Published: October 01, 2008 11:48 pm      

NORTH TONAWANDA: DPW taking electronics for free

This Saturday, North Tonawanda will become the second place in the state, operated through the county, with regular electronics recycling, free of charge.

The first is the Niagara County Landfill, which is extending their unique program to a satellite location at the city’s Department of Public Works facility. The arrangement is limited to one month for now, on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and noon.

“Electronics are one of the things that can’t normally be accepted at landfills,” Niagara County Public Information Officer Christian Peck said. “And we’ve worked out a deal to accept them, let them bring in all of the electronics — except TVs — and get rid of them.”

Since facilitating a permanent electronics recycling service, the landfill is unusual, the only such permanent county program of its kind in New York, open six days per week, according to District Director of Refuse Disposal Rick Pope.

Plans to continue such services in North Tonawanda and elsewhere in Niagara County other than the landfill are being discussed.

“I think what’s most important in the political aspect is that it doesn’t cost taxpayers anything,” Legislator Andrea McNulty said.

It’s not that electronics weren’t disposed of before, she said, but they were never before carted away over state lines by a private company willing to absorb the costs associated with recycling every component, presumably for a profit.

McNulty is one member of the County Legislature’s refuse committee, which has worked to expand the program.

She said the committee received approval from the North Tonawanda Common Council several months ago to set up a trailer at the DPW, 758 Erie Avenue.

Perhaps more than politics, however, the program represents innovation in the broader recycling industry coupled with good business contacts tapped by Pope.

“It’s a wonderful program, we need to do these things for the environment. Everything is recycled,” Pope said. “It’s never happened — I’m proud to say that we are the first county in New York to have permanent electronic recycling at no charge, six days a week, at the county landfill.”

The issue was finding a group willing to recycle computer parts, and most other consumer electronics (except TVs) without charging for the inconvenience.

TVs will not be accepted. It has to do with some of the materials used to manufacture them. But Pope said it’s in the works to find someone else who will take them. The Tonawanda News on Wednesday could not confirm which company participates.

“When we were taking monitors into the landfill it wasn’t costing us anything (extra) but it wasn’t a safe way to get rid of them,” McNulty said. “(Pope) was able to find a company that will take these monitors out of state and recycle them. (Gold) parts are melted down. We don’t make any money off it but at the same time we are able to be eco-friendly and it’s not costing us any money.”

She said she has learned the average computer monitor can contain about seven pounds of lead, for example.

Drop-off at the landfill and in North Tonawanda is open to all county residents.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.