Copyright © 2012, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved 

Tulsa-area residents can toss their old electronics and help the environment at no cost.

Natural Evolution, Inc is holding a month-long e-waste collection event. All residential e-waste will be accepted a recycled for free including monitors and televisions for through month of October.

The company is doing this ahead of America’s Recycle Day on November 15th.

Beginning October 1st, residential e-waste can be dropped off at the company’s location at 5701 East 13th St.

Acceptable items include: cameras, computer batteries, computer towers, copiers/scanners, fax machines, keyboards/mouse, laptops, microwaves, phones, printers, power cords, small appliances, UPS systems, and VCRs/DVD players, monitors, & televisions. Unacceptable items are air conditioners, light bulbs, refrigerators and smoke alarms.

Company president Traci Phillips says it’s a unique chance to clean house and save the planet.

“End of life electronics present many unique long term challenges to our natural resources as well as potential data security risks if not handled properly, all of which can be mitigated through responsible recycling,” she said.

Anyone in the area can participate. The offer ends October 31st.

Source : KTUL 

BY CHASE COOK World Staff Writer
Thursday, August 16, 2012
8/16/2012 3:29:02 AM
Learn more at the Metropolitan Environmental Trust’s website.
There’s a new home for that broken laptop or burned-out iron that seems too expensive to just throw away.

The Metropolitan Environmental Trust’s Central Tulsa Center, 3495 S. Sheridan Road, will now accept certain “e-waste materials,” electronics that can be disassembled and recycled into other products. The center is working with Natural Evolution Inc., a local business that is a certified electronic-waste recycling facility.

Previously, anyone who wanted to recycle electronic waste had to take it directly to Natural Evolution. Now items can be taken to the MET, which will haul the items to the correct facility, MET Executive Director Michael Patton said.

“The reason we really care about this is that, if not properly disposed of, (electronics) can cause problems,” he said.

Recycling electronic waste prevents substances such as lead and mercury from leaking into groundwater at landfill sites, Patton said.

Tulsa residents and small businesses can take in just about anything with a power cord, said Annie Brady, the center’s creative media director. Items such as televisions and computer monitors can’t be accepted, however, because it costs money to break them down, she said.

Caution should be taken when dropping off computer parts, Patton said. Recyclers should make sure that hard drives are wiped of personal information, he said.

The center’s trailer features boxes that different types of electronics – such as power cords and network routers can be separated into.

Electronics recycling is becoming more common as technology advances and new gadgets replace older ones more quickly, said Traci Phillips, Natural Evolution owner and president.

“I think most people hoard it, especially when they have paid so much money for it,” he said. “There comes a point when it takes up so much space in your apartment or business.”

The MET plans to evaluate how often electronic waste is being hauled to Natural Evolution, Patton said. If the Central Tulsa Center gets a lot of e-waste, trailers could be placed at other MET locations, he said.

E-waste items accepted at MET recycling center

The Metropolitan Environmental Trust’s Central Tulsa Center, 3495 S. Sheridan Road, is accepting the following electronic waste materials. The center asks that the waste be brought during business hours, which are 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the month of August. Normal hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Cameras
• Computer batteries
• Computer towers
• Copiers/scanners
• Fax machines
• Keyboards
• Computer mice
• Laptops
• Microwaves
• Printers
• Power cords
• Small appliances (such as irons, blow dryers)
• Telephones
• Uninterruptible power supply  systems
• VCRs
• DVD players

Not accepted: The MET will not take the following materials, but they can be dropped off at Natural Evolution Inc., 5719 E. 13th St. A fee will be charged for disposal of some items.

• Air conditioners
• Large appliances
• Light bulbs
• Monitors
• Televisions
• Items weighing more than 40 pounds

Original Print Headline: MET now accepting electronic waste

Chase Cook 918-581-8386
chase.cook@tulsaworld.com

The Metropolitan Environmental Trust (The M.e.t.) will begin collecting electronic waste (e-waste) on Wednesday, August 15^th, 2012 at The M.e.t.’s Central Tulsa location. This is a public/private partnership with Natural Evolution, Inc., an electronics recycling company located in Tulsa. This pilot program will start by collecting specified unwanted or unusable electronic equipment.

The M.e.t. has set up a permanent trailer at its Central Tulsa location at 34^th and Sheridan. We will accept specified electronic devices year-round. Acceptable items include: cameras, computer batteries, computer towers, copiers/scanners, fax machines, keyboards/mouse, laptops, microwaves, phones, printers, power cords, small appliances, UPS systems, and VCRs/DVD players. Unacceptable items are air conditioners, large appliances, items over 40 pounds, light bulbs, monitors, refrigerators, and televisions.

“We’re continuously making changes to adapt to what the Tulsa area needs,” explains M.e.t. Executive Director, Michael Patton. He said that computers are a good example of changing priorities of recycling. “Never has there been something that cost so much and became invaluable so quickly.” By addressing this issue, Patton states that they will help reduce the risk of hazardous materials, which are found in laptops, batteries and more, in landfills.

Traci Phillips, from Natural Evolution, Inc., hopes this partnership will increase awareness of electronic waste. Phillips stated “E-waste is the new frontier of recycling and Natural Evolution, Inc. is the first E-Steward Certified Company in the state of Oklahoma”. This accreditation confirms the goals of both partners. Phillips continued, “We’re pleased to partner with The M.e.t. to help bring awareness to this environmental issue”.

For more information, please contact Annie Brady at annie@metrecycle.com or at (918) 584-0584. Or contact Michael Patton at (918) 830-2233.

The Central Tulsa M.e.t. location:

3495 S. Sheridan Rd.

Tulsa, OK 74145

These audits reviewed all of our practices relating to the recycling of e-waste and are confirmation of our nine plus year commitments to recycle electronics without doing environmental, economic or social harm. It is our belief that the e-steward certification is by far the most stringent & rigorous standard that exists today within the electronics recycling industry. It provides for the continual monitoring and auditing of downstream vendors and material flow ensuring the proper handling of e-waste & subsequently preventing the illicit exportation of hazardous electronic waste (HEW).

We at Natural Evolution are honored to be part of this elite class of electronics recyclers in the US and as such the first E-Steward Certified Company in the state of Oklahoma, among the first half a dozen dually certified companies in the US as well as the only Native American, Woman Owned Electronics Recycler in the US. This certification is a way for our customers to confirm that our walk in fact matches our talk as confirmed by an accredited third party.

We are deeply grateful to our employees, customers and vendors for their ongoing support and commitment to Natural Evolution.

All material is recycled and processed within the US or Canada, transportation &/or value added services may apply in some circumstances.

• Computers
• Monitors
• Printers
• Fax machines
• Copiers, scanners
• Plotters
• Peripherals
• Telecommunications equipment
• Phone systems
• Security equipment
• Medical equipment
• UPS systems
• Cell phones
• VCRs and much more…

Note: Televisions are accepted for recycling for $15 each, CRT monitors are recycled for $5 each.
All material is recycled and processed within the US or Canada.