Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

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United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awards grants for Earth Day Electronic Waste (E-Waste) and Pharmaceutical Collections in eight states across the Great Lakes BasinLink to EPA Press Release on Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge is a big successEarth Healing Initiative 2008An Interfaith environmental project for the Great Lakes basin in cooperation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).“Collect One Million Pounds of e-Waste and One Million Unwanted Pills”For Earth Day 2008 residents and communities around the Great Lakes met the challenge to collect and recycle electronic waste and to properly dispose of unwanted medicines.ELECTRONIC WASTE (E-Waste)Above photo shows the second annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during which about 10,000 residents turned in over 320 tons of electronic waste in only three hours on Earth Day 2006Electronic waste includes all those old or broken TVs, cell phones, computer components and similar gadgets that are part of our lives. E-waste contains possibly hazardous materials that can harm human health and the Great Lakes environment if disposed of improperly.In 2005 we discarded an estimated 2 million tons of TVs, computers and other electronic gear.Proper disposal and recycling are necessary to avoid unwanted pollution.When we reuse or recycle e-waste properly, we recover materials for re-use, save energy and reduce the environmental costs of raw material extraction and processing.PHARMACEUTICALS:Above photo shows some of the one ton of pharmaceuticals turned in by northern Michigan residents on Earth Day 2007 during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep.Traces of medicines have been found in streams and the Great Lakes where we get our drinking water and have also been detected near wastewater treatment outflows.Some of these medicines can lead to reproductive and developmental problems in fish and other animals.We often treat leftover medicine as a common household waste.More than half of people surveyed throw their unused medicines in the trash while a third flush them down the drain.In both cases, the medicines have the potential to be released into our rivers and lakes.The Earth Healing Initiative is sponsored by the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI and is collaborating with the EPA, cities, landfills, groups, state/local governments across the Great Lakes Basin to promote the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge - and to help arrange interfaith and Native American volunteers and participants.All faith traditions, religions, minorities, tribes and other Indigenous peoples are encouraged to volunteer for and/or participate in the projects in your area.EPA Press Release on challenge being a bit hitEPA's Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge was a big successCHICAGO, April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Communities and residents of the Great Lakes basin have responded enthusiastically to EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge to collect 1 million pounds of electronics for recycling and 1 million pills for safe disposal to keep contaminants out of the Great Lakes."We are very pleased that so many people have stepped up to accept the Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge," said EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager and Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "Communities have reported collecting more medicines and electronics this Earth Week than at any previous collections."EPA has received preliminary results from just ten of those collections and can report that 2,184,000 pills have already been turned in for safe disposal -- more than double the challenge goal.EPA also expects to far exceed its goal for e-waste based on 216,000 pounds of electronics collected at six events.---Cities/Collection 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, WoodstockIndiana:Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, ValparaisoMichigan: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 CityMinnesota:Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. PaulNew York:Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).Ohio:Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, WarrenPennsylvania:Erie, LancasterWisconsin: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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