Electronic Waste Recycling Event - April 21

Southwestern College senior Sally McGuire coordinated an e-waste (electronic waste) drive-through drop-off event on Sunday, April 21, at the Winfield Fairgrounds inside Building 6 (4-H Arena). 

“This event will give Cowley County residents the opportunity to discard old electronic items to be recycled,” McGuire says. 

By definition of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, e-waste includes all types of obsolete, unused, or unwanted electronic equipment.  The presence of lead in many of the items has caused some states and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to express concerns about disposal in non-hazardous waste landfills. 

Electronics were delivered to Asset LifeCycle in Topeka, a state authorized e-waste recycling facility.  This facility accepts laptops, monitors, keyboards, scanners, cell phones, printers, controllers, and much more.  Items are accepted for free except CRT monitors ($10) and televisions ($20).  It is advised to remove all personal information from electronic devices; however, Asset LifeCycle assures removal of all personal information upon receiving the devices. 

According to McGuire, the project would not have been possible without the help of Frito-Lay, Inc. in Topeka, who provided a semi-truck for transportation to the recycling facility free of charge.