The increased use of electronics has added to an already growing solid waste problem that has inspired the creation of electronic recycling programs; however not all people in the Mission District are aware of these services.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is “consumer and business electronic equipment that is near or at the end of its useful life,” according to CalRecycle, the state’s leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. Electronic recycling, which is the processing of electronics for reuse, combats health risks and environmental pollution.
When electronics are dumped into the environment, the heavy metals they contain can release toxins that contaminate water, soil, and air. Exposure to these toxins can often lead to birth defects, brain damage and kidney damage.
Local environmentally friendly recycling centers, such as Green Citizen on Howard Street and Best Buy on Harrison Street, provide a means of recycling for electronics that are no longer used, wanted or needed.
Electronic Recycling
“When you take some of the parts from a first generation iPod and see that they get recycled … those same parts can then be used in the next iPod so that you have this continuity,” Green Citizen Manager Westin Kurlancheek said.
Green Citizen utilizes a team of experienced technicians to determine if items can be recycled, resold or deconstructed and used to repair other electronics.
“I know that I’m recycling this [electronic device] and it’s going to go towards the building of a new product,” Kurlancheek said.
Community residents interviewed along 24th Street and Mission Street said that they would only buy electronics when necessary. But younger generations often ask for the newest and latest electronic items, according to Mission residents Eva Ibarra and Josefina Magdalno.
“They are always asking me for something, but I don’t buy it,” Ibarra said, referring to her children.
The majority of people interviewed, were of all age groups and genders. They expressed the importance of electronic recycling and their desire to recycle, yet they believe that there was a lack of awareness in the neighborhood.
“We need more commercials and a lot more programs,” Victor Santana said. “It’s important to our advancement and future progress.”
In order to increase the number of e-recyclers, Best Buy offers a trade in program where customers can exchange their items for gift cards.
“It’s easy and convenient for the customer to come in,” Multi-Channel Sales Manager Jeanette Ruspil said.
“The trade in program is something that we combined with the recycling. Let’s say you have an iPhone in your pocket, you could trade it in and it would be worth something. …It doesn’t matter if it’s working or not,” Ruspil said. “If it cannot be traded in then it can be recycled.”
The services offered by Green Citizen and Best Buy will allow e-recyclers to feel that they are doing their part to help the environment.
“We’re taking responsibility for what we’re doing. If we’re using [electronics] then we should have ways of dealing with [them] here,” Kurlancheek said.