The concept of recycling-processing used materials into new products-isn’t just limited to water bottles and beer cans. For the fourth consecutive year, the University will host a Fall electronics recycling day Monday to encourage students and others alike to recycle all recyclable items, particularly unwanted stereos, batteries and other electronic devices that could harm the environment if buried in a landfill.

The University will be accepting recyclable electronic equipment on Centennial Campus between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The event is open to students, staff, faculty and the general public.

Bianca Howard, Community Education Specialist of the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services, said despite barriers constructed to keep toxins out of the environment, pollution is still possible.

“Although modern landfills, including the South Wake Landfill in Holly Springs, are built with thick plastic liners to protect groundwater, it’s best to avoid burying hazardous materials in the first place,” Howard said. “There’s a small risk that the heavy metals they contain could seep into the soil and contaminate our groundwater.”

Sarah Ketchem, program manager of the University’s Waste Reduction and Recycling, commented on the argument some have used against recycling. Opponents to the process have said recycling is more expensive than building something from scratch.

“That’s only looking at a small percentage of the cost,” Ketchem said. “If you truly look at the full picture, using virgin materials is more expensive than recycling something.”

Monday’s E-Cycling event is a collaborative effort between the University Waste Reduction and Recycling program and Synergy Recycling, a company that specializes in breaking down many electronic devices donated from University students on and off campus.

“Having Synergy properly recycle your materials minimizes or eliminates your liabilities and protects the environment by reducing the solid waste stream and reclaiming resources that substitute for virgin materials,” the Synergy site reads.

On the Synergy website, synergyrecycling.com, elements found in a common personal computer are listed, exemplifying the remaining uses of unwanted products.

“What’s in your PC?” the site asks. On average, computers are composed of 14-percent aluminum, 20-percent iron, 23-percent arsenic, 25-percent silica, and 6-percent lead.

Furthermore, Synergy explains, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, “cathode ray tubes in color computer monitors and televisions are considered hazardous when discarded because of the presence of lead in the CRT.”

Synergy also aims to clarify the benefits of recycling electronic devices.

“Clearly, and rightfully so, these materials could be viewed as a ‘characteristic hazardous waste’ by environmental regulatory agencies, and conversely they contain a myriad of recoverable resources,” the site says.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, toxins from electronics can cause harm when leaked from groundwater and electronics should therefore be reused or recycled after use.

David Stewart, a senior in international relations, appreciates the way materials can be converted into new things.

“I think it’s cool that you can take plastic Coke bottles and turn them into a park bench or other things like that,” he said.

Regarding electronics, Stewart said he hasn’t ever recycled them, but the idea seems better than recycling other products.

“Electronics have a lot of nasty stuff in them, a lot of chemicals and a lot of stuff that is really, really bad for the environment, more so than plastic bottles,” he said, “If I were to religiously recycle something, it would be electronics.”

America Recycles Day was established partly to raise awareness about recycling in general.

Joseph Havey, a freshman in civil engineering, was surprised that electronics could even be recycled.

“I didn’t really know you could recycle electronics,” he said. “But assuming there are benefits, then yeah, I’m all for it.”

The University has a goal to reduce waste by 65-percent by 2015. Recycling bins standing next to trashcans on many areas of campus help hit home that objective. America Recycles Day comes only once a year, but recycling, even recycling electronics, is an activity that can be done virtually every day, any time of year.

Numerous areas throughout Wake County accept those items, including even large electronic appliances like dryers and refrigerators. Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, the North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, located at 9029 Deponie Dr., Raleigh, N.C., along with the South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, at 6130 Old Smithfield Rd., Apex, N.C, accepts electronics. The University collection on Centennial Campus this Monday will be at the intersection of Partners Way and Main Campus Drive.

“Anything with a cord, bring it our way,” Ketchem said.