The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) will host four community electronics recycling events over the next two years thanks to a $100,000 funding award from the state’s Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) program.
SEPs are environmentally beneficial projects that a company agrees to fund as part of the settlement of an enforcement action for environmental violations. In this case, Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. reached a settlement with the state following air quality permit violations. As part of that settlement, the company proposed funding an electronic waste — or e-waste — recycling initiative administered by WCDPHE.
The SEP funding will fully cover the cost of two e-waste recycling events in summer 2025, scheduled in Greeley and Severance, as well as two additional events in 2026. The goal is to reduce improper disposal of e-waste and provide residents with accessible, no-cost recycling options. The board of county commissioners formally approved the SEP agreement on May 12, 2025.
“Supplemental Environmental Projects are a great example of turning a violation into a community benefit,” said Jason Chessher, Executive Director of WCDPHE. “Thanks to this funding, we can offer residents safe and responsible ways to dispose of electronics that might otherwise end up in landfills or damage our environment.”
E-waste often contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury and cadmium. Improper disposal can lead to contamination of soil, groundwater and air. Recycling electronics not only reduces these risks but also conserves valuable materials like aluminum, steel and copper.
More information and registration options will be available in June at www.weld.gov/go/hhw.
