PHOENIX -- May 17, 2005 -- Darth Vader won't just leave dead Jedi in his wake when Star Wars: Episode III debuts Thursday, May 20th. He'll also leave a mountain of plastic action figures and toys, thousands of used lightsaber batteries and tons of Star Wars paper packaging.
"We love Star Wars as much as anybody, but it doesn't mean we should emulate the destructive power of the Death Star by harming the environment," said Anne Reichman, Director of Earth911.org™, the nation's largest portal for local environmental action and information. "Most people don't know that these types of figurines can't be recycled, not even little Yoda. In fact, almost all of these toys will sit in landfills until long after we're gone."
It's estimated that more than 250 million Star Wars action figures had been sold by 1999 alone, the year Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released. Given an average weight of .73 ounces per figurine, Earth911.org™ calculates the total to be more than 5,700 tons, the equivalent of approximately 1,453 Hummer vehicles. (Weight figures based on Episode III figurines: Anakin Skywalker = 0.8 ounces; Obi-Wan Kenobi = 0.8 ounces; Yoda = 0.6 ounces.)
"Fortunately, much of the other Star Wars paraphernalia and its packaging can be recycled," added Reichman.
To help fans resist the Dark Side, Earth911.org™ released its Top Five Ways Star Wars products and packaging can be safely recycled or reused right in your neighborhood. Based on zip code, people can search Earth911.org™ to find local recycling and reuse sites for hundreds of household products.
1. Most lightsabers - imitation ones, anyway - are built like flashlights and include batteries. These batteries can be recycled and properly disposed of by dropping them off at a local recycling center that accepts these items. Certain batteries contain highly corrosive materials that are extremely harmful to people and the environment, and should be recycled through municipal or commercial programs.
2. In the unlikely event that a Star Wars video or DVD loses its appeal, they can be recycled through a variety of local programs or donated to libraries.
3. Star Wars clothing may be donated to the Salvation Army or Good Will for children whose families wouldn't normally be able to afford this merchandise.
4. Product packaging, which often outweighs the product it holds, can be recycled through local paper and plastic conservation programs.
5. When Star Wars figurines eventually end up at the bottom of the toy box, they can be donated for reuse through various local organizations, such as schools and daycare facilities. Local recycling sites for the products above can be found using Earth911.org's™ zip code search tool.
About Earth911.org™
A public/private partnership, Earth911.org™ is the nation's largest portal for local environmental action and information. Through its zip code-based online tools and data, the organization helps the public find places to recycle and safely dispose of thousands of household products, find real-time beach water quality levels, learn how to conserve resources and maintain an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Earth911.org™ is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state and local governments, and is funded by corporate partners including Home Depot, Hewlett Packard and ESRI. For more information, please visit Earth911.org™.
