Hollister
– Ditching that old computer or the black-and-white television
set sitting in the garage has never been easier.
Hollister – Ditching that old computer or the black-and-white television set sitting in the garage has never been easier.
The San Benito County Fairgrounds has teamed up with Fresno-based Electronic Recyclers to accept old computers, television sets, fax machines, keyboards, telephones and other electronic items this Saturday. The event is free, will run from 8am to 3pm and will benefit the fairgrounds through returns from the state’s recycling fee.
There are two major reasons to take advantage of the service, said Tisha Cerioni, a recycling specialist with Electronic Recyclers.
“This is a way for them to dispose of it properly without being charged,” Cerioni said.
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act, which took effect at the beginning of 2005, assesses consumers up to $10 for a single television set at retail stores.
The Advanced Recycling Fee is then returned to the recycler in the form of 48 cents per pound of television or computer screens recycled. The recycler then gives 20 cents per pound to the collector, which on Saturday will be the San Benito County Fair.
Mandy Rose, director of the county’s Integrated Waste Management Department, hopes the event will raise awareness on how to dispose of electronics.
The landfill on John Smith Road takes unwanted and outdated electronics every day free of charge, but it didn’t used to, Rose said.
“We used to charge $20 because it cost us more than that before the law went into effect,” she said.
Rose said the law was adopted to address the problem of rainwater leaching toxins out of the electronics dumped in the landfills, harming groundwater.
“It’s the law of averages,” Rose said. “One or two or three computers are fine, but we have mountains and mountains of them.”
In 2005, 65 million pounds of recycled electronics were collected in California, according to the state’s Integrated Waste Management Board. In 2006, 129 million pounds of electronic gear was collected throughout the state.
The state’s Integrated Waste Management Board estimated that there are more than six million computer monitors and television sets stockpiled in California homes and garages.
San Benito County Fair Manager Kelly Ferreira said a recycling event at the fairgrounds in November was a success.
“A lot of people took advantage of it last time and we hope even more do this time,” Ferreira said.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
