Bakersfield College partnered with Neil Agness’ E-Waste Recycling to hold the first electronic waste-recycling event on campus Sept. 24-25.? Businesses along with residents were encouraged to drop off any electronics, whether they were broken or not, for no charge.? This process is ideal to keep these items out of landfills.
The event was held on the corner of Haley and University at the southwest parking lot.? According to Amber Chiang, BC director of marketing and public relations, all e-waste must now be recycled since a California State Law that was passed in 2006.?
“Consumer electronics contain low levels of hazardous metals that can contaminate soil and water,” she said.
Chiang also shared that most American households are not disposing of their electronic items properly and that it is “one of the fastest growing segments of our nation’s waste stream.”
Many items that were discarded previously ended up in illegal landfills in various countries.? According to Agness, the items that were recycled at BC will be processed at Alianza Recycling in Bakersfield.
The turnout for the event was more than Agness expected; several different companies came to discard their electronic materials.? Some companies included Vineland School District, Rain for Rent, CalPortland Mojave and Richland School district.? Truckloads of items were brought in at a time. ??Some companies had been storing their electronic equipment for over 20 years.
Around 23 pallets were filled on Friday and 30 on Saturday. They consisted of computers, printers, TVs, fax machines and several other types of e-waste products.? A check was made out to BC already for $360 for the amount of electronics that they were storing.
Agness stated that another check of over $1,000 would be made out to BC after the event, which is a recycling rebate.
“This year alone we’ve probably done a quarter of a million pounds,” Agness said.
They serve the Kern High School District, Panama Buena Vista District, and are planning an upcoming event on Nov. 6 at Taft College.? For this event, Neil Agness E-waste Recycling is teaming up with Bob Hampton from West Side Disposal to hold an electronic and bulk waste event.? Along with electronics, people will be able to drop off old couches and mattresses.
Agness hopes to make this an annual event similar to what CSUB has been doing for the past five years. “Kern County is just starting to go green, but we have a long way to go.”
Anyone who missed the event could also take electronic items to BARC Recycling on South Union Avenue or take them to the next event at Taft College.