Record iPhone Sales Underscore Need to Recycle Electronics; Donate Equipment at Free Recycling Event October 4th Hosted by the Arizona Technology Council

PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As Apple announced record sales of 10 million iPhone 6 units in the first three days of the product's launch, it often begged the question, "what happens to all the old phones?" The answer isn't always pretty as e-waste around the globe grows. Arizona citizens seeking a safe and responsible way of disposing of their old electronics, have the opportunity to participate in Technology Recycling Day on Saturday, October 4, from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., sponsored by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and supported by Data Doctors and Westech Recyclers.

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.

"Every time an Arizona citizen diverts electronic waste from ending up in landfills is a reason to celebrate," said Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. "We began this program to fill the need for simple and convenient electronic recycling options and we're proud to continue this valuable service that contributes to a healthier environment for us all."

All donated equipment is tax deductible will be handled through the Arizona Technology Council Foundation's TechTerra Program in partnership with Westech Recyclers. As part of that program, a portion of the equipment is donated statewide to support Arizona educational programs.

Drop-off Dates, Locations and Times:

The following drop-off locations are accepting donations on Saturday, October 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please note there will be a nominal fee of $5 collected for each Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) television collected at the Honeywell and Intel locations to cover the costs of recycling the lead glass. Receipts for tax donation purposes will be available at all locations.  

• Honeywell, 21111 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85027
• Intel, 4500 S. Dobson Road, Chandler 85248
• Intel, 5000 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler 8522

In addition, all Data Doctors locations in the state of Arizona including Flagstaff will be accepting donations during the operating hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Data Doctors will not accept CRT televisions.

The electronic equipment and components acceptable for drop-off includes personal computers, computer peripherals, networking equipment, main frames, servers, point-of-sale equipment, printers, audio/visual and telecom devices, surplus metals, wire, cable and power strips. Miscellaneous electronic items such as test and/or lab equipment are also acceptable.

Those wishing to donate their hard drives but want to make sure that the information is securely wiped can drop off their donations at the Data Doctors Data Recovery & Forensics lab in Tempe located at 725 S Rural Rd #107, Tempe 85281.

"Unfortunately, most Americans simply toss their obsolete electronic devices into the trash," said Tom Holland, business development manager, Westech Recyclers, an Arizona Technology Council member company. "They don't realize the amount of toxic materials that today's electronic devices contain including lead and mercury that can leak from landfills. As a leading electronic recycling and asset management company in the Southwest, we're committed to raising awareness of this important issue and supporting this program through donation of our services."

About the Arizona Technology Council Foundation
The Arizona Technology Council Foundation is dedicated to further promoting and growing technology in Arizona through the raising of funds, leadership, collaboration and innovation.  The Foundation is home to Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) programs including the Arizona SciTech Festival and the Arizona Middle School Science Bowl. In addition, the Foundation is home to the Tech Terra Recycling program in partnership with Westech Recyclers, providing a resource for Arizona Technology Council members to have their older computer and electronic equipment picked up and recycled throughout the year at no cost.

About the Arizona Technology Council 
The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona's premier trade association for science and technology companies.  Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, Council members work towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, legislation and social action. The Arizona Technology Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, managers, employees and visionaries to make an impact on the technology industry.  These interactions contribute to the Council's culture of growing member businesses and transforming technology in Arizona. To become a member or to learn more about the Arizona Technology Council, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

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SOURCE Arizona Technology Council