Apr 14 2008
Waste Management Recycle America and Sony Electronics Inc. today announced their two-day, multi-site electronics recycling drive in the Twin Cities collected 4 million pounds of unwanted electronics. More than 42,000 Minnesota residents participated in the recycling drive, making it the largest such event in state history.
"We want to thank everyone from the Twin Cities area who helped to make the recycling drive such a success," said Julie Ketchum, director of government affairs for Waste Management. "Despite the snow, sleet and high winds, participation was strong and we collected a record amount of material. The great turnout shows that when consumers are provided with a convenient and responsible way to dispose of their electronic waste, they are excited to be part of the sustainability chain."
The two-day recycling drive included five drop-off sites: the Canterbury Park Racetrack in Shakopee, the State Fair Grounds in St. Paul, the National Sports Center in Blaine, Grace Church in Eden Prairie, and the Ecolab Schuman Campus in Eagan. Of the five locations, the State Fair Grounds collected the most material with 1.2 million pounds of electronics for recycling. Participants in the drive received a discount coupon to attend EarthFest, A Party for the Planet, to be held April 19th and 20th at the Minnesota Zoo in Eagan, MN.
"This weekend's recycling drive is a great example of how we intend to lead the industry in environmental stewardship," said Mark Small, vice president of environment, safety and health for Sony Electronics. "Twin Cities residents made the event a great success, and we are looking forward to upcoming recycling drives in Minnesota as part of our 'Take Back Recycling Program' through the rest of the year."
The recent event was part of Sony's ongoing Take Back Recycling Program. In addition, Minnesota Best Buy provided financial support for the event, which it views as an extension of its continuous commitment to encourage consumers to recycle electronic waste. A complete list of permanent Twin Cities eCycling Drop-Off Centers, as well as the schedule for upcoming electronics recycling drives in St. Cloud, New Ulm and Rochester, can be found at http://www.wmtwincities.com or by calling (888) 969-8765.