Ecomemphis

I really enjoyed the Apple, Inc./University of Memphis’ E-Recycling event yesterday. It was very well organized as cars were rolling in/out very quickly. Items were being sorted on the spot, palleted, wrapped and put on semi’s headed to their final destinations – all within moments.The people working the event were friendly, helpful, quick and knowledgeable.

Surprisingly tho, this was a low-key event without any signage promoting the sponsorship by Apple, Inc; and facilitated by SIMS Recycling and the University of Memphis. Among the organizers where Steve Terry, IT Director at the U of M, “We’re not here to promote ourselves. This is just something we can do to help. It’s part of the Green Campus Initiative signed by the university’s President, Shirly Raines.”

Stereo headed for recycling instead of local landfill

For those who weren’t able make it, the sight of all the computers, stereos, and printers were very moving. There were pallets on top of pallets of monitors on their journey to be recycled, and seemingly tons of other electronic goods. Knowing of all the landfills we have within our own city limits, we should all be glad to see these items have a more responsible ending. Check out the Flickr photos.

“We have a facility in the Chicago area doing a great job of the monitors. We have an entire process to make sure we get every scrap of recyclable materials out,” the SIMS representative onsite says, “We’ll recycle all kinds of things – plastics, gold, silver – all without taking advantage of third-world countries.”

Most of the items donated by Memphians, will end up going to the LaVerne facility just outside of Nashville for recycling, the rest will head toward Chicago.