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Asheville GreenWorks’ Hard 2 Recycle Event

Hard 2 Recycle Event Reduces Collective Impact on the Landfill

Waste reduction is a major component of nonprofit organization Asheville GreenWorks’ mission. On Saturday, September 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, AGW will host its final Hard 2 Recycle event of the year at Madden Ace Hardware, 219 US 70 in Swannanoa. Grab the dead batteries from your junk drawer, pull the old box television out of the closet, and collect other items around your house that you haven’t been able to safely discard. This event—free and open to the public—gives everyone the opportunity to recycle items that would normally end up in a landfill, such as Styrofoam, books, and cooking oil.

Why is e-waste recycling and consumer education important? Electronics contain numerous toxins, including mercury, lead, and cadmium. When tossed into a landfill, they can leach into the ground and contaminate water, posing serious health risks to communities. For every million cell phones recycled, manufacturers can collect and reuse 5,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

According to a 2014 study by the United Nations University report, the global quantity of e-waste (discarded electrical and electronic equipment) generated was an alarming 41.8 million tons. This reality makes education and awareness around such items even more important. To learn more about how you can get involved as a volunteer or check their full list of acceptable recycle and donation items, visit ashevillegreenworks.org/hard-2-recycle.

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