PRESS ROOM : ARCHIVES

SPSA Begins Electronic Recycling and Disposable Program with Acceptance of Cell Phones

(Chesapeake, VA – October 11, 2004)

The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) has begun accepting old cell

phones for recycling. Businesses as well as residents may dispose of their old cell phones in this program. This is the first phase of the roll-out of an expected longer list of items accepted as part of the agency's electronics recycling program.

“According to the 2000 Census, there are 393,000 households within the SPSA service area.  We think that about 60% of these households have at least one cell phone, based on external independent estimates.  So if you do the math, there is a high volume of cell phones in our region – and that doesn't include business use. We haven't set out any expected recycling targets, but we are hopeful that there is brisk participation in this program,” says Richard Cheliras , SPSA's Director of Environmental and Safety Management.

A vendor out of Atlanta is accepting the cell phones from SPSA for recycling. “This vendor is willing to do this in order to recover the rechargeable batteries which are normally associated with mobile phones.  The firm is a battery recycle with close ties with several cell phone manufacturers.  Some of the phones are put back into service for charitable organizations with the remainder being de-manufactured,” adds Mr. Cheliras.

Residents may dispose of their cell phones and other household hazardous waste items free of charge at any SPSA household hazardous waste collection facility.  There are eight such facilities throughout the region. SPSA has two full-time household hazardous waste collection facilities --- one in Suffolk and one in Virginia Beach . They are open Tuesdays through Saturdays. The other facilities operate on varying schedules. Business customers however are required to call ahead to SPSA and must pay a recycling fee. The minimum fee is $15.

“SPSA is continuing to search for economical and environmentally responsible options for other items in our electronics recycling program. Numerous items can be recycled such as televisions, computer monitors, and the like, but we must find means for recycling these items in cost effective ways that the public can afford. We are achieving that goal with partnerships such as this one for cell phone recycling,” says Mr. Cheliras.

For more information, call Felicia Blow at (757) 420-4700.

SPSA has been providing efficient and environmentally sound waste disposal services to the region and its residents since 1985. SPSA’s solid waste management system includes waste-to-energy, yard waste composting, drop-off and curbside recycling as well as other recycling programs, household hazardous waste collection, landfilling, landfill gas-to-energy and education programs. This integrated waste management system enables SPSA to put 57% of the waste it receives to a beneficial use, thus allowing the region to reduce its dependence on landfills.