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![TMCNet: It's the law: Electronics must be recycled [Reading Eagle, Pa.]](http://images.tmcnet.com/siteart/invisible.gif)
It's the law: Electronics must be recycled [Reading Eagle, Pa.]
(Reading Eagle (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 27--Implementation of a state law requiring that most electronic devices be recycled is off to a good start in Berks County.
Three pallets were stacked with televisions, computers, DVD players, cellphones and other discarded items in the warehouse at Best Buy in Wyomissing on Thursday, the day when landfills were required by law to stop accepting discarded electronics.
The intent is to prevent heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury from getting into the waste stream and harming the environment.
Mike Hummel, a Best Buy manager, said the store hasn't been counting the number of items it's collected, but the amount has been growing as the deadline approached.
"Customers put it on a cart, and we take it back to the warehouse," he said. "It's hauled away three times a week."
Because the Covered Device Recycling Act of 2010 also required electronics manufacturers to come up with a plan to collect and recycle their products as of last January, electronics retailers and recycling centers were prepared to handle the increase.
The Berks County Solid Waste Authority recycling center at 1316 Hilltop Road in Bern Township is among them.
Executive Director Jane C. Meeks said some municipalities, including the city, have been mailing information on the new requirements to their residents or publishing it in their newsletters.
One hundred people dropped off more than 400 items in four hours on Jan. 19 alone, she said.
"Typically, we were doing a tractor-trailer load of about 20,000 pounds a week," Meeks said. "We had two pickups this week because the barn was busting at the seams.
"Every day we're getting calls saying the trash hauler didn't pick up a TV. They're not going to. As of Jan. 24, no more covered devices can go into the landfill."
Contact Mary Young: 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.
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(c)2013 the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.)
Visit the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.) at readingeagle.com
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