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Janesville electronics collection called a success

JANESVILLE — Company officials are calling Saturday’s collection of electronics waste a rousing success, with more than 300,000 pounds of materials diverted from area landfills.

The numbers will grow because Universal Recycling Technologies will do it again from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at its headquarters at 2535 Beloit Ave., Janesville.

Last Saturday, cars loaded with old computers, monitors and TVs converged on the Janesville, East Towne and West Towne malls, where company attendants unloaded vehicles.

Normally, URT charges a nominal fee to dispose of the materials. The events last week and this week, however, are free.

“We were so happy to see so many turn out for the event, both in Janesville and in Madison,” said URT President Jim Cornwell, who joined other URT employees at the events. “We’d love to see even more people stop by our headquarters this Saturday with carloads of old electronics.

“The more hazardous electronic scrap we can keep out of the landfills the better.”

The free recycling events are in celebration of URT’s recent certifications. The company’s Janesville campus, which includes its corporate office and two processing facilities, recently attained three key industry certifications.

Community collection events are one way the company promotes responsible recycling, helping to keep potentially toxic materials out of landfills and away from developing countries ill-equipped to deal with the waste.

Electronic waste, and in particular the leaded glass used in older-model TV screens and computer monitors, is hazardous if not properly recycled. Electronic equipment contains poisons such as lead and cadmium, which can leech into the environment, potentially contaminating soil and groundwater.