Electronic Recycling Key to Green Jobs
Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island recycles around 400,000 pounds of electronic waste per year as part of a partnership with Dell Computers to divert computer and electronics from landfills.
the Reconnect Partnership gives about half the nation easy access to free recycling for computers, monitors, mice, keyboards, printers and even television sets. Many other states have other programs that allow the same service.
In Washington state, the E-Cycle Washington program recycles just about 40 million pounds of computers other electronics every year. Many other states have similar programs which allow consumers to get rid of non-working electronics for free.
And these programs are creating “green jobs” for displaced workers in the manufacturing sector. The workers take old machines apart and separate out the components for re use or disposal. Very little of the original product ends up in landfills and people will limited skill sets or education are able to keep working while helping the environment.
Last fall a Friends of the Earth Europe report found that if Europe could recycle 70 percent of its waste, it would create 500,000 new jobs.
A similar report finds that if the U.S. increases its recycling rate from 33 percent to something more sustainable we can create over 1.1 million new jobs and turn recycling into a $236 billion industry.
It’s a win-win for everyone.
Leave a Reply
