Atlanta City Councilmember Carla Smith hosts The City of Atlanta’s Electronic Waste Recycling Day 2010
Event celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day 

ATLANTA (March 11, 2010) – Have you recently purchased a new flat screen television and don’t know what on earth to do with the old tube? Have you finally discovered the digital age and must discard of that hideous 8-track player?

Well if you live in Atlanta, there’s a way for you to rid your home and garage of these and other unwanted electronic items without harming the environment. Virtually if it plugs in, the city will take it regardless of its working condition at Atlanta’s annual Electronic Waste Recycling Day at Turner Field.

Atlanta City Councilmember Carla Smith and the City of Atlanta has partnered with Atlanta Recycling Solutions (ARS) to collect and recycle computers and other household electronics. Residents can bring their items to the Blue Lot at Turner Field from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 24th during the city’s 2010 Electronic Waste Recycling Day. The event is part of a wide-range of activities planned all week in collaboration with Keep Atlanta Beautiful in celebration of Earth Day.

“We are pleased to join with Atlanta Recycling Solutions in hosting the city’s annual electronic waste recycling day during the week in which we are also commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day,” said District 1 City Councilmember Carla Smith. “Since the inception of this event, so many communities in our area have followed Atlanta’s example to reduce, reuse and recycle for the sake of our planet.” 

The goal of this initiative is to promote the recycling of obsolete electronic equipment and components and to encourage the design, manufacture, and purchase of environmentally responsible electronic equipment.

The electronics industry is one of the fastest growing and most innovative industries in the world. Every year, newer and better products are being sold to consumers. While electronics account for up to five percent of landfill volume, the products contribute up to 70 percent of the toxins found in landfills. 

Today, the average person has a smart phone, laptop and IPod. According to the Environmental protection Agency, technological advances are rapidly rendering these cutting-edge electronics obsolete. The useful life of an electronic device is only 3 to 5 years and shrinking. A study by the National Safety Council states that more than 63 million personal computers are retired annually.

Adding to the need to educate the general public is Atlanta’s love affair with the newest and latest technology. In fact, the city remains one of the country’s most connected cities when it comes to using the latest gadgets. Atlanta recently ranked No. 2 on Forbes' list of “Most Wired Cities” for the second year in a row.

The following items will be accepted at the city of Atlanta’s E-Waste Recycling Day: 

COMPUTER MONITORS

TELEVISIONS ($10 fee required)

MICROWAVE OVENS

COMPUTER CPU’s

STEREOS

TELEPHONES

LAPTOPS

COPIERS

CB RADIOS

PRINTERS

VIDEO MACHINES

CD PLAYERS

DISK DRIVES

VCRs and DVD Players

PORTABLE RADIOS

FLOPPY DRIVES

CAMCORDERS

CELL PHONES

TEST & NETWORKING EQUIPMENT

CAMERAS

KEYBOARDS

MODEMS

RECORD PLAYERS

SCANNERS

CURCUIT BOARDS

SPEAKERS

ELECTRICAL PANELS

TYPEWRITERS

UPS / BATTERY BACK-UP

FAX MACHINES

CD ROMS

PROJECTORS

CABLES

COMPUTER MOUSES

The following items will not be accepted: consoles, projection televisions, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers, de-humidifiers or humidifiers, gas-powered equipment, tires, household trash and NON-electronic equipment.

For more information, please call Councilwoman Smith’s office at (404) 330-6039.