University News
Graduate Student Organization Seeks Used Electronics
March 28, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - What should you do with those empty ink cartridges? Have an old cell phone and not sure what to do with it?
Members of Western Illinois University's English Graduate Organization (EGO) would like to take these items off your hands.
As a fundraising effort, EGO has partnered with Project KOPEG, or Keep Our Planet Earth Green, an electronic waste recycling and fundraising program. The program allows organizations to collect used electronics and send them to KOPEG in exchange for payment. Members of EGO will offer a collection table at the WIU Environmental Summit from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Items acceptable for recycling include used cell phones, digital cameras, ink cartridges and MP3 players.
Anyone wishing to recycle electronics is encouraged to drop items off throughout the semester, not just at the Environmental Summit, according to EGO president Emily Brackman, a first-year English graduate student from Staunton (IL). Items can be dropped off in the University Writing Center, Simpkins Hall 341, which is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays.
"All of these electronics contain lead and other toxic chemicals as well as reusable metals, so when they're thrown into landfills, those toxins seep into the earth and into the water," Brackman said. "KOPEG is a great program because it keeps that pollution from happening, and it gives us a chance to collect some funds to use toward our annual professional conference and other expenses."
For more information, contact Brackman at en-brackman@wiu or visit www.projectkopeg.com.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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