FREE!

Everybody loves something that's free, right?  It is a bit of an incentive to get moving and take advantage of an opportunity.  This entry is a bit of a reminder, or perhaps new information, about a free service to all of us here in Erie that definitely should be used regularly.

Unwanted or broken electronics.  What to do with them?

Erie has completed its first full year of being unable to throw out electronics with curbside trash pickup.  Unfortunately, too many people don't know what TO do with their unwanted devices, thus finding less pleasant ways of disposing of them.  According to the EPA website "Americans discard more than 2 million tons of obsolete electronic products annually".  Hmmm... 

Illegal dumping is just that - illegal.  And for a reason.  Electronic devices are harmful to nature, leaking toxic substances into the groundwater and leaving something in the environment that will stay there without breaking down until long after we are gone, if ever.

So where CAN we take our electronics when they have outgrown their usefulness?

In Erie, the official drop off point is Best Buy on upper Peach Street.  It's FREE to drop off your electronics.  FREE.  No paperwork, no check-ins, no wait.  Just walk in the store, head over to the Customer Service desk and neatly place your items on the bench.  Here is a short list of what they accept:

• Ink and toner cartridges
• Rechargeable batteries
• Wires, cords, and cables
• Plastic bags and gift cards
• Nearly all electronics and large appliances 
• Computers (here is the link to wipe your personal information before dropoff -hard drive wipe)

Please don't misunderstand - this information is not to support or bring undue attention to this corporation in any way.  They have voluntarily chosen to participate in the EPAs Sustainable Materials Management Challenge, meaning they have chosen to "promote responsible electronic recycling". 

 In Erie, this is your location to unload your old laptop, cell phones, video consoles, and broken fans, among other things.  No information is required when you drop off items.  You could do it anonymously.  Or you could share this information and encourage friends to do the same.  

This time of year everyone's looking to declutter, clean out, and clean up.  Taking care of the ever-growing number of outdated or broken electronics in a responsible way is something we CAN do.  If someone you know is going to put an item in a vehicle to haul it to a dumping spot, why not haul it to a place that can recycle the parts and make something useful again?

Note:  If you are not from the Erie area, rest assured that there is a location not far from you that will handle unwanted electronics.  Check out this site for quick information - www.1800recycling.com.