Mar 6, 2013 2 min read

State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, is teaming up with Canonsburg Borough and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania to hold a consumer electronics recycling event April 13.

“As technology transforms the world we live in, we have to make sure we’re keeping up with threats to the environment,” Solobay said. “We’re working together to help consumers make the right decisions that will protect future generations.”

On Jan. 24, part of Pennsylvania’s 2010 Covered Device Recycling Act went into effect, prohibiting the disposal of computers, printers, televisions and similar electronic devices with household trash. Electronics contain heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury that could remain dangerous for decades if dumped in landfills. A typical cathode-ray computer monitor could contain as much as seven pounds of lead.

Cellphones are exempt from the new restrictions, but residents can dispose of them at the event as well.

Although manufacturers are required to set up programs to help consumers recycle their electronics and counties have set up their own programs, state and local officials are trying to raise awareness and jumpstart the effort.

The electronics recycling event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the borough building parking lot, 68 E. Pike St.

A couple of weeks later, Solobay and the borough will host DocSolutions, a subsidiary of Community Action Southwest, to provide free document shredding in the borough building parking lot.

The document shredding will take place in the borough parking lot April 25. Residents can bring their unneeded papers from 9 a.m. until noon. The event is for individuals only, and not businesses. Both events are open to residents of all municipalities in the region. For more information, call Solobay’s office at 724-223-2114 or Mayor Dave Rhome at 724-745-1800, extension 16.