TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Got Old Gadgets? Get Rid Of Them Here

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: December 31, 2008

BRANDON - Excess electronica - it's the glut of gizmos that clutters up closets and gathers in garages when people replace outmoded electronic devices with slick new upgrades.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recommends recycling electronics to prevent environmental contamination from toxic materials such as lead and mercury commonly found in the devices.

Most electronics retailers and mobile service providers have boxes where customers can drop off old cell phones and chargers. Some stores, such as Office Depot on Brandon Boulevard, charge customers a small fee to drop off recyclable electronics.

Hillsborough County offers free disposal of household electronics at three collection centers. Locally, the South County Collection Center on Powell Road off U.S. 41 accepts electronics from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month.

Those who bring their property tax bill as proof of residency may recycle five items at the facility, including computers, fax machines, computers, microwaves, printers, stereos, phones and VCR, CD and DVD players.

The center also accepts televisions, which the DEP expects to pile up in 2009 as a result of the Feb. 17 switch from analog to digital TV, when some sets will be rendered obsolete if owners choose not to purchase and install a signal converter box.

The DEP estimates the switch and anticipated lower TV prices in 2009 will spur one in four households to discard at least one TV, and as many as 1.85 million TVs may be recycled in the state during the year.

RECYCLING INFO

For information about Hillsborough County electronics collection centers, call (813) 272-5680 or go to www .hillsboroughcounty.org/solidwaste.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT