Finally … that Apple IIE that’s been sitting in your garage — and its buddy, the 17-inch black and white television you once used to watch “Happy Days” — has a second home to go to.

Washington state law now allows residents to recycle televisions, computers, computer monitors and laptops … get this … for free. With the rate newer technology renders new technology obsolete, we’ve become a generation of electronic wasters. It wasn’t intentional; it just happened.

While most folks tried to be conscious consumers (and disposers) it was a pain in the dump to try to find a corporation willing to take e-junk in the first place. It was also a pain in the pocketbook to have to pay a fee for them to take it.

The program, slugged E-Cycle, is up and running at All Shred, at 16952 Clear Creek Road in Poulsbo (Phone: (360) 620-8493). Other locations can be found by calling 1-800-RECYCLE. In addition to this long-awaited program, the Poulsbo Recycling Center also accepts the usual suspects: metal, mixed containers, mixed papers, glass, oil, antifreeze, clothes, some fluorescent tubes, batteries and appliances (All are taken free-of-charge, except appliances.)

Bearing in mind a few rules Kitsap County Solid Waste senior program manager Pat Campbell passed along to Staff Writer Jennifer Morris can also help the process:

• Not all plastic containers with the three-arrowed triangle are acceptable; as a rule, bottles, jugs and dairy tubs are OK.

• Make sure container items are rinsed out and lids are thrown away. Labels don’t need to be removed.

• Grocery bags aren’t to be included among recyclables; instead, some grocery stores will recycle the bags, which are also good to save and reuse at home.

• Read more on the Poulsbo Recycle Center on page A14.Yeah, it’s a bit of an inconvenience to rinse out food cans and jars, but it’s a small effort that goes a long way to preserving the environment.