Now that you have purchased and installed your new electronics — the ones you bought yourself for Christmas — what can you do with those old TVs and that out-of-date computer equipment?
One option is to take that equipment to the Noxious Weed Department, 3000 W. South Ave.
“We’re open Monday through Friday from eight to four, and we take everything from old computers to cell phones, TVs and microwaves,” said Russell Torrens, director of the department. Right now, there is no charge for the equipment. “There may be in the future, but right now there is not,” he said.
According to Torrens, the county has a contract with IT Global Surplus, a company in Wichita that disposes of the equipment.
Another program, through the Natural Resources Advisory Board, brings a Topeka company to town twice a year to collect electronic equipment.
The company, Asset LifeCycle, specializes in recycling electronics, including TVs, computer equipment and old cell phones. Last year, the company came to the Lyon County Fairgrounds in April and October to collect electronic recyclables.
“We collected about 11 tons at each event,” said Sanitation Supervisor Keith Senn, “and that was successful enough that as long as we continue to collect that amount, we’ll probably do it at least twice a year.” If the events don’t collect as much as they have in the past, there may only be one event held per year in Emporia.
“The problem with us doing electronics recycling is that we’d have to start collecting money, because there’s always a charge for anything with lead glass, say computer monitors and TVs,” Senn said. “There’s certainly a need for it, but the problem right now is the market for recycling is marginal at best. We’re hoping for an upturn in the spring where we can get some breathing room, but right now recycling has kind of faltered a bit.”
One concern is that with the upcoming switch to digital technology, there will be a flood of people looking to discard their old analog TVs.
Asset LifeCycle has already seen an increase in old TVs, and is working to set up another event in Emporia. A representative of the company said it is typical this time of year to see an increase in old equipment because of people getting new electronics for Christmas.
One option for computer equipment is to take it to Staples, 2200 Industrial Rd.
“We take desktops, monitors and that type of equipment for a $10 charge,” said John Calderwood, manager of the Emporia store. “That covers the cost of shipping and everything like that.”
Calderwood said the equipment is sent to the main office, which then sends it to a company that recycles the metals and other recyclable materials the electronics contain.
Staples does not recycle old televisions, however.