More Computer Recycling

I am totally amazed at how many old computers, televisions and other electronics people have that need recycling.. The Recycling Center has sponsored 5 different collection events over the last 4 years and people are still calling us.

Here is a review of how many old computers and televisions the Recycling Center has received and had recycled: 2001 – 197 monitors, 83 CPUs and 332 televisions through a special Computer and Electronics Recycling grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 2003 – 14,000 pounds collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. 2004 – 22,000 pounds collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Day. November 2004 – 36,000 pounds collected at the special Electronics Collection Day and January 2005 – 70,000 pounds on our 2^nd special Electronics Collection Day. We received a breakdown from the January collection of 288 televisions, 356 CPUs and 385 monitors along with a wide variety of other electronics.

We will be offering electronics recycling again this year at the 2005 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day tentatively planned for sometime the last 2 weeks of April or the first 2 weeks of May. Exact date and location will be announced sometime in March.

These numbers are both gratifying and challenging. Gratifying in that so many people are doing the right thing by disposing of these potentially hazardous materials in a safe manner. Challenging in the sheer volume of electronics that are being consumed and discarded each day. The electronics industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and their newer, better, more innovative products are being heartily received by the consumer. Of course, as technology improves it makes sense that the public would desire to purchase the latest in computers, televisions, phones and other electronics. It is estimated that in 2005 there will be about 300 million computers, 250 million cell phones, and countless millions of other electronics discarded. There is where the challenge is – to capture those discards and dispose of them in an environmentally appropriate manner.

The Recycling Center is making every effort to offer our citizens this environmentally appropriate avenue for disposal with our various collection events. Our last vendor, Atlanta Recycling Solutions, has offered to place a container at our 2 busiest remote garbage and recycling sites that people can use daily for their old computers, televisions and other electronic equipment once they are through with them. The first box will be placed at the Midway Park Remote Site during the week of February 7, 2005. This container will be clearly marked with what is acceptable and what is not acceptable and is intended for the collection of electronics only – not things like appliances (these can be brought to the Recycling Center at any time). Placement of the 2^nd box will be announced next month. For more information on this program, please call the Recycling Center at 291-5266.

UPDATE – December 31, 2005 – these boxes have been removed for a variety of reasons. The most pressing is that the boxes were being used for dumping non-electronic wastes and scavenging was going on at the boxes. Now, the only way to recycle your residential computers is by participating in one of our special Electronics Collection Events. We try to have 3 or 4 of these events annually and will publicize the dates and location several weeks before the event. if you are a business and would like to recycle your old computers, please call us at the Recycling Center and we will put you in touch with certified electronics recyclers directly.