Warehouse and Surplus wins RecycleMania's electronics division
In a competition including 66 other universities and colleges, Purdue University Warehouse and Surplus has won the inaugural electronics division of RecycleMania 2012.
For a month, each institution was required to report weekly totals by weight of electronics and e-waste that was recycled or repurposed. University Warehouse and Surplus staff kept track of the weights of printers, monitors, computers, televisions and miscellaneous electronics that were sold through the Surplus Store or recycled. Purdue's monthly winning total was 69,965 pounds, finishing ahead of other major universities such as Michigan State, Michigan, UCLA, Duke, Pitt and Harvard.
"I'm very proud of the staff at University Warehouse and Surplus," says Mark Schock, manager of University Stores. "This is something that we have been doing for a long time, and it's nice to be recognized as a leader in e-waste recycling."
Following the win, Purdue's Warehouse and Surplus has been contacted by multiple universities wishing to implement new e-waste practices and procedures based on Purdue's surplus operations.
Clyde Burghardt, supervisor at the University Warehouse and Surplus Store, says, "It's a team effort as we collaborate with Radiological and Environmental Management (REM) and Materials Distribution. REM oversees the compliance, audit and certification of our e-waste vendors and employs a student to assist in the deconstruction of computers. The Materials Distribution drivers assist in the pickup of surplus items throughout campus."
Recycling of e-waste has benefits including landfill diversion and cost savings.
"We are proud to be zero-landfill on our deconstruction of computers and electronics, and we look forward to competing again next year," says Mike Wilkins, director of Materials Management.
