Fay Watson

KPB staff toured the Compu Cycle facility in Houston to learn about proper electronics recycling. (l-r) Linda Cowles, KPB Director, Clive Hess, VP of Compu Cycle, Jeff Michno of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Fay Watson, KPB Assistant Director.

It was just Monday yesterday wasn't it? I guess not, it just seems like it. This week just flew by. By the way, I am loving my job! I am learning more and more about waste, and what isn't waste. Lately people have been calling electronics that are "past" their life span "e-Waste." There is a movement in Texas to go back to the legislature and try again to make manufacturers at least partly responsible for the products that they produce.  I imagine that this program would work like the program that falls under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's purview that requires computer manufacturers to take care of their products.

To learn more about TCEQ's program please visit www.texasrecyclescomputers.org. There is a listing of computer manufacturers and links to websites that will help you recycle their brand of computer. The manufacturer must recycle the monitor, keyboard, mouse and computer as long as the set is all branded with their name.  The consumer is responsible for protecting (destroying) their data before they "recycle" their old computer.

The only television manufacturer underwriting the take back of their product is Sony. Linda Cowles (Executive Director of Keep Pearland Beautiful) and I toured Compucycle's Houston site. Apparently the majority of their work is in recycling, refurbing, reusing parts of computers (mostly from businesses), the best part is that they are able to do this very efficiently without exporting overseas. Compucycle also takes other electronics.  The average consumer off the street can bring in televsions for a small disposal fee, except Sony TVs which can be dropped off with no charge.

We are fortunate in Pearland that our own Stella Robert's Recycling Center accepts electronics (and other recyclable and Hazardous Materials) from Pearland and Northern Brazoria County citizens. Friendswood citizens can drop off all sorts of recyclables at the center as well, but must purchase a vouchure to dropoff electronics, they can do this at the new Pearland Parks and Recreation Facility at the corner of Bailey Rd and Veterans and then head on over to the recycling center. For more details on what is accepted at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center and who has to purchase vouchures please visit the Keep Pearland Beautiful website.  As we recycle more and more we will have less material heading to our landfills.