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E-waste recycling event Saturday in Ruidoso Downs [Ruidoso News, N.M.](Ruidoso News (NM) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 30--Boxes full of obsolete electronics can be safely and efficiently discarded Saturday at All American Park in Ruidoso Downs between 9 a.m. and noon. "People have closets full of this stuff," said Jim Miller, Greentree Solid Waste Authority public relations coordinator. "This makes it convenient to get rid of it." The event has been held for about eight years now, Miller said. "We are nearing the collection of one million pounds of electronic waste," he said. "That's one million pounds that doesn't go into the landfill." The electronic waste collection event serves to extend the life of the landfill, Miller said, but it does a lot more than that. "We have a lot of illegal dumping in the area," he said. "You will see computer monitors along the forest roads. When you have an event like this, you minimize people doing that." While some of the waste still goes to the landfill after it is sorted, laptops, towers, power supplies and flat screens are sent to a company in Albuquerque to be recycled. Metal parts also are recycled, Miller said. And some things can be used to help starving children in other countries. "We have a new partnership with Coyote Howling," He said. "They are providing volunteers and can take the cell phones, printer cartridges and some other things to work with national companies to get funds to help feed children." Residents who no longer want older computer equipment may dispose of them at the E-Waste event. All other types of electronics, toner cartridges and cell phones can also be disposed of at the event. "Equipment drop-off takes only a couple of minutes and there is no charge for participation," Miller said. "We take it and we dispose of it properly." The Nov. 1 event is sponsored by Keep Ruidoso Downs Beautiful, the Greentree Solid Waste Authority, the village of Ruidoso Parks and Recreation and Schlotzskys of Ruidoso. For more information, contact the Solid Waste Authority office at 378-4697 or toll free at 877-548-8772 or Keep Ruidoso Beautiful at 257-5030. General solid waste disposal and recycling information is available at www.greentreeswa.org. ___ (c)2014 the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.) Visit the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.) at www.ruidosonews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |