Free Community Electronics Recycling Day Set for TAMC on Earth Day

Aroostook County – TAMC is encouraging people to clean out their attics, garages and other storage spaces and to bring in their used, broken and unwanted electronics devices for proper disposal, free of charge, on Earth Day, April 22.

For about 15 years, TAMC has cared for their planet by actively participating in electronics recycling, but on Earth Day this year, the medical center is taking things one step further by co-sponsoring a special electronics recycling day with partner Electronics End, LLC, and extending the event into the community.

In addition to being important to the planet by keeping harmful materials out of the environment, properly disposing of electronics also allows for recycling of reusable elements thus improving the sustainability of earth’s resources, according to TAMC Green Team chair and primary organizer of the event, Mark Bourgoin, security and special projects manager for TAMC Support Services.

“Many of the items contain heavy metals. These items would be dangerous to the environment if not disposed/recycled appropriately. Plus many of these items have plastics that can be recycled for reuse purposes,” said Bourgoin.

The idea for this event was brought to TAMC’s Green Team a couple of months ago. The Green team consists of 12 individuals who wish to make TAMC a more environmentally friendly organization by reducing waste, increasing recycling efforts and streamlining processes.

The event, which takes place on April 22 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers a community-wide collection point at A.R. Gould Hospital's Maintenance Garage. The team encourages anyone in the Central Aroostook area to bring their disposable electronics items, which they will accept free of charge according to Jim McKenney, vice president of support services. There will be directional signs posted to assist the public in finding the drop-off location.

Electronics End, LLC has already been working with TAMC picking up and disposing of the hospitals electronic waste, so a partnership with that company seemed natural.

“This family run company has been picking up items from TAMC for almost a year now. They provide a complete list of what was picked up and a certificate of recycling as required by state and federal regulations. They have conducted two or three similar community recycling events in the Bangor area on an annual basis,” said Bourgoin.

Items that TAMC’s Green Team and Electronics End, LLC will accept include: computer monitors, network servers, TVs, desktop printers, digital frame pictures, cellphones, laptops, game consoles, computer towers, data/electrical cables, FAX machines, scanners, copiers, speakers, keyboards, stereos, DVD/VHS players, and overhead projectors. They are unable to accept light bulbs or batteries at this event.

Bourgoin and his fellow Green Team members are hoping the event will showcase what TAMC’s philosophy is about the environment and encourage other businesses to follow their lead in becoming active participants in protecting the world in which we live.

“TAMC has been an active member of the community for over a century. It is our duty to preserve the environment for our children and for our children's children. As a leading community non-profit organization, we should set the standard for others to follow when it concerns our environment,” said Bourgoin.

For additional information, interested persons may contact Mark Bourgoin at (207) 768-4349 or by email at mbourgoin@tamc.org.

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