host posted on April 20, 2011 12:39
Clackamas, OR (April 20, 2011) – On April 16 and 19, KATU Channel 2 in Portland aired special “Go Green” Earth Day segments featuring Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT) and its EPA-approved, earth-friendly glass-to-glass recycling processes. KATU reporters toured URT’s Clackamas, Oregon facility to learn how old TVs are responsibly recycled.
To support widespread recycling, URT partners with Goodwill Industries International, Inc. Goodwill collects and consolidates end-of-life televisions at its various donation centers across the nation for transport to URT. URT recycles the TV’s into various commodity materials for reuse. URT’s eco-friendly glass recycling process is critical to the process. URT is one of the few companies in the nation with proven clean glass-to-glass processing capabilities. Using proprietary processes and equipment URT developed, the company is able to recycle obsolete monitors and televisions into separated, clean glass cullet, which can be used to manufacture new cathode ray tubes.
Electronic waste (e-waste), and in particular the leaded glass used in older model TV screens and computer monitors, is hazardous if not properly recycled. Electronic equipment contains poisons like lead and cadmium, which can leech into the environment, potentially contaminating soil and groundwater. Given that e-waste makes up as much five percent of the U.S. municipal waste stream, the potential for harm is great.
Truly trustworthy, environmentally-friendly recycling methods can be difficult for a layperson to identify. It is critical to select a recycler who tightly controls the process, never shipping materials offshore to third-world countries that lack appropriate recycling regulations. This is especially alarming, as the EPA reports that about 61 percent of CRT monitors are exported abroad.
To help consumers, organizations like the Basel Action Network (BAN) created a stringent certification program called e-Stewards. E-Stewards companies and manufacturers are thoroughly vetted, adhering to the strictest standards in the market today. As an e-Stewards qualified recycler, URT’s customers can rely upon the company to ethically and responsibly recycle old electronics and other wastes.
If you would like to read more about the hazards of improper recycling, we invite you to watch the 60 Minutes video “Following the Trail of Toxic E-Waste,” located at www.universalrecyclers.com and/or read the reports “Exporting Harm: The High-tech Trashing of Asia” and “Poison PCs and Toxic TVs” available to view or download on our website.
URT is a national electronic and universal waste management recycling organization, headquartered in Janesville. Since 2007, the company has been privately owned by Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. A recognized industry leader, URT provides end-of-life recycling (de-manufacturing), asset recovery services (ARS), universal waste, commodities, and logistics management services to major market segments including original equipment manufacturers (OEM), retailers, municipalities, and Fortune 500 organizations. To learn more about Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC, please visit www.universalrecyclers.com.