New Recycling Bins Part of Overall Plan
As part of the Operational Excellence Managed Output initiative, the Department of Recycling and Resource Management has recently purchased new bins to be used specifically for recycling empty ink and toner cartridges and small e-waste items such as batteries, phones, circuit boards and electronic parts.
The E-waste and Toner Cartridge Recycling Program — coupled with the transition to the exclusive use of recycled paper — will put the University within reach of achieving its total Managed Output goal of making the processes used in document production and presentation as efficient, sustainable and cost effective as possible.
“An important outcome of the toner cartridge and e-waste recycling program is to achieve a zero percent landfill impact,” said James O’Connor, director of sustainability and transportation operations and member of the Operational Excellence Managed Output team.
The new bins will augment cartridge recycling boxes located in most offices, usually near copiers. The bins have been installed at convenient locations for students, faculty and staff to recycle toner cartridges and smaller e-waste. Large e-waste items such as computers, TVs, printers, monitors and cameras can be recycled by calling Property Control at (631) 632-6306.
Before any devices are recycled, they will be wiped clean of data to ensure the safety of personal information. To be doubly sure that all data is deleted, follow the data wiping recommendations on the DoIT website.
Stony Brook garnered national recognition for its e-waste recycling efforts in last year’s RecycleMania competition when it recycled the most total pounds of e-waste of all colleges and universities in the nation. RecycleMania 2014 began on February 2, and these new bins will enhance Stony Brook’s ability to defend its RecyleMania title.
Stony Brook’s ongoing transition to multifunction devices will result in many offices with a supply of new toner cartridges that can no longer be used. These cartridges can be deposited into the recycling bin to be resold through secondary markets.
“We have a contract with a company that will pay us for our recyclables,” O’Connor said. “That means the e-waste and ink and toner cartridge recycling initiative, in addition to having a positive impact on the environment, will have a positive impact on our bottom line.”
— Howard Gimple
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