Saturday is the time to recycle electronics

America Recycles Day - today - has an extended life in Nevada this year.

Saturday is the day to recycle electronic waste in the Carson City area. Programs in Las Vegas are set for Friday.

In Carson City, Computer Corps is working with the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection to collect old computer parts. Computer Corps will then repair the different units and get them to people who don't have working computers in their homes.

Volunteers will collect donated electronic and computer gear from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday at the Computer Corps headquarters parking lot, 6272 Highway 50 East.

Items they will accept include keyboards, mice, monitors, desktop and laptop computers, printers and cartridges, stereos, copiers and fax machines.

Televisions, cell phones and batteries will not be accepted.

Chet Sergent, NDEP's recycling coordinator, said electronic waste is becoming an environmental problem nationwide.

"New computers are coming onto the market at a rapid rate, putting more and more obsolete equipment into the waste stream," he said.

And those electronic products contain hazardous materials including lead, mercury and cadmium which environmental officials don't want in landfills.

"These events, being held in concert with America Recycles Day, are a great step forward in addressing the e-waste problem in Northern Nevada," Sergent said.

Friday is also the last day of Carson City's Fall Cleanup. Crews are out gathering bagged leaves and bundled limbs. For pickup, call 887-2355 before noon Friday.

For more information on America Recycles Day visit www.amerciarecyclesday.org, and for information NDEP's recycling program, visit www.NevadaRecycles.gov.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.