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The IU South Bend Center for a Sustainable Future is hosting the annual Electronic Waste Recycling Fest on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9.

This event gives organizations and the general public the opportunity to drop off their electronic materials to be recycled. Accepted electronics include computer systems and accessories, audio and video equipment, cell phones and other handheld devices, and office equipment.

“We have so much electronic waste that we don’t do anything with. It’s important to recapture those materials and reuse them, instead of having to take more and more materials from the Earth,” explains Mike Keen, professor of Sociology and director of the Center for a Sustainable Future.

The e-waste collection site will be located at IU South Bend at 20^th and Vine Streets. Click here to view a map and get directions.

• On Friday, May 8, businesses can drop off their e-waste from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm – registration is encouraged, but not required.
• On Saturday, May 9, the general public can drop off their e-waste from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The goal of the event is to get 1,200 vehicles dropping off, and collect at least 150,000 pounds of e-waste. On average, it takes from five to seven minutes to complete the collection process, from arrival to departure.

“It’s a nice way to start a spring morning. You can throw your old electronics in your vehicle, drop them off, and go about your day knowing you’ve done something good for the planet,” said Keen.

E-waste recycling is provided by Apple, Inc. and will be handled according to highest level of security. No data left on the electronics will be accessed, and none of the material is reused or sold to anyone else. All electronic items collected will be loaded directly into a semi-trailer on site, sealed, and shredded into parts too small to be recovered.

For more information about the 2015 Electronic Waste Recycling Fest, including a full list of acceptable items, please visit the Center for a Sustainable Future.