FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than two million tons of electronic wastes (E-Waste) are sent to landfills each year. E-waste is categorized as computers, cell-phones, televisions and other electronic devices that are disposed of by conventional means.

To help educate science/environmental educators on these solid waste disposal issues, the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMASE), located at the University of Arkansas, is conducting an EPA-funded"Waste Not, Want Not: Environmental Issues of E-Waste" Institute from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., June 14-18 in Room 202 at the UA West Avenue Annex.

E-waste can contain significant amounts of lead, PCBs, chromium, cadmium and mercury often found in electronic product components. "When Arkansans discard unwanted electronic products with other household garbage, toxins released from these products could pose a significant environmental health risk through stream and groundwater systems," said Lynne Hehr, director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education.

"Waste Not, Want Not: Environmental Issues of E-Waste" is a professional development program for middle to secondary science teachers and environmental educators in Arkansas. The program is designed to provide nationally recognized environmental educationresources for fifth through tenth grade students.

The institute will focus on toxic and non-toxic waste disposal issues, particularly those associated with the manufacturing and disposal of computers and other electronic items.

"This program will encourage educators and students to question commonly held beliefs about garbage/waste and to seek alternative ways of dealing with waste," said Stephan Pollard, Environmental Dynamics doctoral candidate. "The program will engage 25 environmental educators during an initial five-day institute (45 hours) with 15 hours of follow-up mentoring during the following school year in issues dealing with toxic and non-toxic waste disposal.

"The instruction and information gained during this project will allow teachers to have a potential yearly environmental education impact on more than 3,000 students," Pollard added.

Key partners involved with the institute include the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Washington County Office of Environmental Affairs, City of Fayetteville-Solid Waste and Recycling Program, UA Departments of Environmental Health and Safety, Geo-Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, E-Recyclers Plus, and HAZ-M.E.R.T. Inc.

CMASE is one of 11 centers around the state connecting higher education to public, private and home schools by offering professional development, curriculum implementation and leadership development regionally and statewide.

CMASE coordinates annual university-sponsored outreach opportunities such as University Day and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. CMASE also provides:

Science, mathematics and technology presentations to K-16 classrooms throughout the state.

Professional development opportunities for pre-service and in-service teachers both on and off campus.

Science, mathematics and technology content mentoring for K-16 students and teachers.

A science, mathematics and technology outreach contact point between the institution of higher education and its surrounding community.