2008 Spring Electronics Recycling Day
Saturday, March 29 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Decatur High School Parking Lot
(Corner of N. McDonough Street and Howard Avenue)
>Click for 2007 Photo Highlights
Don’t throw away those old electrical items such as: cell phones, cameras, personal computers, or even electric weedeaters! Save them and recycle them on Saturday, March 29 at Decatur’s Spring 2008 Electronics recycling event. Batteries, Styrofoam and mercury will also be accepted. We regret that we will NOT be able to accept televisions and microwave ovens. This semi-annual event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills where they may contaminate soil and water.
Electronics dropped off during the event will be sorted to be re-used or disassembled into their raw materials. It is recommended that computers be erased of all personal information prior to disposal at the event. The Decatur Waste Management Advisory Board investigates the recyclers involved to be sure the items are responsibly disassembled and not landfilled.
“Our main vendor disassembles all its materials in large plants in this country, and has a zero waste policy,” notes Gary Garrett, chair of the Waste Management Board. "We are vigilant to prevent the materials being dumped or being disassembled by children, as has been reported in the some news stories.”
In addition to electronics, any metro area resident can also drop off batteries of any type, Styrofoam peanuts, clean Styrofoam blocks free of foreign objects, and mercury thermometers and thermostats.
Last fall's event resulted in 66 tons of electronics diverted from the landfill. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Decatur, the Waste Management Advisory Board, ARC International Corp., Cartridge World, DreamSan ,and Decatur High School.
All of the following can be recycled at the March 29 event. Early drop offs are not possible.
For additional information, contact Chris Carroll at 404-388-0023 or to volunteer, please email Scott Thompson at scott.thompson@mindspring.com.
Electronic Equipment for Recycling: Desktop computers , Telephones, Mini-towers, Telephony equipment, Laptop computers, Adding machines, Monitors, Calculators, Servers, Typewriters, Workstations, Label makers, Keyboards, Copiers, Mice, Fax machines, Joystick game controllers, Answering machines, Printers, Printer cartridges, Digital cameras , Zip drives, Batteries, Speakers, PDAs, Pagers, VCRs, Hubs, DVD players, Routers, Cable converter boxes, Scanners, Remote controls, Digital projectors, Stereo equipment UPS units, Radios, Main frames, Portable CD players, Component parts, Portable game players, Cables,
GPS receivers, 3-in-1 devices, printer/copier/fax machines.
Other Items: Mercury thermometers and thermostats, clean Styrofoam free of foreign objects (peanuts, packing blocks, plates, cups, trays), any kind of battery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Decatur's Electronics Recycling Day
Q: How often is electronics recycling available?
A: Twice a year, in spring and fall on a designated Saturday morning. Please check back for the updated Vehicle Traffic Plan before the event in order to ensure a short wait and a quick drop-off.
Q: Is this limited to people who live in Decatur?
A: No, anyone may participate, including businesses and institutions from the entire metro area.
Q: Can I drop things off a day early?
A: No. Saturday morning, as advertised, is the only time we can accept your electronics.
Q: What else can be recycled at this event?
A: Currently, we recycle electronics, clean Styrofoam blocks and peanuts, mercury thermometers and thermostats and batteries of all kinds. Check this web site shortly before each event to see what we are accepting.
Q: Why should I recycle electronics?
A: Computers, printers and other electronics contain potentially dangerous chemicals such as mercury and lead which can be toxic to living things and human health if allowed to leach into our ground water from a landfill. Styrofoam takes hundreds of years to breakdown in a landfill. Precious metals can be extracted from some items, thus reducing the environmental destruction of mining.
Q: What kind of recyclables can I bring?
A: Desktop or Laptop computers , Telephones, Mini-towers, Telephony equipment, Adding machines, Monitors, Calculators, Servers, Typewriters, Workstations, Label makers, Keyboards, Copiers, Mice, Fax machines, Joystick game controllers, Answering machines, Printers, Printer cartridges, Digital cameras, Zip drives, Batteries, Speakers, PDAs, Pagers, VCRs, Hubs, DVD players, Routers, Cable converter boxes, Scanners, Remote controls, Digital projectors, Stereo equipment UPS units, Radios, Main frames, Portable CD players, Component parts, Portable game players, Cables, GPS receivers, 3-in-1 devices, printer/copier/fax machines. Other Items: Mercury Thermometers and thermostats, clean Styrofoam free of foreign objects(peanuts, packing blocks, plates, cups, trays), any kind of battery.
Q: Does this stuff need to be packaged?
A: No. It is easiest for us if the items are not boxed or bagged. If you want to go the extra mile, clip power cords and bring the cords and equipment.
Q: Is there anything I can’t bring?
A: A. We cannot recycle microwaves. Please do not bring old paper owner’s manuals.
Q: Is this stuff really recycled?
A: Yes, we vet the companies that assist us to be sure everything is recycled. responsibly, without being dumped around the globe. Our main vendor states “ARC International Corporation will dismantle all of the materials received in the United States down to the bare component, be it plastic, metal, circuit boards, CRT tubes, and any other e-waste/scrap, then the materials are sent downstream for recycling. ARC has a zero waste corporate policy ensuring that none of the material brought into our facilities for recycling will end up in a landfill either domestically or internationally.” Some items such as cell phones may be refurbished and re-used.
Q: Can someone read the data on my hard drive?
A: It is your responsibility to clean your hard drive with one of the programs available commercially or for free on the Internet. Owners should be aware that there are risks of private or other information being pulled from laptop drives, and that therefore the donor assumes such risks and waives all liability for any potential disclosure of private, personal, financial, etc. information that may be extracted from the laptop by third parties who end up with the laptop, etc.
Q: Is there a charge to drop things off?
A: No, there is no charge.
Q: Is there anything I can do to help?
A: Yes. We need more than 30 volunteers for each event. Please contact Scott Thompson at scott.thompson@mindspring.com. We also find it helpful if you tell others about the event so we can have the largest participation possible.
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