Milwaukee Loves Lake Michigan: Residents turn in 32 tons of electronics; 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals in EPA Earth Day challenge

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City of Milwaukee DPW collects about 32 tons of electronics and Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District garners 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

Milwaukee area residents turned in 32 tons of electronic waste and 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals during two events in EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

There were two collection events in the Milwaukee area as part of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

About 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals were turned by the public during the Milwaukee areas Medicine Collection Day on Saturday, April 19, 2008 sponsored by the Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District (MMSD).

Meanwhile - the Milwaukee DPW organized an electronics collection on Saturday, April 26, 2008 that garner about 32 tons of electronics.
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Electronics collection:

E-Waste coillection photos by John Perrecone, EPA

Hundreds of Milwaukee residents dropped off electronics as nearly 32 tons of e-waste was collected during the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

The Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) kept things organized and flowing smoothly as cars lined up to drop off electronics for recycling.

The collection site off-loaded an average of three cars per minute.

The electronics are often called e-waste or e-scrap.

Officials say 706 cars dropped off electronics at the collection site located in a large parking lot south of the Italian Community Center just west of the Summerfest Grounds.

This collection site was within eyeshot of Lake Michigan near the Henry Maier Festival Park better known as the Summerfest Grounds where the world's largest music festival is held.

The one-day collection event - organized by the City of Milwaukee DPW - was held on April 26, 2008

More than two thirds of the collection involved computers and related equipment.

The DPW collected 643 computer monitors weighing over ten tons - thats 21,188 pounds of computer monitors.

And - residents dropped off 338 televisions weighing nearly 13, 200 pounds - thats over 5 tons of TVs from city of Milwaukee homes.

Other computer related equipment turned in included nearly 15,100 pounds of personal computers - thats over 7 tons of PCs alone.

Nearly 5 tons of computer printers were turned in - that adds up to 9,148 pounds of printers.

Eight percent of the collection - nearly 5,000 pounds - involved miscellaneous e-waste like cell phones and other electronic items.

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Equipment type Pounds Percent by Weight

Monitors 21,188 33% (643 computer monitors recycled)

PCs 15,098 24%

TVs 13,185 21% (338 televisions recycled)

Printers 9,148 14%

Miscellaneous 4,878 8%

TOTAL 63,497 100%
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The challenge was important because scrap electronics are the fastest growing segment of municipal solid waste stream.

Electronic waste or e-scrap may contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury and heavy metals that can pose a risk to human and environmental health through the release of toxins into the air and water.

During a press conference, EPA, DPW and other Milwaukee officials said the recycling of electronics is needed to avoid unwanted pollution and divert waste from the landfills.

EPA officials called the challenge a great success - adding it's a win-win situation for the public and for the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The challenge was an easy for everyone to take part in protecting the Great Lakes.

The EPA awarded grants to numerous cities participating in the challenge including the city of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the "recycling televisions and computers reduces the risks of toxins contained in these products being released into our air and water."

Event partners included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN-TV.

The contact is Rick Meyers with the City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works. Call Meyers at 414-286-2334
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Pharmaceutical collection:

Pharmaceutical collection phtos by Susan Boehme

There was a second successful challenge collection event in the Milwaukee area.

About 3.5 tons of pharmaceuticals were turned during the Milwaukee areas Medicine Collection Day sponsored by the Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District (MMSD).

The name of the pharmaceutical collection was "A prescription for clean water and safe kids.

In just four hours, more than 2,000 people delivered 3.5 tons of unused medication to collection sites in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, and Washington Counties for the third annual Medicine Collection Day.

The event is held to help protect our rivers and Lake Michigan, prevent childhood poisonings, and reduce substance abuse.

Never flush or pour old medicine down the drain.

Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove them from wastewater.
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Participants Non-controlled Controlled

Substances Substances

Milwaukee County 1,080 4,487 lbs 36,831 (Pills, Patches & Bottles)

Ozaukee County 365 1,022 lbs 3 (30 gallon drums)

Racine County 523 761 lbs 50 lbs

Washington County 380 743 lbs 83 lbs

Totals: 2,348 7,013 lbs

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Law enforcement destroys controlled substances, which include: narcotic pain killers, cough syrup with codeine, and tranquilizers.

Veolia Environmental Services incinerates non-controlled substances at a federally licensed incinerator. Examples of non-controlled substances include: blood pressure medicine, aspirin, and cholesterol medication.

The medicine collection program thanks the following partners:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Milwaukee Police, Milwaukee Brewers, City of Milwaukee, Aurora Pharmacy, Columbia St. Mary's, City of Racine, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Western Racine County Health Department, Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department, Ozaukee County Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Village of Saukville, Washington County, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and City of West Bend Sewer Utility.


For more information on the medicine collection call MMSD Public Information Manager Bill Graffin at 1-414-225-2077
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The MMSD distributed nearly 200,000 postcards promoting the event that has been widely publicized by area media.

The Earth Healing Initiative distributed the final 5,000 cards to interfaith contacts in the Milwaukee area.

The Earth Healing Initiative thanks our local interfaith liaison in Milwaukee.

He's Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor at Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry - in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee events were among about 100 projects involving hundreds of communities across eight states around the Great Lakes basin that participated in the EPA Earth Day 2008 challenge.

The goal of the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was the collecting and recycling of one million pounds of electronics (e-Waste) plus the collection and proper disposal of one million pills.

