Organizers are happy to announce that the fall E-rase your E-waste collection event will go on as planned on Fri and Sat, Sept. 11-12, at the Richland County shop at 2140 W. Holly in Sidney, next to the fairgrounds.
Members of the E-rase your E-waste committee cancelled their regular spring collection because of a nationwide backlog of televisions and CRT monitors in recycling warehouses. "We're happy to announce that the backlog has eased enough so our e-cycler will again be accepting those items at our fall event," Committee chair Jackie Couture said. However, she added, because there is still a backlog and storage of TVs remains difficult, our event e-cycler, Yellowstone E-waste Solutions of Billings, has instituted a small handling fee for accepting TVs at the Sept event. "The cost will be between $5 and $10 depending on the size of the TV," Couture said.
All other items will be recycled for free. If participants want special services such as a hard drive removed, or need official documentation certifying that their hard drive has been destroyed both are subject to $5 fees.
This year's fall collection event will once again be held at the Richland County Shop and signs will be posted. Times are Fri 3-7 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please note, the county shop is available for drop offs during event times only, when employees with Yellowstone E-waste Solutions of Billings, our e-cycler, and local volunteers will be available to help with loading and unloading.
Anyone in the MonDak region, or even outside it, is welcome to bring their electronic items to the event during the scheduled hours. You do not need to be a Richland County resident to participate.
For those new to the event, nearly all electronic devices are accepted, including computers and their components such as printers, scanners, keyboards, cell phones, cameras, TV's, VCR's, cable TV boxes, fax machines, copiers, stereos, game boys and even specialized electronic equipment used in businesses such as hospitals, law enforcement, manufacturing and even the oil fields.
No consumer white goods, vacuums, light bulbs, CFLs, mercury thermometers, alkaline batteries; rechargeable ones are okay; or items containing refrigerants including dehumidifiers, oils, or acids will be accepted. If you are unsure whether your item qualifies you can check out the handy "What to Bring" handout posted on the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab's e-waste website at http://www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/ewaste or call Jackie Couture at 406-433-9422. In addition, a handy "Items List" recycling form is also available at the website to further speed processing time for participants bringing both large and small amounts.
Appointments are recommended for large recyclers. Local businesses, agencies and organizations with large amounts to e-cycle are asked to make an appointment to drop off their items by calling Jackie Couture at 406-433-9422. Please leave a message.
When possible, larger recyclers are also encouraged to palletize their own items, or send extra staff to help get it done. Details on acceptable items and how to palletize them can be found in the "What to Bring" handout posted to the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab's e-waste website noted above.
The E-rase your E-waste effort in Sidney is coordinated by members of the Richland County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), Richland Opportunities Inc., and volunteers with other community organizations including the RSVP program. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has also committed funds for advertising the 2015 event and the Richland County Public Works Department makes their facilities available for the collection event in Sidney.
The event originated in 2005 as a means for area residents to recycle their outdated electronics, which often contain harmful materials, including heavy metals, that can endanger the environment and human health when improperly disposed of or just thrown away. Since 2005, the program has kept more than 176 tons of obsolete electronics out of our local landfills, organizers said, not only preventing potential threats to the environment but also extending the life of the local landfill.
Please contact for further information Beth Redlin, 433-9427, beth.redlin@ ars.usda.gov -OR- Jackie Couture, 433-9422, [email protected].
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