POULSBO — The word “recycling” brings to mind many pictures including kids picking up cans for 5 cents a piece, playgrounds made out of old tires and the ever present triangle of arrows. The Kingston-based Olympic Printer Resources is hoping North Kitsap residents will think outside the triangle today, as it provides the opportunity to recycle electronic items.
Everything from old televisions to computers to cellphones will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Market in Poulsbo in an effort to keep such items from clogging local garbage dumps.
“This is the first time we’ve done this kind of event,” said OPR employee Dan Price. A similar, successful event was held in May on Bainbridge Island. “There was an event on Bainbridge Island too, and they hauled three semis worth of electronics away a couple of months ago.”
Price said Olympic Printer Resources is hopeful this recycling day will have the same turnout, but was uncertain how many residents will make use of the opportunity.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “People have this stuff in their basements. We’re doing this so they don’t have to drive to the Bremerton landfill to get rid of it.”
EcycleNW, a company operating out of Sequim, is working with Olympic Printer Resources to properly recycle or retrofit the electronics residents drop off today. Essentially, once recycled, the items are disassembled and their basic components are resold to companies that adhere to the U.S. export control regulations regarding proper handling of electronic waste, Price said.
Electronics being collected include computer monitors, televisions, PC and MacIntosh computers, computer hard drives, scanners, stereos, VCRs, DVD players, telephones and answering machines, printers, fax machines, small desktop copiers, large copiers and cellphones.
Residents recycling items will have to pay a fee, depending on what they are dropping off, but Price said they can either pay during the recycling days where the electronics will be reused or will have to pay at a landfill.
