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Comcast Collects More Than 70,000 Pounds of E-Waste at Denver 'Screen to Green' TV Recycling Event

DENVER, July 1 PRNewswire-FirstCall — With car trunks packed and truck beds full, Denver-area residents came from near and far to responsibly recycle their unused TVs, computer monitors and other e-waste at Comcast Colorado's 'Screen to Green' Recycling Rally held June 28 in downtown Denver on the Auraria Campus. More than 70,000 pounds of e-waste including nearly 1,000 screens and computer monitors were collected at the event in just four hours.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080701/LATU099)

Denver-area residents were able to easily drop-off their unused electronics for a reduced rate at the event where e-waste recyclers Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX) and Waste Management collected the e-waste and prepared it to be responsibly recycled. On average, each participant recycled about two screens per vehicle. In addition to recycling, participants received a mini-education on electronics recycling through the event's 'e-Waste Education Alley' that was staffed by volunteers armed with knowledge and facts about electronics recycling.

Participants learned that electronic waste, including TVs, if improperly disposed could become toxic waste. Electronics are full of toxic materials such as lead, mercury and beryllium and other elements that if not responsibly managed, could be harmful to people and the environment. Also, each TV or computer monitor may contain up to eight pounds of lead. When televisions and other e-waste are discarded and crushed in landfills, they may leach chemicals into groundwater and pollute the air. The Screen to Green Recycling Rally provided residents with the opportunity to responsibly recycle their electronics and keep them out of local landfills.

"Every TV, computer screen and unused electronic item that is kept from a landfill is a positive step towards protecting our local environment," said Scott Binder, senior vice president of Comcast Colorado. "As a leading provider in entertainment, information and communications services, we know that our reach and relationships can be employed to educate and engage consumers on this important issue. As consumers choose new technology to harness the power of high-definition television and other advanced services, it is important for consumers to know they should responsibly recycle their old technology as they embrace the new."

"The success of our Denver Screen to Green event exemplifies the tangible impact we can make on the environment when consumers, public and private entities unite for a common goal," said Michael Hancock, Denver City Council president. "Our primary objective is to educate consumers about the safe reuse and recycling of electronics and to keep obsolete and potentially hazardous electronics from our local landfills. We're pleased to have participated in Screen to Green in connection with Comcast, Planet Green and our e-waste recyclers Waste Management and GRX in creating a greener and cleaner Denver."

In addition to keeping electronics out of landfills to protect the environment, recycling has additional benefits. For example, valuable resources such as precious metals, plastics and glass can be extracted and reused. According to the U.S. EPA, reusing and recycling these materials from end-of-life electronics conserves natural resources and avoids air and water pollution as well as green house gases that are emitted by the manufacturing of new products.

"Every TV that is kept out of a landfill is triumph for the environment," said Lori McFarling, divisional marketing officer, Domestic Distribution and Enterprises, Discovery Communications — the parent company of Planet Green. "One of the goals of Discovery's new Planet Green initiative is to encourage people to make more environmentally conscious decisions, and Screen to Green provides a great opportunity for consumers to contribute their part to protecting the planet."

For those residents who were unable to drop off their electronics at the Screen to Green event, there are additional ways that consumers can responsibly recycle their electronics. Consumers may drop off their TVs, computer monitors and other unused electronics at approved local e-waste recycling facilities. The City and County of Denver maintains a list of approved recyclers at http://www.denvergov.org/DenverRecycles. Residents may also call '311' for more information. It is important to note that residents should not place their obsolete electronics in City trash containers or alleyways.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA; CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million high-speed Internet customers, and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content. In Colorado, Comcast serves more than 815,000 customers and employs approximately 4,500 people.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten regional Comcast SportsNets and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

About Screen to Green

Screen to Green (S2G) is an innovative recycling and education initiative developed for the cable television community to engage consumers in a responsible recycling solution for unused televisions to better the environment. Televisions that are tossed into landfills pose a major threat to people and the environment as they contain significant amounts of toxic materials. Screen to Green provides a comprehensive program to partner cable companies and consumers to safely recycle TVs and repurpose their parts. Developed in 2007 by October Strategies, Inc., a Denver-based strategic communications firm, Screen to Green is dedicated to the highest standards of responsible recycling and bettering the communities where cable conducts business. For more information, please visit http://www.screentogreen.com.

SOURCE Comcast Colorado

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