BNSF News

What Happens When Electronic Tools Are Outdated?

2010-03-11

BNSF employees use electronic tools daily for many purposes, from tracking freight and printing train orders to communicating with co-workers via radio.

But what happens when these electronic tools are replaced or are too out of date to be useful anymore? When electronic devices become too outdated to be effective, be sure you dispose of them properly. Federal regulations prohibit the disposition of items with electronic circuitry in landfills. To help protect the environment and ensure compliance with federal regulations, BNSF created an electronics recycling program several years ago.

Programs for recycling e-waste depend on the type of device.

• Computer equipment, including monitors, keyboards, mice and printers, should be recycled through Technology Services.
• General electronic waste, including circuit boards, electronics racks, signal and telecommunications equipment, are recycled through Philips Services.

BNSF also recycles rechargeable batteries, such as those from laptops, digital cameras and power tools and cell phones.

Don Girard, manager, Environmental Operations, said electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams to emerge from BNSF. Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to products at or near the end of useful life. In addition to phones and computers, items in this category include telecommunications equipment and signal equipment.

Electronics can be hazardous to the environment, with items like computer monitors containing up to 6 pounds of lead. Fortunately, more than 97 percent of computer contents can be recycled or reused.

"Electronic waste and small batteries are a growing waste stream and need to be handled properly," Girard said. "Proper handling is the law, but following these processes also protects the environment and provides reusable materials. Recycling is a win-win solution."

To find more information on BNSF's recycling programs, go to employee.bnsf.com > Departments > Operations > Environmental & Hazardous Materials > Waste Disposal & Recycling Guides.

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com