Practicin' What We're Preachin': Electronics Recycling in Action!

A couple of weeks ago, we volunteered to help one of our clients properly dispose of too-old-to-be-salvaged computers and other electronic equipment. Normally people don't get overly excited about moving other people's stuff, but for some reason I enjoy being able to see real-time progress first-hand. I know: it's weird.

One of the best things about this move was being able to practice what we just preached a couple of weeks ago in our local electronics recycling post. Here's the brief run-down: One of our clients mentioned they were moving offices to temporary space. When gearing up for the move, we overheard some of their management trying to figure out what to do with their fleet of busted computer equipment. I say "fleet" because there must have been 50-75 pieces of worthless electronics just piled up in and around the office suite--and for a small company, that's a lot of junk.

Worried that these electronic boat anchors might end up in a landfill somewhere (which, by the way, is totally illegal in North Carolina as of July 1), we volunteered to lend a responsible hand and haul off the 1990s-era artifacts to be recycled. Once Evelyn borrowed a pick-up truck, Springleaf Strategies became Two Gals and a Truck.

As it turns out, the North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility off Durant Road is a recycler's dream. They gladly accept just about any electronics that could be lying around any home or office. Since it was our first trip out there, we called to give them a heads-up that we'd be coming with quite a few drop-off items.

Each time Two Gals and a Truck rolled up, guys were waiting to help us unload the sometimes-quite-heavy equipment (my favorite was the shoebox-sized battery that weighed about 200 pounds!). All the equipment we brought--computers, keyboards, cables, mouses (mice? meece?), CRT monitors, batteries, etc.--went into various well-marked bins and/or palettes. It couldn't have been any easier!

While Two Gals and a Truck has since closed its operations for the time-being, it was a great one-day run. We're already finding, collecting, and piling up more items to take down there. Thankfully, this time it won't be another 30 computers!

For those of you in the area with random electronics that you don't know what to do with, remember: no landfills! If you can't get out to the North or South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facilities, you can call the City of Raleigh to schedule a Special Load Pick-up. Fifty bucks covers the collection of a four-cubic-yard area--or the size of standard pick-up truck bed (but be sure to check out the list of materials they will and will not take).

For those of you outside the area, what does your city do for electronics/multi-material recycling?