Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Recycling

In today's electronic world, it is very important to dispose of electronic waste (e-waste) correctly to prevent important information being released to others and environmental liabilities and impact.  Disposing of your e-waste into the regular garbage could result in regulatory fines to your department or the University. These devices must be reused, recycled or disposed of in an appropriate landfill.

Hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium are found in circuit boards, batteries, and cathode ray tubes (CRT's). A typical TV or CRT monitor may contain 4 pounds of lead.

Examples of items that can be placed in the drop off buckets include:

• Calculators
• Computer Monitors
• Laptops/Desktop PC
• Printers
• Cellular Phones
• PDAs
• Telephones
• Wireless Devices
• Empty Printer/Toner Cartridges

If you have any of these items in your department and would like to have them disposed of, contact Property Control at 683-4274 or Harvey Logan at 451-3015.

Battery Recycling

We are all enjoying the convenience of rechargeable batteries in cellular phones, laptop computers, cordless power tools, and video cameras. More than 350 million rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the United States. And while the toxic heavy metals contained within batteries pose no real risk while in use, they can be of concern when discarded with ordinary municipal solid waste.

 Some of the batteries that can be recycled include:

• Single Use Non-Rechargeable
• Alkaline or Carbon Zinc Dry Cell (6V, 9V, C, D, AA, AAA, etc.)
• Lithium/Lithium Ion
• Mercury/Mercuric Oxide
• Silver Oxide, Zinc Air Button
• Sealed Lead Acid/Lead Gel
• Button batteries
• Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd, Ni-Cad)
• Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)

If your battery isn't listed, contact Harvey Logan at hlogan@odu.edu for guidance. This program is
intended only for batteries used on campus.

Safety Guidelines:

• To guard against possible short circuiting, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling
  Corporation (established by battery manufacturers) recommends doing at least one of
  the following to prepare rechargeable batteries for recycling:
  • Discharge Cells: This should be done only by a knowledgeable engineer
    or technician.
  • Terminal Protection: If you cannot assure that the cells have been completely
    discharged, cover the terminals of each battery with non‐conductive tape.
  • Place in a Plastic Bag: Batteries may be placed separately in plastic bags so the
    terminals will not come in contact with other batteries or metal during storage
    or transport.
  • Package batteries so that terminals will not short‐circuit during storage or transport.
• Single use, non‐rechargeables do not need their terminals taped.
• Place leaking batteries into a sealed plastic zip‐lock bag to contain chemical contamination.

Wet cell batteries such as lead acid motor vehicle batteries are not included in this program but
can be recycled. A collection area is located at Motor Pool.  Contact Motor Pool to arrange drop off of the battery.  Please Dont leave batteries outside pending recycling.

Submitting Batteries for Recycling:

• Departments can set up their own collection boxs, when container is 3/4 full contact Harvey Logan at 451-3015 or e-mail: hlogan.odu.edu to scheulde a pick-up or get information on where to place the container to be picked up.

Any questions or comments on this program can be directed to:

Harvey Logan Recycling Coordinator Recoverable Resources 451-3015 hlogan@odu.edu

Property Control 683-4274