The biggest, best and last event of its kind.Not sure what to do with that old computer, television or stereo system collecting dust in the garage? Instead of tossing them into the garbage can to be sent to the landfill, you can recycle these items at the upcoming E-Cycling event on Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2, in the War Memorial Stadium parking lot. Formerly known as CompuSwap, this year’s E-Cycling event is sponsored by a County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Recycling grant and managed by nonprofit partner Habitat for Humanity Maui.
The E-Cycling event will begin on Friday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., collecting commercial drop-offs only, including businesses, government agencies, schools and large loads. On Saturday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., E-Cycling collection will be open to all residents with small loads of household items. Residents are encouraged to bring electronics—used or not—to be recycled, rather than send them to the county landfill. The E-Cycling event welcomes nearly all types of technical items, including computers, televisions, stereos, or anything with a circuit board, such as copy and fax machines, POS systems—even cell phones. According to the department of Environmental Management, the purpose of the event is to “help keep obsolete computers, TVs and electronic equipment out of our landfill.”
All items collected during the two-day event will be refurbished and donated; if unusable, the equipment will be sent to an electronics recycler for de-manufacturing and reclamation. Upon collection, items are dissembled, with components sorted and placed in temporary storage bins. Unusable plastic components are sent off for grinding and the ground parts are then packed in containers and sent off to be recycled. This “e-cycling” process prevents bulky electronics and environmentally-unfriendly plastics from clogging our landfill, and promotes a cleaner, greener method of disposing of unwanted household items.
This year’s outdoor event may be the last of its kind, as the county is currently developing a permanent facility where residents can drop off their electronic equipment for recycling. The facility is planned to occupy part of Habitat for Humanity Maui’s new ReStore building in Wailuku. The new facility will provide a convenient spot for recycling electronics and has been the long-term goal of E-Cycling event coordinators and sponsors since the event began eight years ago.
According to E-Cycling Event Coordinator Don Riccio, the new recycling facility is a work in progress. “Though no timing is established, the county is working with Habitat for Humanity to establish a permanent E-Cycling drop-off facility in Wailuku,” he said. “Businesses and individuals will be able to dispose of unwanted electronic materials in a timely fashion, rather than wait for the bi-annual events. Habitat for Humanity and the County of Maui will announce when the facility is ready.”
At the E-Cycling collection on Saturday, Aug. 2, residents will have access to a salvage area offering free parts and components to take home. In addition, Saturday’s event will feature a variety of “reuse activities,” including special sales and promotions from event sponsors, and tables of merchandise available for purchase at affordable prices.
“We are looking forward to making this last event the biggest and best yet,” said Riccio. “Results have exceeded our expectations and over 200 tons of obsolete electronic equipment is collected annually. We would like to thank local businesses and the public for their support over the last eight years in helping make Maui a safer and greener place to live.”
The War Memorial Stadium parking lot is located on Kanaloa Avenue in Wailuku. Volunteers are needed for both days of the event; for more information about volunteer opportunities, recycling tips, or for a schedule of events, call the E-Cycling Hotline at 573-4018.