Reworld™, in partnership with Goodwill Keystone Area, unveiled a new initiative to provide free electronic waste recycling across 22 central and southeastern Pennsylvania counties. The program was launched during an event at the local Goodwill Keystone Area store and donation center in Lemoyne, just across the river from the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Reworld is a proven provider of e-waste recycling, recovery and environmentally responsible disposal, having recycled more than 135 million pounds of e-waste.
Jessica Shirley, acting secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), was present at the launch event, underscoring the importance of this pivotal move toward enhancing e-waste recycling access for the state’s residents.
“Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, and making electronics reuse and recycling easier and more accessible is critical to keeping these materials out of landfills or worse, illegally dumped,” said Pennsylvania DEP acting secretary Jessica Shirley. “This program reduces waste, reuses items that are still good, and recycles the ones that aren’t.”
Made possible through efforts of the Pennsylvania Recycling Market Center, it began by Recycling Markets Center industry experts mapping Goodwill processes and operations, then understanding and interpreting the facility needs of Goodwill Keystone Area. Understanding Goodwill criteria and the e-waste landscape, the Recycling Markets Center coordinated the introduction of e-waste vendors to Goodwill Keystone Area, resulting in a successful pairing with Reworld.
“In 2023, Pennsylvania had only nine e-waste recycling sites that would accept any electronic device for recycling at no cost, without limitations. The new program at Goodwill Keystone Area now includes 22 counties at 42 locations, approximately 45 percent of the Pennsylvania population,” said Robert Bylone, president and chief executive officer, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.
Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone Area launched the initiative in response to a pressing need in the region, expanding electronic recycling options under the PA Covered Device Recycling Act 108 for many counties currently underserved by existing recycling programs. Many counties, including densely populated areas such as Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties in the Philadelphia suburbs, lack comprehensive, e-waste disposal services. This gap poses significant challenges for residents, particularly when disposing of items like televisions, which typically incur additional fees and may only be collected on one specific day, if at all.
The new initiative will leverage Goodwill Keystone Area’s broad network of 42 stores and donation center sites, establishing each as drop-off points for a wide variety of e-waste items from televisions and computers to other household electronics, including mobile devices, gaming systems, telephones, toasters, vacuums and much more – with an ambitious goal to collect half a million pounds of electronic waste within the first year. The program will not only facilitate easier access to e-waste recycling for residents but also encourage them to donate other gently used items, such as clothing, books and household goods.
If the electronics dropped off are at the end of their life or broken and Goodwill Keystone Area cannot sell them in their stores, they will be responsibly recycled by Reworld.
This initiative represents a significant commitment by Reworld and Goodwill Keystone Area to improve electronic waste management and help preserve Pennsylvania’s environment for future generations. Goodwill Keystone Area will focus on the collection and sorting of donated items, and Reworld will play a critical role in the downstream processing and recycling, with the collected electronics being refurbished or recycled in compliance with the Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act and international e-Stewards standards.
