than 90 percent of the rechargeable battery industry. PowerGenix, a manufacturer of non-toxic, safe, high performance rechargeable Ni-Zn batteries, has become the first manufacturer of Ni-Zn technology to become involved in RBRC's Call2Recycle program. The Ni-Zn rechargeable batteries will be branded with an RBRC Battery Recycling Seal, letting consumers and businesses know that they may be recycled at more than 50,000 RBRC collection sites in the U.S. and Canada.

"Since launching the program in 1996, we have collected more than 42 million pounds of rechargeable batteries through Call2Recycle," said Greg Broe, Interim Chief Operating Officer, RBRC. "Expanding the scope of the program to include the Ni-Zn battery chemistry is a logical response to advancements in the portable power industry and the proliferation of new battery chemistries in the marketplace."

"RBRC serves a valuable role, joining the world's major rechargeable battery manufacturers into a single body committed to act responsibly in support of proper resource utilization and environmental care," explained Dan Squiller, CEO of PowerGenix. "Licensing with RBRC is an important step in helping consumers identify local recycling opportunities available to them and positioning Nickel-Zinc to become a mainstream battery chemistry."

RBRC's Call2Recycle is the most comprehensive rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling program available nationwide. The program provides a convenient way to collect and recycle old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as laptop computers, cordless power tools, two-way radios, cordless phones, cell phones, digital cameras and camcorders. For more information and to find drop-off locations in your area, visit www.call2recycle.org or call toll free at 877-2-RECYCLE for local retailers and community centers that collect used rechargeable batteries.

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City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Saves $3 Million and Continues Weekly Collection of Garbage, Yard Trimmings, and Recycling

The City of Atlanta is pleased to announce continued weekly collection of garbage, yard trimmings, and recycling! Effective July 7, 2008 the City of Atlanta discontinued the use of a private vendor and begin collecting its own recyclables. This measure will save $3 million in the FY2009 Solid Waste Budget.

“As per our commitment to the Council during the budget briefings, we have continued to explore opportunities for increased efficiency within our solid waste collection, and have successfully re-organized our routes and crews to continue providing weekly collection of garbage, yard trimmings and recycling. Our customers will continue to have their recycling collected on the same day as their household garbage and yard trimmings” said Public Works Commissioner Joe Basista.

We hope to greatly increase the percentage of recycling in Atlanta. The recycling program has been expanded to include collection of cardboard. This new service will allow for cardboard to be picked up as part of the recycling collections, as long as it is broken down and dry. You may continue using your existing recycle container(s) or a larger container with a lid clearly labeled “Recycling”.

Initially, unsorted recyclables will be collected in compaction vehicles which look similar to vehicles being used for garbage and yard trimming collection. Once collected, these materials will be sorted at a local recycling center.

We will collect all paper, glass, aluminum/tin cans, cardboard and household plastics (except for bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and heavy duty plastics such as lawn furniture). We are also unable to accept hazardous materials or items that require special handling such as medical supplies.

The Home Depot Launches National CFL Bulb Recycling Initiative

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States and offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007.

At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

In addition to the CFL recycling program, The Home Depot has also launched an in-store energy conservation program to switch Light Fixture Showrooms in U.S. stores from incandescent bulbs to CFLs by Fall 2008 and save $16 million annually in energy costs.

The CFL recycling program is an extension of The Home Depot's Eco Options program. Eco Options, launched in April 2007, is a classification that allows customers to easily identify products that have less of an impact on the environment.

"The CFL recycling program is another example of how The Home Depot is empowering customers to help make a difference in their own homes, and have less of an impact on the environment," said Ron Jarvis, senior vice president, Environmental Innovation. "With more than 75 percent of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this program is the first national solution to providing Americans with a convenient way to recycle CFLs."

Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is an easy change consumers can make to reduce energy use at home. According to the EPA's ENERGY STAR(R) program, if every American switched out one incandescent bulb to a CFL, it would prevent more than $600 million in annual energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 800,000 cars. As the largest retailer of light bulbs in the country, The Home Depot sold over 75 million CFLs in 2007, which saved Americans approximately $4.8 billion in energy costs and 51.8 billion pounds in CO2 greenhouse gases over the life of the bulbs.

Other environmental initiatives The Home Depot has implemented since the launch of Eco Options in April 2007 include:

-- Store recycling program in the U.S. of shrink wrap and mixed plastics, which will result in 50 million pounds of waste diverted from landfills each year.

-- Internal recycling initiative at corporate headquarters that is projected to increase the amount of recycled materials from 30 percent to at least 65 percent.

-- Renewed commitment to use transportation partners registered in SmartWay program and ensuring The Home Depot distribution facilities and stores further promote emission reduction.

For more information on the CFL Recycling Program or Eco Options, please visit www.homedepot.com/ecooptions.