E-Cycle comes to Kirkland

Free year-round recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and televisions will be provided to households, small businesses, school districts and charities at authorized collection sites in Kirkland and throughout the state.

Free year-round recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and televisions will be provided to households, small businesses, school districts and charities at authorized collection sites in Kirkland and throughout the state.

Kirkland single-family customers can recycle electronics at the curb for free (no TV’s over 21 inches in size). To schedule a pickup, call Waste Management at 800-592-9995 or go to www.wmnorthwest.com/kirkland for details.

Collection Sites

Kingsgate Park & Ride Goodwill Donation Center: 13001 116th Way, Mon-Sun, 7:30am to 6 p.m .

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* No TV’s larger than 19 inches accepted; limit of three items per person

Totem Lake Goodwill Donation Center: 12221 120th Ave. N.E. (in front of Fred Meyer), Mon-Sun, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Bellevue Park & Ride Goodwill Donation Center: 2700 Bellevue Way, Mon-Sun, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*No TV’s larger than 19 inches accepted

Goodwill Bellevue Store: 14515 NE 20th St., Mon-Sat, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

*All TV sizes accepted; limit of 5 items.

E-waste legislation

In March, 2006, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed legislation that would make manufacturers of electronic products more responsible for recycling those items.

E-Waste has become one of America’s most pressing environmental problems, with a consumer culture of disposability, promoted by retailers and manufacturers, meaning that cell phones, computers and other items are often thrown out after a year or two of use.

The legislation signed by Gregoire in 2006 came into effect Jan. 1.

It is hoped the legislation will ensure manufacturers create and maintain free and convenient sites for consumers to recycle their old televisions, computers and other electronic products.

In the past, electronics recyclers were often charged a fee for the service.

However, as we move into the second week of January, just what difference the heralded legislation has made brought to the people of Sammamish is not yet clear.

In Issaquah, At Work Recycling will accept electronic goods for recycling free of charge, satisfying the requirements of the new legislation, which mandates at least one such outlet for population centers of more than 10,000 people.

But despite having almost 2 years to prepare for the recycling requirements, the Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority (WMMFA), which is the manufacturers group created by state law to implement the recycling plans, has not been able to provide a site for Sammamish residents to recycle their electronics.

The Washington Department of Ecology’s Miles Kuntz said this week that the new legislation did allow the manufacturers’ group some latitude.