VERMILLION, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) are hosting a free electronic recycling event in Vermillion and Owen counties.
As of January 1, 2011, Indiana households, small businesses, and public schools are prohibited from disposing of “e-waste” in any trash that is intended for disposal at a landfill or by burning.
“E-waste” includes electronics that contain heavy metals, like “lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, that can be harmful if released into the environment,” according to IDEM.
The following items are prohibited from being discarded:
- Televisions
- Computer monitors
- Computers (including desktops, laptops, and tablets)
- E-readers
- Fax machines
- Peripherals (including keyboards, mice, external hard drives, printers, all-in-one printer/scanner/copiers, projectors, and any other devices that are sold exclusively for external use with a computer and provide input into or output from a computer)
- DVD players (including gaming systems that are able to play DVDs)
- Digital photo frames
- Digital media players
- iPods/MP3 players
- Camcorders/cameras
- DVR/TiVo devices (including cable boxes and satellite boxes, but not satellite dishes)
- Portable GPS navigation systems
IDEM says these items should be managed as household hazardous waste rather than ordinary household trash.
The free electronic recycling event in Vermillion County will be held August 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Owen Valley High School (located at 622 W. St. Hwy. 46, Spencer).
The recycling event in Owen County will be held at South Vermillion High School (located at 770 W. Wildcat Dr., Clinton, IN 47842) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., August 9.
Unwanted items can be dropped off by drive-up or walk-up at no cost.
“IDEM is happy to administer Indiana’s E-Cycle Program,” said Assistant Commissioner Bob Lugar. “By working with municipalities and registered recyclers, Hoosiers have a safe way to dispose of unwanted electronics and contribute to Indiana’s circular recycling economy.”
For a full list of accepted e-waste items and more information about the Indiana E-Cycle program, visit idem.IN.gov/recycle/indiana-e-cycle.
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