The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning (“DEP”), in conjunction with the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant and Advanced Technology Recycling, has announced a collection and recycling event for various types of electronic waste on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant, 2995 River Road in the Town of Tonawanda. DEP has partnered with the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant on these no-cost collection events for the past eight years. Local manufacturer Greif has joined the event as a sponsor in 2017.

“We all have a role in protecting the environment by taking personal responsibility and making sure our old computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices with recyclable materials inside are put back into use instead of being dumped in a landfill or incinerated,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “I am pleased that the successful partnership between our DEP, the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant, and Advanced Technology Recycling is continuing again this year to provide a safe and easy way for Erie County residents to recycle electronics at no cost.”

“The environment is very important to all employees at Tonawanda Engine Plant as well as General Motors,” said Plant Manager Steve Finch. “We have partnered with Erie County on these recycling events for several years now and have prevented hundreds of tons of electronic waste from going into landfills. This is important to us as Tonawanda Engine has been a landfill free manufacturing site since 2005 and we do everything we can to recycle and reuse manufacturing waste.”

“UAW Local 774 is committed to improving the quality of our environment not only at our worksite, but within our community as well,” said UAW Local 774 Shop Chairman Chuck Herr. “We hope everyone takes advantage of this great opportunity to clear their home of unwanted electronics by disposing of it at our event.”

ITEMS ACCEPTED INCLUDE: computers, printers/scanners, monitors (no broken glass), keyboards, cables & accessories, laptops, televisions (no broken glass),VCRs, radios, stereo equipment, cell phones, CDROM/floppy discs, digital cameras, scanners, fax machines, DVD players, cable/satellite receivers, circuit boards, video game systems, tablets, rechargeable batteries.

ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INCLUDE: TV’s with broken glass or disassembled, air conditioners, CD-ROM floppy discs, dehumidifiers, household appliances, microwaves, light bulbs, hazardous waste, pharmaceutical waste, and commercially-generated waste. Participants may be required to verify that materials are generated by households.

Sponsors for this electronics recycling event include the Erie County DEP, United Auto Workers Local 774, General Motors Tonawanda Engine Plant, Advanced Technology Recycling, and Greif. The GM Tonawanda Engine Plant is located on River Road between Sheridan Drive and Edgar Avenue. GM takes their responsibility to protect the environment very seriously and every GM plant holds at least one such outreach event per year.

For more information visit http://www2.erie.gov/recycling