NERC in the News
Maine Recognized for Environmental Stewardship
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Village Soup-Capital Weekly; Augusta, Maine; April 10, 2010
Augusta — The state of Maine has received silver-level recognition from a Northeast program — the State Electronics Challenge — for its environmental stewardship of computer equipment in 2009; the second year it has been so recognized.
According to a press release from the Maine State Planning Office, the state has avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to almost 200 cars on the roads and enough energy savings to power 280 Maine homes through its efforts to buy “green” computers and properly manage unwanted computer equipment at the end-of-life,.
It did it by buying only computers and monitors that met the high environmental standards defined by the Electronics Product Environmental Assessment Tool, extending the life of computers through reuse programs, and recycling obsolete equipment at facilities that adhere to environmentally sound management practices.
By purchasing “green” computers, the state avoided the use of 262 pounds of toxic materials, such as lead and mercury used in the manufacture of new computers. Recycling computers at the end-of-life reportedly avoided the generation of more than 16 tons of hazardous waste.
The State Electronics Challenge is a program that assists state, regional and local governments in the Northeast to reduce the environmental impact of their computers. It annually recognizes the accomplishments of partner organizations.
SEC is a voluntary program developed and administered by the Northeast Recycling Council. It provides an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of the more than $35 billion worth of technology equipment purchased annually by state and local governments in the U.S. Currently, 38 state, regional and local government agencies, collectively employing almost 50,000 people, have joined the SEC as partners.
For more information on the SEC, including a list of current partner organizations, visit stateelectronicschallenge.net.
