If you are doing some spring cleaning and realize there’s a surplus of hardware and electronics cluttering up your home, consider stopping by one of the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub’s newly announced electronics recycling events this spring.
The electronics recycling drive-thru drop-off days are on Saturdays, April 10, April 24, May 15, and May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Almost all electronics are accepted, from surge protectors to refrigerators.
A fee of $10 per vehicle of electronics is required to pay for some of the operating costs of the Hub. There are additional fees for items like TVs, computer monitors, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners. Fees cover the disposal costs of the hazardous waste components within those items so that the toxic elements do not contribute to environmental contamination.
Those dropping off their electronics are expected to follow COVID-19 protocols, wear face masks, and remain in their vehicles while going through the drop-off line.
A press release from the Hub says that once items are dropped off, RecycleForce, a non-profit from Indianapolis that provides transitional jobs to formerly incarcerated people, will de-manufacture items and shred all hard drives and data cards to address any privacy concerns. The deconstructed materials of your former appliance or device are then packaged and sold to build new components and begin their new life.
Recycling electronics properly helps combat a growing environmental issue. According to a 2017 United Nations University press release, E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world.
Recycling or donating electronic products is one way to combat this threat. The EPA Electronics Donation and Recycling webpage says that electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials, noting that recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year.
More drop-off days will be announced on the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub’s website and social media pages. Drop-off days are taking place at the Hub’s warehouse location at 911 Evans Street in Lower East Price Hill.
For more info, visit cincinnatirecyclingandreusehub.org
