We can’t do without them. Or we think we can’t, which I suppose is the same thing.
Electronic devices – the computers, smartphones and TVs that lead a list of electronic gizmos that Thomas Edison would envy.
Trouble is electronic devices wear out, break down or new editions come on the market. And we have to get rid of the old stuff.
How? Mostly improperly.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 13 to 20 percent of electronic waste is disposed of properly. Too much e-waste winds up in landfills. And e-waste contains dangerous, poisonous, cancer-causing chemicals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and beryllium. Since 60 million metric tons of e-waste enters landfills each year, the problem is serious.
But there is a solution, at least for Oak Park residents. A new e-waste disposal program is available to Oak Parkers who live in single-family homes or buildings with no more than five units.
Oak Parkers now can arrange for the village’s waste hauler to pick up not only electronic waste, but common hazardous household waste such as paint, garden chemicals, auto fluids and household cleaners.
Residents can schedule the service online at www.wmatyourdoor.com, via email at [email protected] or by calling 1-800-449-7587.
Once a request is made, kits will be sent to residents by mail that include instructions on how to package the waste and where to safely place them for pickup on the scheduled date.
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Residents don’t need to be home at the pickup time. And there is no limit to the number of pickup requests residents can make, though village officials are asking that pickup not be requested for small quantities.
Once collected, the waste is sent to various processing facilities for recycling and treatment.
This is a huge step forward in protecting the environment. If you ever have tried to dispose of an old computer, you will remember how difficult it used to be to do so responsibly. Oak Parkers had to drive their old TVs and computers to out-of-town recycling sites, or wait for the village to host infrequent e-waste collection days.
This new service is a real service.
Good job.
For more information about recycling in Oak Park, go to www.oak-park.us/recycling.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.