Girl Scout e-Waste Drive at Hidden Hills Elementary

Save the Earth: Recycle Your Old Electronics April 15, 18-22

Hidden Hills Elementary, 12995 Harcourt Way, San Ramon

Earth Day, April 22, is almost here, and a Girl Scout troop in San Ramon found a clever way you can show your caring for the planet … and the people on it.

Troop 1658 at Hidden Hills Elementary in San Ramon is organizing an e-waste recycle campaign, asking all those in San Ramon to please donate their old electronics.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund.

According to troop leader Gena Harper, "Our troop is learning about ways we can all do our part to save the planet this year. With Earth Day coming up, we thought it would be a great opportunity to raise awareness at our school and in our community about the danger improperly disposed electronic waste poses."

Electronic waste—everything from old computers and tvs to electrical cords and old game consoles (see full list below) is "far more dangerous than people are aware of," she points out.

In the United States, an estimated 70 percent of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded electronics. These materials can poison soil and seep into water supplies, affecting the health and well-being of people in the area.

Jenna Knight, a fourth grader, has been studying up on the perils of e-waste, along with the rest of her troop. She says, "It’s important to recycle e-waste properly because sometimes the electronics we get rid of ends up in other countries, where they don’t follow the same rules we do here. In those countries, they sometimes just burn the old electronics. Toxins get in the air, and people can get really sick or they could even die."

Gena points out the original idea was to use the e-waste drive as a fund-raiser for the troops. "When one of our girls suggested it could be a fund-raiser for Japan, instead, we all got excited. Our troop is always looking for ways to help others."

One of the troop’s fifth graders, Tanvi Khanuja, came up with the idea for the troop to donate proceeds to Japan, she says, "because they are going through a tough time."

Sarena Solodoff, fifth grade, adds she’s excited about the e-waste drive and hopes it will help raise awareness, both about Earth Day and the need to help people in Japan. "Earth Day is like the Earth’s dream day. We hope everyone who wants the Earth to last longer will donate their e-waste."

Here's the full scoop:

Hidden Hills Girl Scout Fund-Raiser for Japan Disaster Relief

Drop off your old:

computers / cell phones / TVs (CRT, LCD & plasma)
monitors / laptops / iPods / PDAs / game consoles
servers / cables / cords / wires / network equipment
stereo equipment / DVD / VCR player / Printer / copier
digital camera

No batteries, light bulbs, exercise equipment or appliances allowed.
Items collected will be recycled or reused in an eco-friendly way.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the

Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund.