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OLYMPIA - If you're wondering what to do with those unwanted TVs, computers and monitors stored in a garage or back-room, relief is here. E-Cycle Washington is a new program that started on Jan. 1. It allows free and convenient recycling of these electronic products. The makers of these products are providing about 200 collection sites around the state. State residents, small businesses, school districts, small government agencies and charities can bring television sets, computers (desktop and laptop) and monitors to these sites to be recycled. They will pay no fee for this service. There is no need to rush out this weekend - or even this month. E-Cycle Washington is a permanent and ongoing addition to current recycling opportunities available to Washington residents. Many collection sites will be open several days a week and some will be open every day. And the collection network will be continuously improved to meet the needs of the public.

Donating E-Cycle material to Goodwill helps in two ways: supporting Goodwill's job-training and placement efforts; and through sales at our retail stores, having a greater chance to reuse computers instead of having them end up in the waste stream. Donations to Goodwill are, of course, tax-deductible and Goodwill also will accept peripherals, keyboards, cel phones and other electronic equipment.

Do you have an old TV, laptop or monitor? Now you can easily recycle it for free, thanks to a new state law. The E-Cycle Washington program requires manufacturers to provide recycling services for TVs, desktop computers, laptop computers and monitors at no cost to residents, nonprofits, small businesses, schools and local governments. "The law puts the responsibility of end-of-life disposal costs on the manufacturer, rather than the resident or local government. This is important because recycling is a very expensive process," said Terri Thomas, education and outreach specialist for Thurston County Solid Waste. Before, residents either had to rely on Thurston County's twice-a-year Community Recycle Days or seek out other options, usually at their own expense, Thomas said. Perhaps that's why electronics are the fastest-growing waste stream, she said.

The program is operated by the Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority, a quasi-governmental agency created by the legislation to work with the 200 or so manufacturers that sell computers and televisions in Washington state. In addition, the state Department of Ecology has certified four electronic waste processing firms - two in this state, one in Oregon and one in California - to disassemble the electronic equipment into separate materials for reuse or safe disposal, including glass, plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. The program is designed in part to stem the flow of electronic waste to Third World countries, where it is often dismantled crudely, threatening the environment, public health and the health of workers.

OlyGeekOlyGeek is based in Olympia, Washington. They currently serve Thurston County and plan to serve the entire south Puget Sound region.

Prior to the startup of this program, the quality of electronic waste recycling in this state, and across the nation has been questionable at best. While there are a number of reputable firms that handle and recycle electronic components properly, there are other, well-documented cases of companies that collect the items for shipment to Third World countries, where they are crudely picked apart, endangering the health of workers, communities and the environment. The state's electronic waste recycling program, similar to ones developed in 16 other states, is another classic example of the federal government shirking its duties. Rather than a nationwide electronic waste recycling program with uniform rules and regulations, the states are left to fend for themselves. How many times have we seen this scenario play out during the past eight years?