There’s no excuse for tossing your old PC, VCR or PED out with the garbage. On Saturday, Nov. 15, askHRgreen.org and cities throughout Hampton Roads will mark America Recycles Day with free electronics recycling events in a community near you.

Don’t throw your old electronics in the trash,” said Julia Hillegass, askHRgreen.org team leader. “Proper electronics recycling is paramount because electronics contain hazardous waste that can be released into the air, soil, and water, causing health and environmental risks. Bring your electronics to one of these events, and we’ll take care of it for you.”

Five cities, all on the same day, will be hosting collection events at the following locations:

Chesapeake, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Greenbrier Mall, 1401 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320. What to bring: electronics, gently used unwanted household items and documents for shredding.

Hampton, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Hampton Public Works Operations Complex, 419 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669. What to bring: electronics and household hazardous waste.

Norfolk, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Norfolk Waste Management Facility, 1176 Pineridge Road, Norfolk, VA 23502. What to bring: electronics, household hazardous waste, gently used unwanted household items, plastic bags/wraps and documents for shredding.

Portsmouth, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monumental United Methodist Church, 450 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. What to bring: electronics, household hazardous waste, gently used unwanted household items and documents for shredding.

Yorktown, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., York County Sports Complex, 4311 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown, VA 23692 What to bring: electronics and documents for shredding.
Almost anything with a plug will be accepted, but no TVs, please. Electronics that are typically recycled include cell phones, computers/monitors/keyboards, consumer electronics (DVD players, alarm clocks, hairdryers, etc.), fax machines, home and office phones, household appliances, printers, stereos, telephone equipment and VCRs. For detailed information about each collection event, including a complete list of what will be accepted at each location, please visit the America Recycles Day Events page at askHRgreen.org.

The Hampton Roads events will be held in conjunction with America Recycles Day, a national initiative by Keep America Beautiful, and co-presented by the following partners: Goodwill, VersAbility Resources, Shred-It, Stealth Shredding, RDS Recycling, TFC Recycling, Iron Mountain, Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) and the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA).

Electronics collected at these events are disassembled into various parts and shipped to manufacturers that will re-use the working parts and repurpose the recycled goods into new products. For more information about all things green in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.

Good to Do: Donate or Recycle Your Electronics

If your computer works and is less than five years old, consider donating it to The National Cristina Foundation, a non-profit that works with companies and individuals to donate computers and other technology to charities, schools, and other public agencies.
If your electronics are old or broken, take them to a local drop-off facility or e-cycling event. askHRgreen.org partners with Cox Communications to promote where Hampton Roads residents can drop off unwanted electronics for recycling.