Editor's Note:
This story was written in response to a reader-submitted request through Open Source, a platform where readers can ask Ashland Source’s newsroom to write about an event or get a question answered.
ASHLAND — Ashland County’s Solid Waste District will host its second annual electronic waste and television collection day on Sept. 30, giving residents an opportunity to dispose of their e-waste.
According to James Skora, the county’s solid waste district coordinator, a state recycling plan requires solid waste districts to have strategies for management of e-waste.
In Ashland County, that strategy hinges on education and hosting the collection day.
This year’s electronic waste and television collection day takes place at the main gate of the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
It runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. People must show proof of residency in order to turn in their items.
Only residential electronics are allowed — no government entities, schools or businesses should bring in materials.
Skora said last year’s event collected 67,788 pounds of electronic waste for a total cost of $24,738. Over 500 cars came through to recycle old electronics. The breakdown of waste collected was:
- Personal computers, 7,711 pounds
- CRTs (televisions or old style computer monitors), 34,329 pounds
- Flat panel televisions, 8,401 pounds
- Printers, 5,567 pounds
- Stereos, 4,066 pounds
- Monitors, 1,685 pounds
- Wires, 181 pounds
- Miscellaneous electronics, 5,848 pounds
The county used Greenboard IT as its recycling partner last year, and will use it again this year. Skora said Greenboard IT is R2 certified, which means the facility and its downstream vendors responsibly recycle old electronics every step of the way.
Ashland County switched its recycling from the Ashland County Recycling Center to bins located around the county in 2021, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.
With the old system, Skora said people could turn in their electronics year-round, but had to pay to do it. Now, it’s once a year and it’s free.
Skora said other than the e-waste collection day, there are opportunities to recycle old electronics. Those are listed in the county’s Solid Waste and Recyclables Resource Guide.
He added that in the electronic world, especially with old televisions or computers, places like Best Buy often take old electronics when you buy new ones. Skora recommended calling to check about that first, though.
The county also has 15 locations for recycling cardboard, paper, plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars and metal cans that are open year round.
