LEMOYNE, Pa. — Goodwill Keystone Area is saying goodbye to unwanted tech after announcing a partnership in Cumberland County on Tuesday that provides free electronic waste recycling across 22 counties.
The organization is teaming up with Reworld, a leader in sustainable waste solutions and made possible through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Recycling Market Center.
“This has been a problem I think for a lot of recyclers for a while, that we’re able to finally have a solution for,” said Edward Lada, President and CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area.
Lada says the initiative was created to help combat illegal dumping across the Commonwealth.
“Part of our sustainability efforts is diverting as much as we possibly can from landfills. Because it costs money to throw things away and we don’t want to do that,” Lada said.
Acting Secretary of the State Department of Environmental Protection, Jessica Shirley, attended the event and emphasized the importance of enhancing e-waste recycling access.
“Many of these e-waste devices contain harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and other toxic components,” Shirley said.
In a day and age where everyone wants the latest and greatest technology, some people might not know what to do with their old tech.
But thanks to this new partnership, people can now donate their old technology at 42 different locations across 22 counties.
The department estimates the new program is accessible to about 45% of the state's population.
“With collections at Goodwill keystone area, availability to recycle all electronics at a single site, especially televisions without a fee, will increase dramatically in the region,” Shirley said.
Any items dropped off that can’t be salvaged will be recycled by Reworld.
“We’re all independently operated organizations that have different sophistication and warehouse space and things like that so those all are part of the logistical issues,” Lada said.
Goodwill Keystone Area will accept items including:
- Computing and peripheral devices
- Entertainment electronics
- Communication devices
- Visual and imaging equipment
- Small appliances (i.e., cables, vacuums, toasters, etc.)