(Washington, DC) For the second consecutive year, the District government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) elected to focus on electronics recycling to mark America Recycles Day, November 15, a nationwide recycling event.

DPW's Office of Recycling participated in the kick-off press conference and coordinated a two-day electronics recycling event at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park. Over the course of Friday and Saturday (Nov. 14-15), area residents brought over 33 tons of computers and consumer electronics; 180 pounds of batteries; 110 cell phones and 70 pounds of accessories. These numbers represent a 10 percent increase, by weight, over last year.

Officials explained that computers, televisions and other electronic equipment contain toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium that should not be released into the environment.

Sponsors for the event included Washington, D.C. Recycling Programs, U.S. EPA, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE), Office of Personnel Management, National Park Service, Dept. of Interior, UNICOR, National Park Foundation, Dell, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, AT&T Wireless, Consumer Electronics Association, JVC, Panasonic, NxtCycle, MRP Trucking, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, National Recycling Coalition, and others.