Free e-waste recycling event at Petaluma’s Lucchesi Park – Petaluma Argus-Courier

E-Waste Recycling Initiative in Sonoma County Aligns with Global Sustainable Development Goals

A collaborative initiative between Zero Waste Sonoma and Conservation Corps North Bay is facilitating a series of complimentary e-waste collection events. These events are designed to advance several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting responsible waste management and resource conservation within the community.

Contribution to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

This program directly supports SDG 12 by establishing a framework for the environmentally sound management of electronic waste. By providing accessible recycling options, the initiative encourages the responsible disposal of consumer electronics, a critical component of sustainable consumption patterns. The recovery and reuse of valuable materials, such as metals found in electronic devices, reduces the demand for virgin resource extraction, thereby promoting a circular economy and contributing to SDG Target 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation through recycling and reuse.

Supporting SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The pop-up collection events are a practical implementation of SDG Target 11.6, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, particularly in the area of municipal waste management. By diverting hazardous electronic waste from landfills, the program helps create safer, more resilient, and sustainable urban environments for the residents of Sonoma County.

Upholding Environmental and Public Health (SDG 3, 14, and 15)

Electronic devices often contain hazardous materials, including lead and other toxins. The illegal disposal of such items in standard garbage poses a significant threat to environmental and public health. This initiative mitigates these risks by ensuring that toxic components are managed safely, preventing the contamination of soil and water systems. This action protects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14 and 15) and safeguards community well-being (SDG 3).

Event Logistics and Schedule

Upcoming E-Waste Collection Events

1. Location: Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell Blvd., Petaluma
   Date: December 5 – December 7
   Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
2. Location: Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa
   Date: January 9 – January 11, 2026
   Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
3. Location: Oakmont Community Center, Santa Rosa
   Date: January 24 – January 25, 2026
   Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
4. Location: Citrus Fairgrounds Center, Cloverdale
   Date: February 20 – February 22, 2026
   Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

Operational Details

• Events are offered at no cost to the public.
• No appointments are necessary for drop-offs.
• The Petaluma event will be staged in the Lucchesi Park parking lot.

Guidelines for E-Waste Disposal

Accepted Materials

• Television sets (working and non-working)
• Office equipment
• Cell phones and tablets
• Printers
• Computers and laptops
• Stereos
• Game consoles
• Microwaves
• Cords and cables

Prohibited Materials

• Appliances (e.g., refrigerators, washers)
• Batteries of any kind
• Fluorescent lamps

Contact and Further Information

For additional details or inquiries, stakeholders may contact Zero Waste Sonoma via the following channels:

• Email: zerowastesonoma@sonoma-county.org
• Phone: (707) 565-3375
• Website: zerowastesonoma.gov/e-waste-disposal

A comprehensive list of acceptable and unacceptable e-waste items is available on the official website.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article discusses a community-based initiative in Sonoma County to manage a specific type of urban waste (e-waste). By providing accessible drop-off locations like Lucchesi Park, the program directly addresses the challenge of municipal waste management, aiming to make the community cleaner and more sustainable.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire initiative is focused on promoting responsible disposal and recycling of electronic goods. The article explicitly mentions that recycling e-waste “is a recommended way to save natural resources” by recovering and reusing materials like valuable metals, which aligns with sustainable production. It also addresses the consumption side by providing a responsible pathway for consumers to discard old electronics.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article clearly states that the e-waste recycling events are sponsored by “Zero Waste Sonoma, in partnership with Conservation Corps North Bay.” This collaboration between a government agency (Zero Waste Sonoma) and a non-profit organization (Conservation Corps North Bay) exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to achieve sustainable development objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

   The pop-up e-waste recycling events are a direct action to improve “municipal and other waste management.” The article highlights the illegality of placing hazardous e-waste in the garbage, and this program provides a proper channel for its disposal, thus reducing the adverse environmental impact of the city’s waste.

2. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

   The article emphasizes that “certain electronic devices contain high of led and other toxic materials, making them hazardous to dispose of.” The collection event is a mechanism for the “environmentally sound management” of this hazardous waste, preventing its release into the environment through improper disposal in landfills.

3. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

   The initiative is a clear example of promoting “recycling.” The article states that “most electronic devices contain materials – in particular certain valuable metals – that can be recovered and reused,” which directly supports the goal of reducing the need for new raw materials and decreasing the overall volume of waste sent for final disposal.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   The partnership between “Zero Waste Sonoma” and “Conservation Corps North Bay” is a local example of a public-civil society partnership working to achieve a common environmental goal, as described in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.6 & 12.5: The total volume or weight of e-waste collected at the events.

  While the article doesn’t provide numbers, the success of these events can be measured by the amount of e-waste diverted from landfills. This would serve as a local proxy for Indicator 12.5.1 (National recycling rate, tons of material recycled) and demonstrate progress in managing municipal solid waste as per Indicator 11.6.1 (Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities).

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.4: The amount of hazardous waste properly managed.

  The article specifies the collection of items known to contain “led and other toxic materials.” A specific measurement of the quantity of these hazardous items (e.g., television sets, computers) collected would be an indicator of the amount of hazardous waste being treated in an environmentally sound manner, relating to Indicator 12.4.2 (proportion of hazardous waste treated).

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The existence and continuation of the partnership.

  The article itself, by reporting on the joint initiative between Zero Waste Sonoma and Conservation Corps North Bay, documents the existence of this partnership. The list of multiple future events (“Jan. 9-11, 2026,” “Jan. 24-25, 2026,” etc.) implies a sustained, ongoing collaboration, which is a qualitative indicator of a successful partnership as per Target 17.17.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: petalumanews.com