WESTFIELD — Elizabeth Hanechak of Russell, a Life Scout with Troop 124 in Westfield, kicked off an Eagle Scout community service project over the weekend, collecting electronic waste for e-cycling from over 200 Westfield residents at City Hall.
Hanechak researched the project, wrote to Gold Circuit e-cycling in Agawam for information, raised the money to hire a UHaul and cover all of the costs of the project, and met with and received the support of Mayor Michael McCabe, who roped off the parking area at City Hall. The drop off for residents was free.
“I will always help out Eagle Scouts especially when their projects are grounded in public service. I am thrilled that more than 200 people took advantage of Eli’s vision! I am sure we will hear more from her as her journey continues,” McCabe said after the successful weekend.
In her letter to Gold Circuit, Hanechak described herself as an avid environmentalist and member of a robotics team at Pope Francis, where she is currently a senior.
“One of the biggest issues I’ve identified in my community is the amount of electronic waste that accumulates,” Hanechak wrote. “Many people don’t know how to efficiently recycle or get rid of this waste, and it can cause serious problems for community health; additionally, many people think the process is arduous, expensive, and really not worth it for getting rid of this waste.
“My project, I hope, will change this outlook by achieving two goals: the first, by setting up collection boxes all over the City of Westfield, where residents can drop off their waste and have it taken away at no cost to them; and the second, generating awareness that there are drop off centers all around our community that can help to rid homes of potentially harmful waste.”
Hanechak also started ReVolt, a movement to better the environment and educate people about the dangers of electronic waste. She set up a website at therevoltinitiative.org with information for the public on her project, detailing the time and location of the pickups, and what electronic waste is permissible to be dropped off.
Collections of electronic waste for the project will continue from Nov. 3 to Nov. 17 at dropboxes posted around the city, and on the website at therevoltinitiative.org.
Permissible waste according to the website includes computers, switches and wires, printers, scanners, TVs, both flatscreen and old tube CRT; microwaves, coffee machines, stereos, receivers and amps; lead, acid and laptop batteries, cell phones, tablets and navigation devices.
On the website, Hanechak writes that by providing citizens with an active drop-off location for their electronic waste, “ReVolt eliminates the first hurdle in proper e-waste management: finding somewhere to put the waste. ReVolt is partnering with GoldCircuit E-Cycling, who will accept the electronic waste collected at no charge and recycle it.
“ReVolt is also committed to educating citizens about the dangers of e-waste, as well as teaching people about how to properly dispose of e-waste. Through a series of brochures and flyers, ReVolt will help inform the community and will help make electronics recycling more accessible.”
