Gentex held its annual Electronics Recycling Event in June in partnership with Green Earth Electronics Recycling. Gentex covers the recycling cost for all the items collected during the event.
"Some electronics contain metals," explained Gentex Sustainability Manager Emily Haslinger. "Keeping them out of landfills is important because they can otherwise end up contaminating nearby soil and groundwater."
Employees brought in a variety of electronics ranging from cellphones and laptops to televisions, microwaves, and even a refrigerator. Historically, the most recycled electronics has been televisions.
The popular event has been expanded the past two years from employees only to include their family, and this year, their friends.
"Gentex wanted to take an opportunity to open up a sustainability-related event to a larger group of people beyond our direct employee base," Haslinger said. "We aim to successfully get the word out and make people aware of the opportunity; this ideally results in an increased participant count year over year."
Haslinger has been involved in this event for the past five years. She said it is one of her favorite days of the year.
"The most exciting part for me was seeing it all come together on the day of the event and having happy customers that feel the relief of having an environmentally friendly outlet for the items they want to get rid of at home."
If you want to learn more about other Gentex recycling initiatives, read the company's 2021 Sustainability Report.
