New Business Allows Marin Residents to Recycle E-Waste for Free, All Year Long

The following news release was submitted for publication on behalf of GreenCitizen:

GreenCitizen, a Bay Area e-waste recycling company, has just opened its first location in Marin County.

Located at 777 Grand Ave in San Rafael, the new Eco-Center will provide a place for Marin residents and businesses to recycle their old electronics for free and learn about e-waste recycling. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 10am-6pm all year long!

Figuring out where to recycle old electronics, especially because many e-waste recyclers limit what they accept, is a struggle for many in the Bay Area. GreenCitizen made the decision to open the San Rafael center after seeing many Marin County residents recycle at its Eco-Centers in Berkeley and downtown San Francisco.

“New things go obsolete every month,” says Kim Blue, a Marin resident and e-waste recycler. “When I went to the GreenCitizen location in Berkeley I got rid of at least 16 sq ft of electronics. I’ve been just waiting for this one to open.”

While new to Marin County, GreenCitizen has helped over 250,000 residents recycle their electronics and performed over 20,000 e-waste pick-ups from businesses since it opened 9 years ago. The company strives to extend the lifetime of the electronics that come through its doors, and 30% of the items recycled with GreenCitizen are fixed up so they can be reused. What cannot be reused is responsibly recycled within 150 miles of San Francisco.

“When electronics are not recycled properly, this e-waste often ends up in landfills here or in developing countries, where it can cause serious harm.” says James Kao, GreenCitizen’s Founder and CEO. “In order for responsible e-waste recycling to take off, it must be more convenient for consumers and businesses and there must be full accountability to ensure that everything gets recycled safely.”

GreenCitizen accepts anything that plugs in or runs on batteries, whether it’s working or not. Beyond e-waste recycling, the company offers business pick-ups, hard disk destruction, and cell phone erasure. It is the only place in the Bay Area to offer Styrofoam recycling, which is compressed into a light, sturdy material that can be used in surfboards, crown molding, and picture frames.

The new EcoCenter at 777 Grand Ave is conveniently located next to Starbucks Coffee and is just half a block from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market. Stop by to clear out your basement, office, or closet of old electronics, or call for a business pickup. Or simply come to learn more about e-waste recycling issues.

(Image via Shutterstock)