Residents take advantage of e-waste disposal sites

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Paul Gray, a motor equipment operator for the Orleans County Highway Department, moves a pallet of computer units and other electronic waste at the County Highway Department today at 225 West Academy St.

The county started accepting e-waste on Monday at the Highway Department and at two other sites: the Murray Town Hall at 3840 Fancher Rd (Route31), and the Shelby Town Hall, 4062 Salt Works Rd.

Already, 34 pallets of e-waste, mostly older TVs with cathode-ray technology, were collected at the three locations. Residents can drop off the materials for free.

Paul Gray and Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief adminsitrative officer, are pictured inside the Highway Department where 13 pallets of e-waste have been dropped off this week in Albion, mostly the older televisions.

The state on Jan. 1 began banning curbside disposal of older TVs with cathode-ray technology. Many residents have upgraded from those televisions, switching to popular flat screens. Many of the older TVs have been dumped in ditches along rural roads.

The County Legislature last month approved a deal with Sunnking Incorporated of Brockport to pick up and dispose of cathode ray tube televisions, monitors, computers, peripheral devices and other household electronics.

The company will be paid $14,782 annually for the service.

Nesbitt said the big influx of e-waste this week shows a pent-up demand among residents to get rid of the material.

The three locations will accept the e-waste from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.