HOULTON, Maine — On Monday, Sept. 9, Houlton Rotarians Mac Randolph and Ryan Bushey highlighted the success of last Saturday’s E-Waste event hosted in the St. Mary’s parking lot.
This was the fourth year for the event and Rotarians collected 73,000 pounds of old electronics that often turn up in the woods or on side roads due to the expense of exposal through proper channels.
E-waste contains harmful materials, such as lead, cadmium, PCB’s, and chromium. If these pollutants are not recycled or disposed of properly, they often find their way into our soils and water supplies. Facts: Electronics account for 5 percent of the volume in landfills, but account for 70 percent of toxic element volume in landfills. Tube televisions alone have eight pounds of powdered lead in them.
On Saturday, there was a 50-foot trailer filled with just televisions. People from as far as Lincoln and Presque Isle brought electronics to the drop off in Houlton free of charge. Rotary does ask for a voluntary donation for all items recycled. Over the last four years, Rotarians have collected large quantities of electronics, and also raised approximately $5,000 in donations for Aid for Kids and the Houlton Rotary.
Starting in 2016, they collected 60,539 pounds; in 2017 it was 76,243 pounds; and in 2018 it was 99,855 pound. Electronics End, LLC then takes the electronics back to Brewer to be recycled.
Houlton Rotary would like to extend a special thank you to Scott White for the 20-foot enclosed trailer to help keep the volunteers dry on the rainy Saturday and LP for a tent and food for the volunteers. In all, nearly 30 local businesses helped sponsor this event through advertising funds and participation.
