Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge 2008: Go Green and Head to a Drop-Off in Your Area...

Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge 2008: Go Green and Head to a Drop-Off in Your
Area for E-Waste and Old Meds

CHICAGO, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Almost everyone has a garage,
basement, closet, drawer or medicine cabinet just waiting for an overhaul and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is promoting Earth Month as the perfect
time to go green and spring clean.

So far, more than 70 organizations, communities and businesses across the
Great Lakes basin have stepped up and responded to EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day
Challenge to collect and properly dispose of old electronics or "e-waste" and
unused, expired or unwanted medicine. EPA's goal is to collect at least 1
million pounds of electronic waste and 1 million pills to keep contaminants
out of the Great Lakes.

"EPA is counting on thousands of people in the Great Lakes basin to do their
part and find a nearby collection event where they can safely get rid of their
old electronics and unused medicine," said EPA Great Lakes National Program
Manager and Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "It's a win-win situation for
the public and for the Great Lakes ecosystem. This is an easy way for
everyone to take part in protecting the Great Lakes."

The Great Lakes are an irreplaceable treasure. They are the largest source of
fresh drinking water on earth and vital to commerce and recreation in the
upper Midwest. Responsible recycling and disposal of unwanted electronics and
medicine will prevent contaminants from polluting the Great Lakes basin.

To find a collection event, go to the Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge Web site
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008

Also, anyone can go to EPA's blog and share ideas:
http://flowoftheriver.epa.gov/greatlakeschallenge

SOURCE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Karen Thompson, +1-312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov, or Phillippa Cannon,
+1-312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov, both of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency