Ironbound Community Contributes to Cleaner Air at E-Waste Collection

A total of 6,484 pounds of electronic waste was collected to be properly recycled at a free E-Waste Collection Event to mark Earth Day in the Ironbound District. The event, presented in partnership by the City of Newark, the Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID), Panasonic, Covanta, MRM Recycling, and Urban Renewal Corp. at Peter Francisco Park near Newark Penn Station made it convenient and easy for local businesses and residents to recycle electronics like old TVs, PCs and laptops, printers, small household appliances, phones and other e-waste.

“We are pleased that our partnerships are contributing to an Ironbound District that is clean, safe, and welcoming for local residents and businesses, and the thousands of visitors we welcome each month,” said Vince Baglivo, the IBID’s Executive Director. “Our efforts are a way for local stakeholders to contribute to a cleaner environment in their own neighborhood, and I want to recognize the hard work of the IBID’s Clean Team from CDS who collected e-waste from throughout the East Ward, the important role of Brenda Anderson, Recycling and Clean Communities Coordinator for the City of Newark, and the support of East Ward Councilman Michael Silva, who joined us at this event to underscore the city’s commitment to community-based initiatives like our e-waste collection event.”

“Around the globe and here in Newark, we are all experiencing the devastating effects of global climate change caused by increased carbon dioxide emissions. Electronics play a role especially with technology advances resulting in turnover of personal electronics used,” noted Andrea Murphy, Panasonic’s Director of Environmental Affairs. “The World Economic Forum estimates that extending the life cycle of a product along with recycling and recovery of rare earth metals, we can reduce embodied carbon by at least 5 percent. Events like this not only support local residents by providing a safe, local place to recycle their end-of-life products, but it also allows for reuse by the Urban Renewal Center and proper recycling. This is just one example of a Panasonic GREEN IMPACT initiative.”

“Covanta is proud to support e-waste collections in Newark,” said Foluke Onajide, Community Relations Specialist at Covanta. “These collection events are critical because not only do they give residents an easy way to safely dispose of their old electronics, but they also prevent the adverse effects illegal dumping or improper disposal have on our environment. Many electronics contain components that can be hazardous to communities if they end up in the waste stream. At Covanta, we ensure that e-waste is properly processed for recycling.”

Additional e-waste collection events will be held in Newark including an event at Weequahic Park (Meeker Avenue entrance) on May 18th from 7:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.

For more information visit https://na.panasonic.com/us/event/e-waste-recycling-event.