Annual E-Cycle Event set for June 3

With newer, faster electronic products entering the market daily, consumers quickly replace older models. As a result, electronics have become one of the fastest growing waste streams. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than two (2) million tons of computers and other electronics are disposed of each year. Currently, only about 20 percent of these materials are recycled.  Public awareness about this environmental concern is being spread through the support and sponsorship of e-cycling (electronics recycling).

In a continuing effort to reduce solid waste disposal costs while supporting e-cycling activities in our area, the City of Jackson is once again hosting an E-Cycle event at the Sanitation Department building located at 510 Sawyer Ln. on Saturday, June 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  This special recycling effort is an opportunity for citizens and businesses to dispose of obsolete or unusable electronic items, small and large appliances, and other metal objects. 

If you have recently purchased electronic equipment or appliances that replace old or broken items, please do your part to help reduce the amount of e-waste handled as just plain trash.  Why clog landfills with discarded computers, DVD players, cell phones, digital cameras, TVs, gaming systems, appliances, and all those other worn-out electronic items when it is so easy to e-cycle?  All this material can be diverted from landfills and can be recycled, which is good for the environment and saves taxpayer money. 

Examples of accepted items include:  lawn mowers/lawn tractors (make sure gas and oil are emptied), weed eaters, chainsaws, tools (hand, battery or electric), air conditioners (window or central units), barbeque grills, water heaters, ranges, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, small appliances (toasters, coffee machines, waffle makers, etc.), laptops, monitors, televisions, computers, keyboards, printers, fax machines, scanners, speakers, cameras (video, 35mm, digital, etc.), VCRs, DVD players, all gaming systems and game cartridges, music equipment, wires, cable, power supplies, radios (including turntables, 8-track, stereo equipment, ham radios), typewriters, word processors, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, curling irons, hair dryers, fans, vacuum cleaners, lead and rechargeable batteries (car, tractor, boat, cell phone, laptop, etc.).

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED include AAA, AA, C, or D type batteries, tires, radioactive materials, items containing mercury, and any other hazardous waste items.  Since this is a recycling effort, no trash will be accepted, only recyclable materials.

Midwest Recycling Center, a Missouri Department of Natural Resources and R2 nationally-certified vendor, from Park Hills, will again be conducting all e-cycling activities that day, using approved waste management practices.  All accepted items will be unloaded by Midwest’s personnel. All hard drives from computers are shredded or erased using U.S. Department of Defense-approved software. 

Disposal fees are as follows:

CRT TVs 26” or less - $30.00 each

CRT TVs 27” or greater - $50.00 each (includes true big screen TVs, projection TVs, wood consoles, and other consoles of any screen size)

LCD, LED, and Plasma Flat Screen TVs (all sizes) - $20.00 each

CRT Computer Monitors - $5.00 each

LCD and LED Computer Monitors are Free

Any Item Containing Freon - $10.00 each (freezer, refrigerator, AC unit, dehumidifier, etc.)

All other accepted recyclable material can be disposed of at no charge to participants.

For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at (573) 243-2300, Midwest Recycling at (636) 223-0150, inquire online at www.jacksonmo.org, or e-mail recycle@jacksonmo.org.

Missouri e-cycling information can also be found at www.ecyclemo.org.