Another 20-plus Tons of e-waste Collected in 2013

The results are in! Altogether, more than 230 area residents, businesses, schools and government agencies recycled just over 21 Tons (42,049) of e-waste at this year’s “E-rase your E-waste” events, organizers reported last week. This is the fifth year in which the annual total collected has exceeded 20,000 pounds of e-waste, bringing the county’s overall collection total for the past nine years to more than 154 Tons!

“Things went very well again this year,” Jackie Couture, Co-Chair of the E-rase you E-waste Committee, noted. “And we’d like to thank our new e-cyler, Yellowstone Solutions, Inc., for all they did to help make this year’s events successful and to help us continue to offer this option for free to area residents and businesses.”

Overall, Couture reported that a total of 231 individuals, businesses and organizations participated in the group’s 2013 spring and fall weekend collection events. Participants came from Sidney, Fairview, Bainville, Culbertson, Froid, Wibaux and Lambert, MT as well as Alexander, Trotters, Watford City, Fort Union and Williston, ND.

“Given all the other activities going on during our fall event, in particular the wonderful air show, we were very pleased with this year’s participation,” Jackie Couture, Co-Chair of the E-rase you E-waste Committee, noted. “We were also pleased that the Fairview Community added an e-waste collection component to their community clean-up day this year, which was held in conjunction with our own spring event in May.”

One change Couture noted this year: with the addition of a new e-cycler there was a reduced need for volunteers, as the company provides some employee support for packaging the e-waste for shipping. However, the group’s appreciation for those who helped this year and all those who have helped in the past is not diminished. “We’ve always had great and very loyal volunteer participation,” Couture said. “And it’s always appreciated!” As evidence of that volunteer dedication, Couture noted that a couple long-time helpers with the program checked in with her at the event, just in case additional help was needed.

In addition to the volunteers, Couture also thanked the Richland County Solid Waste and Disaster and Emergency Services departments for providing the space and logistical support for the 2013 events, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for providing promotional support.

“We’ve always had great support from the city and county for this event as well as from local businesses and organizations, like the Sidney Health Center and Richland Opportunities, Inc, who have all helped to build this event over the years,” Couture noted. “Given all the support, we expect to see everyone again in 2014 for another successful event.”