Clean out your electronics time

[SEPT. 19, 2005]  LINCOLN -- An electronics waste collection has been organized to take place this coming Saturday, September 24th It will be held at the Logan County Fair grounds from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Recyclers will need to enter the fairgrounds using the Short 11th Street (South Gate) entrance. Logan County residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to properly dispose of obsolete or non-working electronic items.

The following working and non-working electronic items will be accepted: Computer Equipment including hard drives, monitors, keyboards, printers, and scanners; Entertainment Equipment including: TVs (no consoles), radios, stereos, VCRs, DVDs, and game systems; small household appliances, including: microwaves, blenders, mixers, food processors, toasters and toaster ovens; and small business equipment, including: copiers, fax machines, typewriters, and calculators. Working and non-working cellular phones and laser/inkjet printer cartridges will be collected for donation to Wal-Mart’s Children’s Miracle Network.

The disposal of personal computers and other consumer electronics has become problematic for both individual households and businesses. Also known as e-waste, computers and other consumer electronics are the fastest growing portion of the waste stream, raising environmental concerns over the sheer volume and potential toxicity.

Computer and other electronic equipment can contain significant quantities of hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, lithium, nickel and zinc. The potential exists for serious health and environmental consequences if electronic equipment is not properly handled and disposed of.

The electronic recycling collection is a collaborative effort between the Logan County Join Solid Waste Agency and Retro-Tech Electronics, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, whose primary objective is to provide individuals/households who are either low-income or disabled with refurbished computer and other electronic technologies free or at a reduced cost. Additionally, Retro-Tech Electronics, Inc. provides the opportunity for communities to recycle computers and other household electronics in an environmentally responsible manner resulting in the removal of these items from area landfills.

If you have questions regarding the electronic recycling collection, contact Mitzi Rohlfs, Logan Count Joint solid Waste Agency Coordinator, at 732-9636.

[Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency/LDN]