News Summary

HAMILTON — Did you get a new television or computer for Christmas? If so, consider recycling your old one.

The Butler County Recycling and Solid Waste District is encouraging residents to recycle their old television sets and computer equipment, free of charge, next week at Technology Recycling Group, 5137 Kieley Place, Cincinnati.

The program is available Jan. 12-16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Butler County Solid Waste District Coordinator Anne Fiehrer Flaig advises people against simply throwing away their TV sets and computers. They're full of lead, mercury, cadmium, phosphorous, "things that can get into our water system through even the best landfill liner covers," she said.

Instead, Technology Recycling Group takes working parts off the equipment to fix other televisions and computers. Parts that can't be reused are broken down and sold as scrap metal and plastic. They ship hazardous chemicals to authorized processing plants.

"We don't throw away anything from the electronics," said Technology Recycling CEO Elli Workum.

Those who don't want to drive to Cincinnati can just wait until April, when the solid-waste district will resume its regularly scheduled long-term drop off program for computers and televisions.

From April through September, residents can then drop off their items on the first and third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1715 Fairgrove Ave. in Hamilton.

The program will operate the second and third Saturdays in July and September due to the July fourth and Labor Day holidays.

Fiehrer Flaig said television-set recycling has spiked in recent years because people are preparing for the end of analog TV and everyone wants a new flatscreen.

"The combination of digital television conversion and the new technology is what really prompted us to offer a week of service in January," she said.

For more information about the district's recycling programs and services, call (513) 887-3653.