Parkland's GEO Club e-cycles

 If you were fortunate enough to receive new electronic gizmos for Christmas, like Mahdi Chaker, 17, and Robert Stiffler, 18, both of Allentown, then you were probably at Parkland High's Electronic Recycling Drive Saturday to unload all those old cell phones, laptops and other stuff rendered obsolete by the new toys.

Parkland's GEO Club, which stands for Grassroots Environmental Organization, sponsored the annual e-cycling event along with AERC Recycling Solutions, a national recycling company with a facility at 2591 Mitchell Ave., Allentown.

The GEO Club is led by Parkland Social Studies instructor Licia Paulus.

"We attempt to hold an electronics recycling event once a year," Paulus said.

"Within the school we promote energy conservation by switching classroom lights and TVs off, recycling, and [through the] use of environmental products. Our general goal is to show people that small changes in their daily lives can make a big difference in regards to the environment."

The first 300 recyclers received a free CFL light bulb, compliments of PPL Electric. The group accepted everything from computers, TVs, radios and stereos to batteries, flourescent lamps and microwave ovens. A $1 fee was charged for most items, but TVs and CRT monitors, since they contain many environmentally-unfriendly components, cost $20.

AERC's Northeast Regional Branch Manager John Schlegel brought along six of his workers to do the unloading, fee collection and packaging of components.

"We do about 15 collection events a year," Schlegel said. "We take everything and break it down, take it apart and recycle the useful stuff. The fee for CRT monitors and TVs are more expensive because they are made with leaded glass, which we have to pay to recycle."

The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that each American household has about 24 electronic products. The products cannot be disposed of with regular trash because they contain toxic materials such as lead, nickel, cadmium and mercury, which sources say could pose health risk. 

The Environmental Protection Agency encourages states and municipalities to offer cost-effective and safe recycling programs, to keep electronics out of landfills, to save energy, and to allow schools, non-profit organizations and lower-income families to benefit from donated items. According to the EPA, studies show the environmental impact of recycling one million laptops "saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by 3,657 U.S. homes in a year."

The GEO Club has about 35 members, and 20 came out throughout the four-hour e-cycling event. 

"They are going to work in shifts because it's so cold," Paulus said, as snowflakes fell. "I told them all to bundle up."

According to the club's Web page http://psdweb.parklandsd.org/geo/Welcome.html: "GEO attempts to improve our environment and the lives of animals through education and activities raising awareness on the many issues facing our world."

The club gives students a chance to discuss environmental issues and to plan projects such as cleaning up local parks and sending correspondence to political leaders in the U.S. and Canada about environmental concerns.

"We also volunteer at different animal shelters," Paulus added. "This year the students are going to the Gress Mountain Ranch and Peaceable Kingdom." 

If you missed this year's e-cycling day, Schlegel says not to worry. You can drop off electronic items at the AERC facility or at the Allentown Recycling Center for AERC pickup.