Free Electronics Recycling in Guilford County

Every year, a new version of a laptop comes out, a new flat screen TV is introduced, or a new cell phone hits the market. People also quickly grab the latest digital games. Now Guilford County residents can recycle their old, small electronic devices during E-Cycle 2013. The free event is Saturday, March 23 at the Pleasant Garden Town Hall on 4920 Alliance Church Road in Pleasant Garden. It runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

“These old end-of-life products take up a lot of space in our landfills and it's very hard to open new landfills,” says Susan Heim, coordinator of Guilford County's Environmental Services. Heim says reducing how many electronic devices are dumped also protects people. “Electronics contain toxic chemicals like mercury, lead and cadmium. These types of heavy metals are toxic and are connected to several health conditions,” says Heim.
According to Heim, Guilford County is second in the state for electronics recycling.

All of the electronics dropped off during E-Cycle 2013 will go to a Rockingham County company. It will extract re-usable items including metals and plastics, which will then be sold to manufacturing plants for the creation of new products. No business waste will be accepted. This is the fifth year for Guilford County's E-Cycling event. On average, organizers collect 13.5 tons of electronics and 6 tons of TV's.  Heim also says there is a growing problem in Guilford County with the random dumping of picture-tube televisions. “Metals have become an expensive commodity and people are smashing old tube-televisions to extract metals inside, and then leave them in ditches and vacant properties.” Heim says this trash is difficult to clean up because of the small, broken pieces. She also says the broken class and materials poses a threat to the safety of city residents.

Another free service being offered at E-Cycle 2013 is document shredding. Guilford County residents can bring up to five boxes of personal documents and they will be disposed of free of charge. Residents can dispose of larger items April 6 during the county's free Spring Clean-up event. Electronic and non-electronic items will be accepted including hazardous chemicals, batteries, tires and home appliances. It will be at 1730 West Lee Street in the Lee Street parking lot at the Greensboro Coliseum.  It's from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. and people can also drop off documents for shredding.

Forsyth County also offers free electronic recycling to its residents. They can drop them off at the 3RC Enviro-Station Tuesday through Saturday. It's open year round at 1401 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Winston-Salem.