Hello 2011, goodbye old electronics

By AUBRIE GEORGE

Moorestown residents will need to find another way to dispose of all electronic waste from now on.

A new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1 bans all televisions and computers from landfills and incinerators. The ban is being mandated through the 2009 State Electronic Waste Management Act.

According to a statement on the township’s Web site, residents are no longer allowed to place electronic waste items in the trash. Public works will not accept these items because trash haulers will not be able to collect them.

Instead, residents are encouraged to recycle all old televisions, computers, including laptops and monitors, keyboards, printers, fax machines, VCR’s, and DVD players.

Township officials said residents have several options when recycling the electronic waste products that are now banned from trash collection and landfills.

Residents are permitted take their electronic waste items to the county’s drop off location located at the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex on Rt. 543 in Florence. The drop-off is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The drop off is free to all county residents.

There will be three free, one-day collection events on Jan. 15, Feb. 19, and March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Occupational Training Center located at 130 Hancock Lane, in Westampton. At this collection event, staff will unload electronics from residents’ cars. All three events are free for all county residents and identification to show residency is required.

Residents also have the option to donate their old electronics. Goodwill donation centers are located in nearby Bordentown, Lumberton, Maple Shade, Medford, and Willingboro. For a list of other places that accept donations, visit www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm.

In addition, some electronic retailers will take back old computers or televisions when they deliver a new one. Some retailers will pickup old computers or televisions for a fee.

For more information about electronic waste recycling, visit the county’s recycling Web site at www.co.burlington.nj.us.