The Projects

Project #2 -The Comcast e-Recycling Challenge

Name:           The Comcast e-Recycling Challenge
Partner:        Comcast
Timeline:      February 13 – March 13, 2009

The Overview

The student participants worked with Comcast to engage and educate consumers about the recycling of unused televisions and other electronic products, or "e-waste". They broke into two teams--Triple Threat and The Contenders. Their focus was to utilize social media to bring the community out to a "Live Green Electronics Recycling Rally" on March 7.

The Outcome

The "Triple Threat" team utilized Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other forms of social media to educate the public about e-waste and the March 7 rally. The team's rally site was Southwest Plaza Mall in Littleton and they set-up a tent at the event. On the event day, the team handed out educational flyers and planted a tree in honor of the first 600 people who dropped off their electronic waste at the event. They also showed an educational PowerPoint presentation on a 52 inch television that was donated and created a quilt.

"The Contenders" team also utilized various forms of social media, and produced a short video about e-waste and the rally. In addition, they held a pre-rally event on the Auraria Campus, where they gave out free pizza and educated the campus community about environmental issues surrounding e-waste. On the rally day, the team had prizes and a DJ at their location, which was located at a Comcast office in Englewood. The team asked the community text "e-waste" to "31-31-31" to enter to win tickets to a Rockies game. Those who sent a text received an auto-reply message giving them more information about e-waste. The Contenders also asked participants to fill out a survey about the rally and shared that feedback with Comcast.

In all, both rally sites collected over 200 tons of electronic waste!

CLICK HERE to view the project #2 video.

The Reward

The Contenders won the challenge. They and their guests received the VIP treatment in the Comcast box suite at a Denver Nuggets basketball game. Bill Hanzlik, former Nuggets coach and current Metro State Board of Trustees member, also gave the students a behind-the-scenes tour of the Pepsi Center.