Submitted PhotoThe City of Valdosta and Keep Lowndes-Valdosta Beautiful host the Electronics Recycling Event in the spring and fall of each year. To date, more than 277 tons of electronics have been saved from the landfill, according to KLVB. The event returns Saturday.

VALDOSTA — Looking to get rid of some old electronics?

The City of Valdosta and Keep Lowndes-Valdosta Beautiful are co-hosting the annual Spring Electronics Recycling event Saturday.

The event allows residents to dispose of electronic devices in a safe, convenient and proper manner.

Residents can drop off items at Mathis Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers will be available to unload participants’ cars. Event coordinators said the event will go on rain or shine. 

Items accepted at no charge: personal computers, floppy/driver disks, CD-ROMS, circuit boards, PC power supplies, keyboards, mouse/mice, laptops, printers, fax machines, copiers, stereos, VCRs, CD-players, typewriters, networking equipment, modems, UPS batteries, cell phones, phones, scanners and cabling. 

CRT PC monitors will be accepted with a $5 fee. Televisions will be accepted with a $20 fee. 

Items not accepted: console/projection televisions, washers, dryers, vacuum cleaners, humidifiers, refrigerators, car batteries, toaster ovens, de-humidifiers, gas-powered tools, tires, battery-powered tools, freezers, blenders, household trash, mixers, ovens and microwaves. 

The event has made a tangible difference through the years, said KLVB Executive Director Aaron Strickland. 

“To date, we have diverted 277.3 tons, 554,600 pounds, of electronics from the landfill,” Strickland said. “Each time we have this event, therecycler leaves with a semi-truck trailer full of electronics. Eighteen events equals 18 semi-truck trailers. Picture 18 of those trailers lined up side by side and stacked on top of one another. That’s how much landfill space has been saved since the city and KLVB started this in 2006.” 

With 332 volunteers helping through the past decade, 4,289 monitors, 4,669 PCs and 546 televisions have been recycled, according to KLVB. 

“I believe this event is extremely important to our community,” Strickland said. “Over the last 10 years, our community has recycled over half a million pounds of electronics. That’s pretty significant, and it makes a huge difference. That’s a lot of landfill space that has been saved.”

Strickland said the best part of the event is the price. 

“Best of all, with the exception of CRT monitors and televisions, it’s free to participate,” he said.  

KLVB and the city also co-host a Fall Electronics Recycling Event every year. 

For more information regarding the Electronics Recycling Event, contact the city public works department at (229) 671-3640. 

Jennifer Dandron is a reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229) 244-3400 ext. 1255.