Electronics recycling program

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — We’re used to recycling cans, bottles and paper. But computers and television sets don’t typically come to mind as recyclable materials. A New Hanover County electronics recycling program wants to change that.

The county is trying out the program, which allows New Hanover County residents to drop off computers and TVs at the Wastec location on Highway 421 on the last Saturday of every month through June.

The objective is to reduce the volume in the local landfill, which can include hazardous lead. Everything from glass to plastic to metal will be recycled. The only thing not recyclable is wood in old TVs.

Paula Tayson of Wilmington dropped of an old printer. She said, “It’s a great program. I wish it was regularly every month. I think our landfill gets filled with too many things that are never going to decompose or go away so this is a great way to recycle something that can be used for something else.”

The electronics will be taken to an electronics recycling plant in Mayodan, NC. New Hanover County officials will decide whether to expand the program in the future to include other hazardous household materials.