Royal Member Events Host E-Trash Collection

Reno, NV, January 24, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The city of Reno will host a free e-waste recycling event Saturday to allow residents to properly dispose of unwanted electronics to be held at Royal Members Events parking lot.

Energy Recycling, an electronics recycling company in Reno, will collect items in the parking lot of the city public works building at 100 Liberty St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This service is provided by a state law banning electronic waste from Nevada’s landfills became effective on July 1 of 2011,” according to a press release issued by Reno Operations Manager Bill Herr. “The city, hoping to encourage compliance with the e-waste ban by providing a free opportunity for recycling electronics, collected nearly 93,000 pounds of electronics during its first e-waste recycling day held on July 16, 2011.”

Residents can come to the public works parking lot to drop off electronic devices to be recycled. Business disposal of e-waste will be prohibited. Signs and traffic cones will be in place to help direct recyclers to the proper location.

Home electronics, personal computers, personal electronics and many other miscellaneous electronic devices will be accepted. Batteries are not accepted and alkaline batteries must be removed from electronic devices. White goods, appliances, air conditioning units and other non-electronic items will not be accepted.

A new law requires the recycling of our country’s growing list of electronics to keep the toxic chemicals they contain out of Illinois landfills where they possibly could leach into groundwater, to conserve limited natural resources by reusing them and to reduce the overall volume of materials going into landfills.

"The natural resources that are reclaimed by recycling electronics include obvious valuables such as gold and platinum, but also the plastic cases themselves. which can be reused to make more products," said Cathy Morrison, the director of the Reno Waste Commission.

Despite a number of collection points, illegal dumping is a concern, Vasquez said.

And because garbage haulers are not allowed to pick up electronic waste, he envisions e-waste left curbside being picked up by scavengers who might tear the items apart for the valuable items and leave the rest behind.

And, of course, small items such as cellphones could be sneaked into garbage, but if haulers see them, they are not supposed to pick them up. And when the trucks get to the landfills, loads are inspected for illegal items, Vasquez said.

"If any are found, they are set aside and proper disposal becomes the burden of the landfill — or the person who threw them away, if they can be identified," Vasquez added.

Vasquez urges anyone with items for recycling to call ahead to the location where you intend to take them to check on hours and specific guidelines. “Don’t just load your things in your car and go,” he said.

For more information about the e-waste recycling event or the sustainability efforts of the city of Reno, contact Sustainability and Special Projects Engineer Eric Hill.

###