Major E-recycling Event Saturday, Oct. 22

Since early this year when a new state law began prohibiting residents from tossing away electronic items in the trash, old computers, televisions, monitors, and printers have started piling up in many Clayton homes.

But that shouldn't be a problem anymore.

The Town of Clayton will take all those items and many others off your hands at a free Consumer Electronics Recycling event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22.

Just bring your hard-to-get-rid-of items downtown to the new Horne Square from 8 am to 2 pm, and town officials will see to it that they are recycled.

"We feel this could be a valuable service to many residents who need to dispose of electronic items, since placing them into the town's garbage is no longer an option," said Town Manager Steve Biggs.

Items that can be brought to the event include computer equipment, fax machines, televisions, cell phones, vacuum cleaners, electric power tools, coffee makers, hair dryers, cable and satellite boxes, gaming systems, keyboards, VCRs, DVD players and other small appliances.

A few items won't be accepted, however, including those with refrigerants, like air conditioners and refrigerators. Thermostats with mercury and smoke detectors are also off limits.

The ban on electronic items in the garbage went into effect July 1. Since then, electronics such as televisions, computers, printers, telephones and radios have not been allowed in the town's trash.
All electronic items must now be taken to new receiving stations at the Johnston County landfill and County Convenience Centers or otherwise recycled through retail electronic stores or some other recycling agency such as local charitable organizations.

Most office supply stores will recycle old cell phones and ink cartridges for free. The office supply store, STAPLES, will also recycle old computers, printers, monitors and a few other electronic items for a $10 fee.

The Town has already been warned that fines may be forthcoming from Johnston County if residents here put any sort of electronic item or other banned items and substances into the town's garbage.

Some banned items and substances are obvious, such as radioactive waste, medical waste and lead pipes. But others are commonplace items such as light bulbs, batteries and creosote treated wood. Other items, like drink cans and a wide range of bottles, are banned, because they must be recycled.

Here is a list of more banned items that should not be placed into the trash:

• Used oil and filters
• Antifreeze
• Old tires
• Old appliances
• Wooden pallets
• Old paint

The Public Works Department offers pickup services for many items that can't be placed into the garbage. For more information, please click here

Johnston County also offers pickup services for items banned from the landfill. For more information, please visit their website by clicking here.

The town's recently extended waste pickup contract with Waste Management calls for a gradual move from 65-gallon recycling carts to much larger 96-gallon carts, with just over half switched out by 2016. Biggs said recycling efforts here have been "remarkably successful" and larger containers would allow even better participation.

Some residents already pay a small extra charge to get a second 65-gallon cart, because sometimes one cart isn't enough to hold all they want to recycle.