Your e-scrap can no longer go in the Union County Landfill or any other landfill in South Carolina.

E-scrap is the name given to electronic devices such as TVs, computers, monitors, laptops and printers. Unwanted electronic devices are the fastest-growing source of waste in America and a potential health and environmental hazard due to the metals and other materials they contain. In May 2011, the SC General Assembly passed legislation banning the disposal of e-scrap in the state’s landfills effective today.

In response to the legislation, Union County has implemented an e-scrap recycling program and designated the recycling convenience center on SC 18 in Bonham as the collection point for unwanted electronics. Public Works Director John Gibson said the county will collect the e-scrap which will in turn be recycled by a private firm hired by the state. While the main focus of the program is e-scrap, Gibson said the company will accept “anything with a cord.”

“We’re going to get set up with a company that’s under state contract called Creative Recycle and we’re going to collect these items and they’re going to pick them up for recycling” Gibson said. “We can take anything with a cord, we can even take vacuum cleaners and microwaves. radios and stereos, VCRs, anything with an electrical cord we’ll put it in for recycling,”

The equipment Creative Recycle accepts for recycling include:

* Computer Monitors — CRTs

* Computer Monitors — Flat Panel

* Televisions — CRTs

* Televisions — Flat Screen

* Desktop Computers

* Laptop Computers

* Keyboards/Mice

* Toner/Ink Cartridges

* Printers

* Scanners/Fax Machines

* Copy Machines

* VCRs

* Stereos

* Radios

* Mainframes

* Tape Players

* CD Players

* Telephones

* Cell Phones

* Fax Machines

* Gaming Consoles

* Power and Network Cables

* Network Hubs

* Switching Boxes

* Controllers

* Modems

* Docking Stations

* CD Roms

* Hard Drives

* Household Batteries

* Printed Circuit Boards

* UPS (personal and network)

* Microwaves

* Small Household Appliances

* Servers

* Terminals

* Rechargeable Batteries

* Peripherals

* Military Equipment

* Medical Equipment

* Telecommunications

* Commercial Equipment

* Office Equipment

* Banking Equipment

* Test Equipment

Creative Reycle will not, however, accept large household appliances or white goods such as washing machines, refrigerators and freezers, but Gibson said the county will still collect these for recycling by other companies. He said major appliances may be dropped off at any recycling convenience center in the county.

For more information about the county’s e-scrap and other recycling efforts, call 429-2807. For more information about recycling electronics in South Carolina, visit www.scdhec.gov/e-cycle.