Free Program Offers Guilford County Residents a Chance to Shed E-Waste

Guilford County residents will have a chance to get rid of unwanted electronic devices, appliances and other items during a free waste collection event in High Point this weekend.

The city of High Point and Guilford County Planning and Development are partnering with several local agencies to host the Clean and Green event.

The bi-annual collection is designed to give residents of Guilford County the opportunity to get rid of regulated waste items that they can't throw away in their regular trash. The collection drive will be held in one location and it's free of charge for Guilford County residents.

Susan Heim, environmental services coordinator for Guilford County, says volunteers will help remove the unwanted items from people's vehicles.

“At this event, residents can bring tires, and old appliances large and small. In addition, hazardous waste that you can't put in your trash, like fluorescent bulbs, batteries and paint can also be dropped off at the site,” says Heim.

Heim added, “This year, we are also adding document shredding to this event, so residents can bring all kinds of personal records and documents that they would like to get rid of safely and easily.”

In 2011, N.C. lawmakers passed a law that bans computer equipment and televisions from landfills. Heim says this e-waste, including cell phones and toys, will also be collected at the High Point site. The electronic devices will be recycled by a company in Madison.

The Clean and Green event will take place this Saturday, May 18 from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the City of High Point's Mendenhall Transportation Terminal on East Commerce Avenue.