Brockport-based electronics recycler Sunnking is preparing for record crowds during its first electronics recycling collection events since the COVID-19 shutdown. Thousands of people have pre-registered for the initial round of free collection sites in Western New York. New health and safety procedures will be in place to ensure a safe environment, including timed appointments, no-contact device removal, and dedicated drive-through lanes. Sunnking collects an average of 100 tons of electronics per event.
Residents can pre-register at Sunnking.com/events and find a full list of recyclable devices.
The first free collection will take place in West Seneca on Saturday, Sept. 19, in the NY DDSO parking lot (off College Drive). It is sold-out. More than 2,200 Western New Yorkers pre-registered, which is the maximum capacity teams can safely serve at the location during the event time.
A second event is set for 8:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara. Buffalo-area residents are also welcomed to sign up for the Williamsville collection, running from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 21, at Eastern Hills Mall.
"Looking at the number of sign-ups, people have clearly used the past couple of months at home to take inventory of their devices, and now want to get their space back," said Robert Burns, director of marketing for Sunnking.
Sunnking, a 20-year-old certified recycler that has offered the collections in Western and Central New York since 2010, temporarily postponed the events in March due to the pandemic. Sunnking collects an average of 100 tons of electronics per event.
"Obviously, we've had to change part of our process to ensure a safe environment for our customers and staff," Burns said. "This includes a new preregistration process, so we know how many people to prepare for, and a contactless experience where we ask drivers to stay in their vehicles and pack their devices in their trunks or truck beds."
Due to the rising costs of recycling and the coronavirus pandemic, Sunnking is also asking supporters for an optional monetary donation to continue providing the environmentally responsible service.
Residents can preregister for their respective events online at Sunnking.com/Events or call 585-637-8365.
The announcement comes during the same year as Sunnking celebrates its 20th-anniversary offering clients throughout New York state electronics recycling, ITAD, and data destruction services.
A recent event in Webster collected more than 300,000 pounds of local e-waste. Before the pandemic, Sunnking collected an average of 100 tons of electronics per event.
