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Electronic recyclers launch pickups [Gloucester Daily Times, Mass. :: ](Gloucester Daily Times (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 26--Christopher Swain and his merry band of ethical recyclers have picked up a wide array of items in their quest to help folks properly dispose of electronics and appliances, but Swain didn't hesitate when asked about the oddest item they'd ever been asked to fetch. "It was an ATM," Swain said. "The kind you see in a bar or a convenience store." The ATM, which came out of a bar in Newburyport, was empty, of course. Pity that. By its very nature, it would seem that being an ethical recycler brings a certain measure of austerity with it. Still, would it have killed them to salt that baby with a few bucks? Nonetheless, Swain and his minions carry on, trying to make the world a little cleaner and safer -- or certainly no worse -- by making sure the dangerous materials and chemicals contained in many disposed electronics and appliances don't insidiously make their way into the air, water or earthly environment. Beginning today and running through Tuesday, Swain and company are offering a flat-fee pickup service to Cape Ann residents to help them ethically dispose of old computers, televisions, refrigerators, stoves, washers, printers, copiers, stereos and the other potentially dangerous detritus. "They don't even have to bring them to the curb," Swain said. "We'll go pick them up for them and take them out." Each pickup will require a flat fee. According to his group's website, ethicalelectronicsrecycling.com, fees range from $5 for small computer parts and peripherals such as CDs and remote controls to $55 for the largest televisions and appliances. Interested residents can check out the full schedule on the website before calling Swain's group at 617-233-4120 to get an estimate or schedule a pickup. They can also email the group at [email protected]. Swain said the program is designed for Cape Ann residents, but they might be able to accommodate other areas of the North Shore if convenient. The collected items, according to Swain, will be securely transported to recycling companies certified as e-Stewards for their strict adherence to U.S. environmental disposal laws. Some items are refurbished or repaired and sold to new owners after all data is wiped off hard drives and other data collection systems. The remainder are processed to separate out dangerous materials and pollutants, such as lead from the screens of televisions and computer monitors and ozone-damaging refrigerants from refrigerators, air conditioners and freezers, he said. "The dangerous stuff stays here in the U.S., where it can be disposed of appropriately and in keeping with our laws," Swain said. "The metals and plastics don't necessarily stay in the U.S., but go into the [scrap] commodities markets. But that doesn't worry me because they have value." Swain's group pays the recycling fees to the recycling companies out of the funds generated by the pickups, leaving it with a very thin margin of profit, a portion of which goes to Ocean Alliance to help in its expansive ocean custodial efforts. "We're really held hostage to the constantly changing commodities markets, but we don't really mind that because we're not in this to make money," Swain said. "It's a success on the educational side and that's what matters." Swain, 46, is an environmental educator and human rights advocate. He has embarked on long-distance swims to publicize the extent of the pollution in the nation's rivers and coastline. He was the first person in history to swim the entire 1,243-mile Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, as well as making a 315-mile swim down the Hudson River and a wire-to-wire swim of the Charles River to promote the swimmability of Boston's signature river. "I swim in a lot of dirty water," Swain said. "We're just trying to do something to make that better." Contact Sean Horgan at 978-675-2714, or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @SeanGDT and check out his blog, Glosta Daily, on gloucestertimes.com. ___ (c)2014 the Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, Mass.) Visit the Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, Mass.) at www.gloucestertimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |