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Erie County, partners collaborate on Earth Day electronic waste recycling event

by jmaloni
Thu, Apr 13th 2017 11:00 am

April 22 event provides safe, free disposal for computers, televisions, other electronics

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, in conjunction with the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant and Advanced Technology Recycling, has announced a collection and recycling event for various types of electronic waste. The event will take place on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant, 2995 River Road, Town of Tonawanda.

ECDEP has partnered with the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant on these no-cost collection events for the past eight years. Local manufacturer Greif joined the event as a sponsor in 2017.

"We all have a role in protecting the environment by taking personal responsibility and making sure our old computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices with recyclable materials inside are put back into use instead of being dumped in a landfill or incinerated," Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said. "I am pleased that the successful partnership between our DEP, the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant, and Advanced Technology Recycling is continuing again this year to provide a safe and easy way for Erie County residents to recycle electronics at no cost."

"The environment is very important to all employees at Tonawanda Engine Plant, as well as General Motors," Plant Manager Steve Finch said. "We have partnered with Erie County on these recycling events for several years now and have prevented hundreds of tons of electronic waste from going into landfills. This is important to us as Tonawanda Engine has been a landfill free manufacturing site since 2005 and we do everything we can to recycle and reuse manufacturing waste."

"UAW Local 774 is committed to improving the quality of our environment, not only at our worksite, but within our community as well," UAW Local 774 Shop Chairman Chuck Herr said. "We hope everyone takes advantage of this great opportunity to clear their home of unwanted electronics by disposing of it at our event."

Items accepted include: computers, printers/scanners, monitors (no broken glass), keyboards, cables and accessories, laptops, televisions (no broken glass), VCRs, radios, stereo equipment, cell phones, CD-ROM/floppy discs, digital cameras, scanners, fax machines, DVD players, cable/satellite receivers, circuit boards, video game systems, tablets, rechargeable batteries.

Items that will not be accepted include: TVs with broken glass or disassembled, air conditioners, CD-ROM floppy discs, dehumidifiers, household appliances, microwaves, light bulbs, hazardous waste, pharmaceutical waste, and commercially generated waste. Participants may be required to verify that materials are generated by households.

The GM Tonawanda Engine Plant is located on River Road between Sheridan Drive and Edgar Avenue. For more information, visit http://www2.erie.gov/recycling.

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