E-rase your E-waste organizers invite you to bring your damaged and outdated electronic equipment to the group's annual spring recycling event Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, in Sidney. Now in its 13th year, E-rase your E-waste has recycled more than 427,000 pounds (213 TONS!) of electronic waste and organizers expect to easily exceed a half million pounds during 2017.
Yellowstone E-waste Solutions of Billings is again the e-cycler for the event and provides their services for FREE, with a couple of exceptions. Participants wanting their hard drives removed from their computers or needing documentation certifying that their hard drive has been destroyed will need to pay a small fee of $5 for each of those services.
Collection Details
The 2017 spring E-rase your E-waste collection will be held as usual at the Richland County Shop at 2140 W. Holly in Sidney, next to the Fairgrounds. Signs will be posted. Times for the event 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 Yellowstone E-waste Solutions employees and local volunteers will be available to help with loading and unloading.
Note, too, that anyone in the MonDak region, or even outside it, is welcome to bring their electronic items to the Sidney E-rase your E-waste collection site during regular event hours. You do not need to be a Sidney or a Richland County resident to participate.
What Can I Bring? Not These....
Organizers noted that there are a few new item limitations this year. NO cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors or televisions of any kind are being accepted, only flat screen models, and NO projection units or consoles. Other limitations include the standards: NO consumer white goods, vacuums, light bulbs, CFLs, mercury thermometers, alkaline batteries (rechargeable are okay), or items containing refrigerants (including dehumidifiers), oils, or acids. In addition, this year the following items will not be accepted although they have been in the past: NO alarm clocks/radios, small kitchen or bathroom appliances, microwave ovens, smoke detectors, or vacuum cleaners.
But These You Can!
However, nearly all electronic devices are accepted, including computers and their components (printers, scanners, keyboards, flat screen monitors, etc.), cell phones, cameras, VCRs, cable TV boxes, fax machines, copiers, stereos, game boys and specialized electronic equipment used in businesses such as hospitals, law enforcement, manufacturing and even the oil field.
If you are unsure whether your item qualifies you can check out the handy "What to Bring..." handout posted on the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab's e-waste website at https://www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/ewaste or call Jackie Couture at 406-433-9422. 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.
Recycling Large Amounts
Local businesses, agencies and organizations with large amounts to e-cycle are asked to make an appointment to drop off their items by calling Jackie 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 to the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab's e-waste website noted above.
Fall Collection Also Planned
For those unable to participate in this weekend's events, E-rase your E-waste is also hosting a second collection in Sidney this fall on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9. Please consider joining us then.
The "E-rase your E-waste" effort in Sidney is coordinated by members of the Richland County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and volunteers with other community organizations including the RSVP program. The Richland County Public Works Department also makes their facilities freely available for the collection event.
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