Over 45 tons of old electronics recycled as fundraiser for Wayne County YMCA

Over 90,000 pounds of old, unwanted electronics, much of it taking up space in an untold number of closets, attics, or corners of rooms at home was collected at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on April 20 for recycling. A fundraiser for the Wayne County YMCA in Honesdale, the twice-a-year event saw an estimated 350 vehicles join the line.

The Y hosts the event in the spring close to Earth Day, and again in the fall; the next opportunity is Saturday, Oct. 5.

For $25 (add $20 if the item contained freon) one could drop off a whole vehicle load of one-time very useable and state-of-the-art electronics. Among the vintage stuff seen were video tape players, huge computer monitors and old-style TVs with their bulky cathode ray tubes (CRTs), copiers, massive hard drives, a huge pile of cables and wires tangled like spaghetti, flip phones and even record players — although they are coming back in vogue. There were also many not-nearly-as-ancient flat-screen TVs that perhaps no longer worked.

These and other items were amassed in an area of the parking lot where a crew unloaded vehicles one by one. Cars, pickups, and vans snaked through a long loop, each leaving a bit lighter than they came, and some owners may be wondering how they will use the newfound space at home.

Paul Zaccari, owner of Advanced Recycling, said that a lot of the items are dissembled at a plant in Astoria, Queens; CRTs head to a Virginia facility for their glass to be salvaged. Electronic recycling, he said, is getting more popular, due to the usefulness of extracting rare earth minerals, valuable to our national security.

Recycling, he said, was better than sending the junk to a landfill. Materials used in electronic devices that are discarded improperly can pose a threat to the environment if they seep into the soil and waterways.

Zaccari said that half the proceeds benefit the programming at the Wayne County YMCA. A message left for the YMCA director inviting comment had not been returned as of Friday afternoon.

The Y's Facebook page stated, "In solidarity with Earthday.org's mission to end plastic pollution on April 22nd, 2024, we're taking action to reduce electronic waste through our Electronic Recycling event. Join the Wayne County YMCA in Honesdale, PA, as we unite in the global effort to protect our planet at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on April 27, 2024! Every discarded electronic device poses a threat to our environment, as they contain harmful materials that can absorb into our soil and waterways. Together, let's make a difference for Earth Day 2024 and beyond."

The Wayne County Cooperative Agricultural Society, which owns the fairgrounds, donates the site, which Zaccari described as a great benefit. The recycling event used to be held in the Route 6 Plaza lot near the Honesdale National Bank branch, but there was not enough space.

For information about Wayne County YMCA, visit facebook.com/ymcawayne or call 570-253-2083. The Wayne County YMCA is located at 105 Park St., Honesdale.

For more information about electronic recycling, visit the Environmental Protection Agency website at epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Over 45 tons of old electronics recycled, benefitting Wayne County YMCA