LEMOYNE, Pa., May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Reworld™, in partnership with Goodwill Keystone Area, unveiled a new initiative to provide free electronic waste recycling across 22 central and southeastern Pennsylvania counties. The program was launched during an event at the local Goodwill Keystone Area store and donation center in Lemoyne, just across the river from the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Reworld™ is a proven provider of e-waste recycling, recovery and environmentally responsible disposal, having recycled more than 135 million pounds of e-waste.
Jessica Shirley, Acting Secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, was present at the launch event, underscoring the importance of this pivotal move toward enhancing e-waste recycling access for the state's residents.
"Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, and making electronics reuse and recycling easier and more accessible is critical to keeping these materials out of landfills or worse, illegally dumped," said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. "This program reduces waste, reuses items that are still good, and recycles the ones that aren't."
Made possible through efforts of the Pennsylvania Recycling Market Center, it began by Recycling Markets Center industry experts mapping Goodwill processes and operations, then understanding and interpreting the facility needs of Goodwill Keystone Area. Understanding Goodwill criteria and the e-waste landscape, the Recycling Markets Center coordinated the introduction of e-waste vendors to Goodwill Keystone Area, resulting in a successful pairing with Reworld™.
"In 2023, Pennsylvania had only nine e-waste recycling sites that would accept any electronic device for recycling at no cost, without limitations. The new program at Goodwill Keystone Area now includes 22 counties at 42 locations, approximately 45 percent of the Pennsylvania population," said Robert Bylone, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.
"This program extends our commitment and services in managing end-of-life electronic devices responsibly, utilizing our expertise and facilities to ensure environmentally responsible recycling and disposal," said Gordon Burgoyne, Business Manager of Electronics Recycling, Reworld™. "We are proud to join with Goodwill Keystone Area to bring a convenient and responsible no-cost e-waste recycling option to the residents of central and southeastern Pennsylvania under the state law."
Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone Area launched the initiative in response to a pressing need in the region, expanding electronic recycling options under the PA Covered Device Recycling Act 108 for many counties currently underserved by existing recycling programs. Many counties, including densely populated areas such as Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties in the Philadelphia suburbs, lack comprehensive, e-waste disposal services. This gap poses significant challenges for residents, particularly when disposing of items like televisions, which typically incur additional fees and may only be collected on one specific day, if at all.
"In partnership with Reworld™, we're flipping the switch on e-waste recycling," Goodwill Keystone Area President and CEO Ed Lada, Jr. said. "This free program empowers residents across Goodwill's 22-county footprint to responsibly donate a broad array of old electronics at any of our drop-off locations seven days a week. Donors can now take comfort knowing they have a convenient way of contributing to waste-reduction efforts and are helping to bolster Goodwill Keystone's mission to advance sustainability in our communities."
The new initiative will leverage Goodwill Keystone Area's broad network of 42 stores and donation center sites, establishing each as drop-off points for a wide variety of e-waste items from televisions and computers to other household electronics, including mobile devices, gaming systems, telephones, toasters, vacuums and much more – with an ambitious goal to collect half a million pounds of electronic waste within the first year. The program will not only facilitate easier access to e-waste recycling for residents but also encourage them to donate other gently used items, such as clothing, books and household goods.
If the electronics dropped off are at the end of their life or broken and Goodwill Keystone Area cannot sell them in their stores, they will be responsibly recycled by Reworld™.
This initiative represents a significant commitment by Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone Area to improve electronic waste management and help preserve Pennsylvania's environment for future generations. Goodwill Keystone Area will focus on the collection and sorting of donated items, and Reworld™ will play a critical role in the downstream processing and recycling, with the collected electronics being refurbished or recycled in compliance with the Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act and international e-Stewards standards.
"The launch of this program and its capacity to accept e-waste is all about providing our neighbors here in Pennsylvania with the opportunity to take environmentally friendly action, and represents a six-fold increase in open and fee-free electronics recycling capacity in these 22 counties," added Burgoyne.
Visit yourgoodwill.org for a complete list of Goodwill Keystone Area stores and donation centers participating in the initiative, as well as a list of accepted and non-accepted electronic items.
About Reworld™
Reworld™ is a leader in sustainable waste solutions, providing innovative and environmentally responsible services to a global community. Reworld™ is committed to advancing zero waste initiatives and supporting sustainability goals through state-of-the-art technologies that reimagine, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and renew. For more information, visit www.reworldwaste.com.
About Goodwill Keystone Area
Goodwill Keystone Area serves 22 counties in central and southeastern Pennsylvania. As a 501c3 nonprofit, revenue generated from the sale of donated goods in its retail stores and online auction site directly supports Goodwill's mission to advance sustainability so that individuals and families can thrive and flourish. Goodwill fulfills this mission by recycling donations into training, paychecks and careers. Additionally, as America's original recycler, environmental sustainability has been central to Goodwill's mission since its founding. To learn more, visit yourgoodwill.org.
About Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center
The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC) is a nonprofit corporation with mission to reduce or eliminate barriers that lead to expanded end-use of Pennsylvania's recycling. As the only Pennsylvania organization with this uniquely circular mission, the RMC team brings economic development and environmental guidance; recycling industry outreach and research; and manufacturing assistance to stakeholders including entrepreneurs, manufacturers, recycling sorters, collection programs, haulers, governmental agencies and officials, consumers and educators. Since inception in 2004, and with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the RMC has an affiliation with Penn State and is headquartered at Penn State Harrisburg with an office also in Pittsburgh. Serving the entire state, RMC assistance includes manufacturing supply connectivity for use of recycled feedstocks; applied research and commercialization assistance in the use of recycled materials; technology and equipment comparisons; and expert curation of technical and business growth knowledge. The Recycling Markets Center is the keystone of circular economy in Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit PennRMC.org.
Media Contacts
Nicolle Robles
Nrobles@reworldwaste.com
(862) 345-5245
Coyne PR
reworld@coynepr.com
(973) 588-2000
SOURCE Reworld Holding Corporation
