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Mayor Bowser Announces eCycle DC Program Will Double in 2020, with Events Across All Eight Wards

Friday, February 14, 2020
Residents Can Recycle Electronics Free of Charge at 64 Saturday Events Throughout 2020

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced the doubling of electronics collection events across the District in 2020, providing residents and businesses more opportunities to responsibly recycle their used electronic equipment through the Department of Energy & Environment’s (DOEE) eCycle DC Program. ECycle DC locations have been expanded to include Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers and the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City Roll-off Days, in addition to DC Libraries.

“The District is committed to building and preserving greener and healthier communities, and we know residents want to help,” said Mayor Bowser. “Programs like eCycle DC not only provide convenient opportunities to recycle, but also encourage residents to make sustainable and environmentally-friendly choices throughout their daily lives.”

ECycle DC events are planned for Saturdays throughout the calendar year, and will encompass all eight wards. The next event is February 15, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at Banneker Community Center (2500 Georgia Avenue, NW) and Georgetown Public Library (3260 R Street, NW). All collection dates and more information on eCycle DC can be found at doee.dc.gov/ecycle.

“This expansion lifts up our civic responsibility to be better stewards of our environment,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. “Continuing the expansion of eCycle DC increases access to the proper handling of these common household items, that unfortunately have easy potential to become toxic materials that harm our health and environment.”

With the support of Wisetek, a locally-based global leader in IT asset disposal (ITAD), re-use and manufacturing services, electronics manufacturers will collect used electronic equipment at convenient neighborhood locations across the city.

“The Library is proud to continue participation in the eCycle DC program,” said DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan. “Providing convenient locations for the responsible disposal of unwanted electronics is one of the many ways DC Public Library partners with city agencies to better serve our residents.”

“We are excited about the Mayor's effort to help properly recycle electronics throughout the District and using recreation centers as a tool to give more residents access to this service,” said DPR Director Delano Hunter.

Mayor Bowser’s Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan established a target to achieve 80% waste diversion citywide without the use of landfills or waste to-energy by 2032. To help reach that target, electronics were banned from the District’s waste stream in 2018 and manufacturers of certain electronics (televisions, computers, and related equipment) are required to collect a percentage of what they sell annually.

More than 20 pieces of electronic equipment (such as televisions, DVD players, and computers) are found in the average American house. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than 3 million tons of electronic waste are generated each year in the United States. Properly recycling electronics conserves natural resources, ensures appropriate handling of toxic materials, provides a more sustainable source of precious metals, and protects human health and the environment.

eCycle DC covered electronic equipment includes:

  • Computers and Tablets with screens 6” or larger
    • Desktops
    • Laptops
    • Tablets
    • Small scale servers
  • Computer peripherals
    • Computer monitors
    • Desktop printer less than 100 pounds
    • Keyboards
    • Mice
    • Speakers sold with computers
  • Televisions
  • Television peripherals
    • DVR, DVD player, VCRs
    • Signal converter boxes
    • Cable and satellite receivers
  • Game consoles used with televisions