Free TV/Computer Monitor Recycling Program Launches

By Mark Geary, Reporter

Tools

By Tracey McCullough

Story Created: Aug 31, 2010 at 8:23 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2010 at 9:40 PM CST

LINN COUNTY – Just about everyone has an old TV or computer monitor stashed away in a closet or basement. Up until now, you had to pay to recycle those kinds of electronics.

Recycling an old TV or computer monitor used to cost between $5 to $10 at the Linn County landfill. Starting Wednesday, September 1, you can drop those items off for free at the County Home Road or Czech Village location.

Before flat screen TVs took over people’s family rooms, large consoles ruled the airwaves.

“They’re big, bulky and take up a lot of space,” Linn County Solid Waste Agency Communications Director Joe Horaney said. “We want to keep as much out of there as possible because we want to increase the life of the landfill.”

As people tuned into something slimmer, older models ended up here at the landfill.

“There are so many of them around and if you’re not going to be recycling them, they’re going to be polluting the earth and the land,” Linda McDonald said.

Electronics can also contain lead and mercury which leak out over time. The goal is to get people to recycle electronics just like cans, bottles and other materials.

“When we can actually take these products and turn them back into something new, we’re saving resources we don’t have to take out of the environment,” Jay Miller said.

After all, computers and TVs have become cheaper and cheaper and more disposable. Without a way to recycle them effectively, space inside the landfill would fill up a lot quicker.

The Linn County Solid Waste Agency will subsidize the cost of recycling. Last year, the agency collected about one-thousand computer monitors and nearly 3,000 TVs.

If you get caught dumping a TV or computer monitor in the landfill from now on, you could face a thirty-five dollar fine.

To learn more about the new program, visit http://www.recyclelinncounty.org

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