Citizens come out to safely recycle their electronics 1/4/2009 12:30 AM
By SUZANNE R. STONE Staff writer
Environmentally conscious Aikenites had a chance to rid their homes safely of electronics and personal papers Saturday morning at the city's annual Recycle Day.
Roughly 1,000 people brought items to dispose of to the Home Depot parking lot Saturday morning for Recycle Day, according to Tim Coakley, assistant director of the City's Public Works department.
Advanced Environmental Options of Spartanburg took charge of e-waste, including small appliances, televisions and computer components, while Augusta Data Storage provided paper shredding at the event.
"We pick up e-waste every six months, everything electronic," Coakley said. "You shouldn't put that stuff in a landfill; it's technically legal to do so, but it's not a good idea. They say that landfill will never leak, but I don't like the word 'never.'"
Advanced Environmental Options disassembles the electronics into component parts and sells them for scrap or for reuse. A few parts can't be sold or reused, but they take a great deal less landfill space and are less likely to be toxic than the entire appliance, according to Coakley.
This was the first of the event's three years that the city has offered the paper shredding service. It proved a popular option Saturday, according to Coakley.
"Augusta Data Storage called us up and wanted to be part of our event, offered to do free document shredding, and I was amazed how many people took advantage of it," he said. "They're going to recycle all that paper, so it won't be going to the landfill either."
Dacre Stoker, a member of the City Council's environmental committee, was in attendance at Recycle Day. The committee was a co-sponsor of the event.
"I couldn't believe how many people brought old tax records and old checks. Most of them stayed to see that their things really got put into the shredder instead of just handing over the bags," Stoker said. "The e-waste, we call that 'anything with a cord.' Any cell phones we got, we're donating to the Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, so they'll get recycled that way."
Coakley called Saturday's event was a success, with waste filling an 18-wheeler truck and a Dumpster. The last Recycle Day brought in about 8,000 pounds of discarded material, he said.
The next Recycle Day will be in July or August, but a date has not yet been set. Stoker said his committee is examining the feasibility of an event for the safe disposal of common household chemicals, but nothing has yet been scheduled for those products either.
Those interested in bringing items to the next Recycle Day can watch the newsletters included in city water bills for details, visit the City's website at www.aiken.net, or call the Department of Public Works at 642-7613.
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.
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