Rice to host e-waste recycling drive Nov. 9

Tired of tripping over unused computer equipment? Sick of seeing that collection of ancient cellphones? Bring them to the e-waste recycling drive Nov. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. in West Lot 5.

The Rice Environmental Club is partnering with CompuCycle, a Houston electronics recycling company, to host this drive that is part of Compucycle’s WhatIF campaign, which builds upon the question, What if unused electronic waste could create jobs for those living with disabilities? CompuCycle is encouraging businesses throughout Houston to host their own e-cycling drives or donate their own corporate e-waste.

The goal is to garner 500,000 pounds of electronic waste. All donated items will be collected and recycled by CompuCycle to fund a long-term training and employment program. CompuCycle will provide permanent employment positions to Easter Seals Greater Houston’s clients, and Easter Seals will provide initial training courses to its clients to teach necessary job skills, including recycling, refurbishing computers and electronic products, and basic computer proficiency.

Large recyclables — computer monitors and printers — can be dropped off at West Lot 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9, though pickup arrangements can be made by contacting Hutson Chilton, elizabethchilton@gmail.com. Small recyclables, such as cellphones, alarm clocks and PDAs, can be placed in a box marked “E-waste,” and Delivery Services will pick them up with outgoing mail in the mornings next week. Collection boxes also will be in the commons of each of the colleges.

Among the items that can be recycled are computers and computer equipment, keyboards, mice, speakers, cords and cables, monitors, laptops, hard drives, memory chips, projectors, printers, copiers, plotters, fax machines, UPS batteries, power supplies, small kitchen appliances — microwaves, toasters, blenders (without the glass), mixers — game consoles and controllers, cellphone and laptop batteries, rechargeable batteries, telephones, cellphones, toner cartridges, DVD/CD/VCR players, stereo equipment, CDs, floppy drives, VHS tapes, hair-styling tools, alarm clocks, radios and electronic fans.

For more information on the drive, contact Chilton at elizabethchilton@gmail.com.