Partnership in Responsible Electronic Recycling

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Salt Lake County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program works to maintain safe drinking water, clean communities, safe homes, and assists in extending the life of landfills. Recently, the HHW program has focused on electronic waste (e-waste) due to the health risks associated with brominated fire retardants, heavy metals, and lead. To mitigate those health risks, the SLCoHD attempted to pass e-waste legislation in the 2010 Utah Legislative Session. Though the legislation was unsuccessful, a direct result of trying was the formation of an innovative partnership between Samsung and the HHW program to provide proper e-waste recycling to the residents of Salt Lake County. The County and various municipal partners provide drop off locations, the HHW program provides labor and logistics, a state contract provides the recycler, and Samsung provides the funding. From 2010 through 2014, Samsung has provided $660,011 to assist the HHW program in collecting E-waste at two permanent landfills, three municipal public work facilities, and 14 community collection events. As a result of Samsung’s partnership the HHW program has properly recycled 3,929,001 pounds of e-waste.