Jackson expands e-cycling program

With the expansion of Jackson's e-cycle program, residents and businesses can now deposit unwanted electronics and other hard-to-dispose-of items at the Jackson Recycling Center.

Rodney Bollinger, public works director for Jackson, said expansion to the program grew from the popularity of the city's annual e-cycle event. For the past three years, residents have been able to bring these items to the center one day a year.

"All three were very successful. Because they were so popular, we've been working with Midwest Recycling Center out of Crystal City to expand it so people can bring items down daily," Bollinger said.

More than 76,000 pounds of appliances, computer hardware and other electronics were collected during April's e-cycle day. Bollinger said that included more than 50 televisions and 135 computer monitors.

"That was all diverted from a landfill and recycled. It is good for everybody," he said.

The recycling center will now accept large appliances, computers, televisions, lawn mowers and other items during business hours. While it is free to take most of these items to the center, a $10 fee is charged to accept computer monitors and $15 is charged to accept a television. Bollinger said these fees are to offset the cost of dismantling them and separating materials that are recyclable from more toxic ones.

Items not accepted at the recycling center continue to include AAA, AA, C and D batteries, tires, radioactive materials, items containing mercury and any other hazardous waste items. Since this is a recycling effort, no trash will be accepted, only recyclable materials.

Bollinger said that before the expansion of the program, residents would wait for the annual e-cycle event or the city's annual Clean-Up/Fix-Up Week, when the city would collect those items curbside.

"People would store old vacuums, water heaters and computers and bring them down once a year. Now there is no waiting. They can bring them down daily. It is really broadening our horizons," he said. He added the idea behind the program is to increase the number of items diverted from landfills, saving taxpayer dollars.

The city will continue to sponsor an e-cycle day in conjunction with Earth Day and a Clean-Up/Fix-Up Week, but residents are no longer locked into those days for disposing of these items.

This year's Clean-Up/Fix-Up Week is scheduled for July 12 to 16. Beginning this year, televisions and computer monitors will not be accepted curbside.