How WSU and Starkey work to reduce electronic waste

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita State University and Starkey are working together to help reduce electronic waste.

The ongoing partnership between the university and the non-profit has so far kept approximately 15,000 pounds. of old electronics from Wichita State from ending up in a landfill. At the same time, it has employed people with intellectual disabilities in the community who disassemble old computers and other electronics and sort the individual parts for recycling.

The parts are transferred to a broker who then sells them to American companies who create new products from recycled components.

Starkey also accepts electronics from the general public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at their facility located at 4500 W. Maple in Wichita.

You can find a full list of what electronics they accept here . In 2023 alone, they collected a total of 188,688 pounds of electronics.

Founded in 1930, Starkey is the oldest community-based nonprofit disability organization in Sedgwick County. In addition to employment, they offer residential, life enrichment and case management programs to 475 people with intellectual disabilities in Sedgwick County.

For more about Starkey, click here .

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