New York City’s groundbreaking e-cycleNYC (www.nyc.gov/ecycle) program, a joint effort by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), ERI, and proactive manufacturers, has been named a recipient of the Ash Center’s Government Innovators Network “Bright Ideas” designation. The Bright Ideas awards are designed to highlight noteworthy and promising government programs and practices from across the nation to serve as a catalyst in the adoption of innovative ideas by government entities.
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is the branch of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University that fosters creative and effective government problem solving and has developed a marketplace of ideas and examples of government innovation.
The e-cycleNYC program is a public-private partnership between DSNY and ERI. Fully funded by electronics manufacturers, the program is free for NYC taxpayers and participating buildings.
“We are honored that this labor of love has been designated a ‘Bright Idea’ by the esteemed experts at the Harvard Kennedy School,” said John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI. “We co-created this constructive collaboration and this historic and successful partnership with the great city of New York and forward-thinking manufacturers such as Samsung and LG in an attempt to help fulfill a need. That we now regularly provide responsible, effective recycling for millions of New Yorkers’ electronic waste is a huge accomplishment. It’s a humbling and rewarding experience to be able to help so many in our city do the right thing and collect and responsibly recycle their e-waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world today – and keep toxic electronics out of New York landfills.”
Since the average American household owns 28 electronic devices, and 55 percent of households in New York City have no vehicle access to unload their e-waste, there is clearly a need for such a program.
Shegerian added that he hopes this new paradigm achieved in New York City will serve as an inspiration for all cities in the U.S. and around the world.
“Government leaders, public servants, and other individuals can learn about these efforts and adopt those initiatives that can work in their own communities,” reported the Ash Center.
“New York City can now be held up as a workable model for how such partnerships can lead to tremendous results, ultimately making the world a much better place,” added Shegerian.
The recognition is the latest in a long line of awards ERI has received for its contributions to sustainability and societal problem-solving, including the Green Industry Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Technology, The Harold Zinkin Award for Innovative Entrepreneurship, the OSHA Gold Circle Award, the California Waste Reduction Award (multiple time winner), the “Innovator of the Year” award from the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo (IERCE), the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award, presented by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Committee, and the “Recycler of the Year” and “Industry Pioneer” awards from the IERCE.
With the e-cycleNYC program, New York City-area buildings with at least 10 units can receive on-site pickup of stored electronics, including TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, small servers, printers/scanners, tablets/e-readers, mobile phones, MP3 players, VCRs/DVRs/DVD players, video game consoles, cable/satellite boxes, fax machines, keyboards, mice and hard drives.
Depending on the size and type of building, a variety of service options are available, including storage bins, room clean-outs and building events. Buildings, management companies or residents that want to learn more about electronics recycling in NYC, can visit www.nyc.gov/ecycle.
