The Madera District Fair and Electronic Recyclers are offering residents a convenient, local drop-off location for “e-waste” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jan. 19, at the Madera District Fairgrounds, 1850 W. Cleveland Ave.
The fair is giving residents an opportunity to safely dispose of computers, televisions, monitors and other unwanted electronic items for proper recycling.
It is illegal to throw a television or computer monitor in the trash in the state of California. Electronic items contain toxic elements like lead and mercury that are environmentally hazardous when they are dumped into landfills. The law states such products must be recycled in ways that won’t harm the environment.
The electronics collected will be trucked away and recycled by Fresno-based Electronic Recyclers, the largest recycler of electronic waste in California and the fair’s partner for this event.
“We’re extremely proud to be partnering with the Madera District Fair for this special program,” said John S. Shegerian, chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers. “The fairgrounds is helping the citizens of Madera become more environmentally responsible by offering them a convenient opportunity to safely dispose of their old electronics and helping in the fight against cancer.”
Each year in California, hundreds of thousands of computers, copiers, fax machines, printers, televisions and other electronic items are replaced by newer, more advanced equipment.
It is estimated that up to 75 percent of these outdated electronics are in storage because people don’t know what to do with them.