Fall E-rase Your E-waste Event in Sidney Sept. 9-10

After collecting more than 10 Tons of e-waste this past spring, local E-rase your E-waste organizers are ready to do it all over again at their annual fall collection event to be held in Sidney Sept. 9-10.

"We're excited this year because we hit another milestone with our spring collection," E-rase your E-waste Committee Chair Jackie Couture said. "Our May collection in Sidney and Fairview brought in more than 23,000 pounds of e-waste, enough to put us over the 400,000-pound mark for all the e-waste recycled here since this event first began in 2005! Thanks to everyone who participated and all who continue to e-rase their e-waste at these events."

Couture said the upcoming fall event set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10, will once again be held at the Richland County Shop at 2140 W. Holly in Sidney, next to the Fairgrounds. Event times are Friday 3-7 pm and Saturday 9 am-3 pm. 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.

She also noted that while most items are recycled for FREE, there is a small charge for CRT monitors and CRT televisions sets. The cost will be $5 or $10 each depending on size. Participants needing a hard drive removed, or who need official documentation that their hard drive has been destroyed, are also subject to a $5 fee for those services.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone in the MonDak region, or even outside it, is welcome to bring their electronic items to this event, Couture said, "You do not need to be a Richland County resident to participate."

What Can I Bring?

Nearly all electronic devices are accepted, according to Couture, including computers and their components (printers, scanners, keyboards, etc.), cell phones, cameras, TVs, VCRs, cable TV boxes, fax machines, copiers, stereos, game boys and even specialized electronic equipment used in businesses such as hospitals, law enforcement and manufacturing and even the oil fields.

However, NO consumer white goods, vacuums, light bulbs, CFLs, mercury thermometers, alkaline batteries (rechargeable 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 "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. 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 Recommended for Large recyclers

Area businesses, agencies and organizations with large amounts to e-cycle are again asked to make an appointment to drop off their items by calling Couture at 406-433-9422. Please leave a message.

Where 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 at the website listed above.

The "E-rase your E-waste" effort in Sidney is coordinated by the Richland County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Richland County DES and the Sidney Agricultural Research Service lab as a way for everyone to dispose of their old, obsolete electronic products in an environmentally friendly manner. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality provides promotional funds and the Richland County Public Works Department makes their facilities freely available.

The event originated in 2005 as a means for area residents to recycle their outdated/obsolete 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 200 TONS of obsolete electronics out of local landfills, organizers said, not only preventing potential threats to the environment but also extending the life of the landfill.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/26/2024 14:25