The Earth Healing Initiative assisted challenge organizers by offering interfaith liaisons to volunteer and encourage members of local churches and temples to participate in the Earth Day related events in their area.

This video on the projects connected to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was made possible by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago the EPA Great Lakes national Program Office also in Chicago in cooperation with the non-profit Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative in Marquette MI

The EHI involves American Indian tribes and "a coalition of churches synagogues and other faith traditions joining together to heal protect and defend the environment" said EHI founder Rev Jon Magnuson of Marquette Michigan
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Supers:

Bharat Mathur
EPA deputy regional administrator
EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago

Tom Barrett
Milwaukee Mayor

Rick Meyers
Director/City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW)

EPA Milwaukee collection Photos by Jon Perrecone and Susan Boehme

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For more information on the electronics collection contact:
City of Milwaukee Dept of Public Works
Rick Meyers, Recycling Manager
414-286-2334
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Milwaukee Dept. Of Public Works

Milwaukee DPW e-Waste event page:
http://www.mpw.net/Pages/escrap.html

City of Milwaukee e-Waste event flyer:
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_flyer.pdf

City of Milwaukee e-Waste advertisement
http://www.mpw.net/docs/escrap_ad.pdf
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Medicine collection sponsor/contact:
Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
260 West Seeboth St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Steve Jacquart, Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
414-225-2138 (wk)
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Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District

Milorganite - How do we make this stuff?
http://www.mmsd.com/news/detail.cfm?id=114
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Milwaukee pdf flyer - scroll down pdf to bottom to see mini-version:
http://www.mmsd.com/images/programs/MedicineCollection_041908.pdf
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Related information/websites:
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Interfaith Earth Healing Initiative

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Final EPA Flow of the River blog post:
http://flowoftheriver.epa.gov/greatlakeschallenge/2008/05/so-long-and-tha.html
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Media News Wire:
http://media-newswire.com/release_1064289.html
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Freedom Ring Blog - Milwaukee:
http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2008/04/milwaukees-great-lakes-2008-earth-day.html
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EPA #1 results press release:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/fa96ab2aafc467688525743a003c9efa?OpenDocument
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EPA says challenge a big success: Goals met and exceeded
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/epas-great-lakes-earth-day,367679.shtml
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WISN TV Milwaukee:
http://www.wisn.com/aboutwisn12/15961138/detail.html
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.epa.gov/region5
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EPA Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois
Bharat Mathur, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator

312-886-3000
mathur.bharat@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/region5/aboutr5/organization.htm

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Midwest Computer Recyclers:

http://www.deadcomputers.com

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WISN News Channel 12 in Milwaukee is one of the sponsors:
http://www.wisn.com
WISN produced a 15 second PSA about the event
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Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
Joe Wilson, executive director
414-272-5462, ext. 103

website:
http://www.kgmb.org/

KGMB is coordinating volunteers for event on Sat., April 26, 2008

KGMB has numerous events scheduled in near future and would like volunteers.
http://www.kgmb.org/volunteer.html

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. (KGMB) is an award winning, private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1983, it has been affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. since 1985.

KGMB has a strong history of responsiveness, renewal and innovation. KGMB uses a unique combination of community improvement programs like Great American Cleanup and education to accomplish its goals.

KGMB Goals
KGMB works in partnership with its communities to address:
neighborhood cleanup and beautification
waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
environmental education for children
environmental forums
renewable and efficient energy use
resource conservation
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KGMB Conact info:
http://www.kgmb.org/contact.html

KGMB facility features an in-house waste reduction education center.
Educational tours can be arranged by phone:
414-272-5462

email:
education@kgmb.org

KGMB links:
http://www.greeningmilwaukee.org
http://www.everydrop.org
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Milwaukee Earth Healing Initiative page:
http://www.earthhealinginitiative.org/milwaukee.html
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Earth Healing Initiative Milwaukee interfaith liaison:
Rev. Brad Brown, campus pastor
Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
414-288-3691

email:
bradley.brown@mu.edu

Pastor Brown's blog:
http://www.mulutherans.com/index.php

Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) website:
http://www.mulutherans.com
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Marquette University Ministry
AMU 236
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave. P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI
53201-1881

922 South 29th Street
Milwaukee, WI
53215
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website:
http://www.marquette.edu/um
http://www.marquette.edu/um/staff/
http://www.marquette.edu/um/worship/documents/1018107web.pdf

Phone: 414-288-6873 Fax: 414-288-3696
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Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Baha'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com

Justice St. Rain
1-800-326-1197 (toll free)
1-847-733-3559 (wk)

Interfaith Resources
P.O. Box 9
511 Diamond Rd
Heltonville, IN
47436

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Project sites included locations in eight states:

Illinois:
Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana:
Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan:
Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota:
Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul

New York:
Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio:
Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania:
Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin:
Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee, New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.
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A special thanks to the residents of Milwaukee who proved they love their city, Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Also, we appreciate the support of the city of Milwaukee DPW and MMSD event partners without whom the collection would not have been possible:

E-scrap collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, the Italian Community Center, Midwest Computer Recyclers and WISN TV.

Medicine collection sponsors:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Milwaukee Police, Milwaukee Brewers, City of Milwaukee, Aurora Pharmacy, Columbia St. Mary's, City of Racine, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Western Racine County Health Department, Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department, Ozaukee County Public Health Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Village of Saukville, Washington County, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and City of West Bend Sewer Utility.
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