So that's why they call them computer towers! Just some of the more than 300 CPUs collected at this year's E-rase your E-waste events. Altogether more than 44,000 pounds of outdated electronics were recycled in 2014, the 10th year of the local e-cycling program.
The results are in and, once again, E-rase your E-waste organizers have exceeded the goal they set for their 2014 annual collection events.
"We wanted to celebrate our 10th anniversary by collecting enough e-waste to bring our 10-year total over 175 tons, and we did it with one and a half tons to spare," Committee Chair Jackie Couture noted. "Altogether, we collected 44,118 pounds of e-waste this year through our May and September events. That's a lot of potentially hazardous waste that is NOT going into our local landfill!"
Organizers reported that 144 individuals, businesses, schools and more brought in 12.6 tons of outdated electronic items for recycling to the group's fall event on Sept 5-6. In May, another 112 individuals and businesses participated in the group's spring collections in Sidney and Fairview, bringing in another 10 tons.
Among the items recycled at both events were: 249 computer monitors; 305 CPUs; 236 printers, 225 TVs, along with 77 phones, 69 laptops, 20 copiers 14 fax machines, 10 microwaves and innumerable keyboards, cameras and other small items. Miscellaneous scanners, smart boards, projectors, vcrs, boomboxes and even an organ were also collected, along with more than 553 pounds of batteries. The latter, along with the leaded glass contained in the TVs and computer monitors, meant that more than 6,000 pounds of potentially hazardous lead was kept out of the local landfill, Couture noted. In addition, nearly 11,700 pounds of plastic were also recycled under this year's program.
While the bulk of participants in 2014 were Sidney and Richland County (MT) residents; several also traveled from as far away as Plentywood, Richey and Circle in Montana, and Williston and Watford City in North Dakota.
Yellowstone E-waste Solutions of Billings provided their e-cycling services free of charge at both spring and fall events, Couture noted, adding, "They do a wonderful job for us!"
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 2014 event and the Richland County Public Works Department makes their facilities available for the collection event in Sidney.
"It's a group effort every year," Couture noted. "And we really appreciate everyone's commitment to keeping our community healthy and safe."
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