These days, when an innovative tech product or appliance hits the marketplace, our older, larger or less-efficient versions suddenly seem obsolete. But in buying the new, we usually discard the old. And when you’re talking electronics, that adds up to a lot of e-Waste to dispose of.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, alarming statistics indicate that e-Waste is the fastest growing part of the municipal waste stream. Each year, millions of computers, cell phones, stereos and the like are simply thrown away rather than recycled, mainly due to a lack of alternative options.

In Cherry Hill, Mayor Bernie Platt decided that should no longer be the case.

"As part of our Green Action Plan, we have now established an e-Waste collection site at our Department of Public Works building on Perina Boulevard," Platt said. "I invite Cherry Hill residents to haul not only old-and-in-the-way electronics but also fluorescent light bulbs to the facility so they can be properly handled and recycled. I believe e-Waste recycling is the sensible and environmentally responsible thing to do on several levels."

The State of New Jersey passed the Electronic Waste Recycling Act earlier this year. By 2010, this type of recycling will be mandatory so Cherry Hill has positioned itself ahead of the curve. But more importantly is e-Waste’s negative environmental impact. Statistics indicate that more than 1 billion pounds of e-Waste are generated a year, including millions upon millions of cell phones, computers, televisions, which can contain heavy amounts of lead, mercury and dangerous chemicals.

The Township has set up separate outdoor lidded containers for both electronics and fluorescent bulbs, which contain trace amounts of mercury and are considered hazardous if broken. Cherry Hill DPW crew members will be on-hand to log in the drop-off e-Waste and assist residents with the transfer into the respective bin.
"If residents are going to dispose of something and it has a plug or uses electricity to charge or operate, I encourage them to bring it to our new e-Waste drop-off site," Platt said. "This is one of many recent initiatives in town that allows us to collectively reduce our individual impact on the environment so Cherry Hill will continue to be a great place to live for generations to come."

For additional information on the new e-Waste service, please call the Department of Public Works at 856.424.4422.