Recycling electronics Collection to take place Sept. 18

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Residents, schools and business owners wishing to dispose of computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, VCRs, stereos and televisions are urged to take part in Brown County Electronics Recycling Day, Saturday, Sept. 18.

The event, sponsored by Brown County Recycling, Waste Management, and the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waste Management Recycling Center, 16 Minnecon Drive.

Computer keyboards, mouses and residential Sony electronics can be disposed of at no cost.

Disposal fees for other items range from $5 for computer hard drives, VCRs and boom boxes to $30 for console and large screen televisions.

Joe Aho, Senior Account Manager at Recycle America Alliance, a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., said computer circuit boards and other electronics contain lead and other hazardous materials including mercury that are more safely disposed of apart from solid waste disposal facilities.

Electronics collected by Waste Management will be disposed of at a recycling facilities in northeast Minneapolis and Missouri.

As of July 1, 2005, it will be illegal in Minnesota to dispose of CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes), Aho said.

Two years ago, Waste Management collected about 8,000 pounds of electronics gear at a recycling day in New Ulm.

For more information, call Brown County Recycling at 233-6641 and Waste Management at 354-3423.

(Fritz Busch can be reached at fbusch@nujournal.com).