EAST LONGMEADOW — The day for East Longmeadow residents to properly recycle all their electronic devices has returned.
The East Longmeadow Public Schools’ parent groups annual E-Cycle day is set for Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at the new East Longmeadow High School, 180 Maple St.
All proceeds go towards funding school initiatives, including field trips, enrichment activities or anything that isn’t typically covered in the school budget. Payment methods include checks, Venmo or cash.
Residents can bring any electronic devices that don’t work or they don’t want anymore, such as televisions, dehumidifiers, lawnmowers, paper shredders or even treadmills. Residents can also bring bags of paper for $5 and shredding begins at 10 a.m.
Costs vary for electronic items, with prices starting at $15 for audio and video equipment, kitchen and household appliances and yard equipment. These include smaller items like DVD players, toasters, blenders, vacuums or chainsaws.
Residents can also recycle computer items for $15, such as laptops, tablets, printers or copiers.
Computer monitors, mid-size appliances and small components that don’t include small batteries are priced at $25. This includes AC units, mini fridges, microwaves or TVs smaller than 27 inches.
TVs larger than 27 inches and large appliances, such as washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers and exercise equipment, are priced at $30. Residents are asked not to bring styrofoam, large fridges or freezers, batteries, furniture and mattresses.
Residents will receive a ticket once volunteers tally the items. Residents will then drive up to the Gold Circuit truck where items will be unloaded and recycled.
Katie Reilly, an eighth grade math teacher at Birchland Park Middle School, said the E-Cycle event has been ongoing for over 15 years.
“It’s always the weekend after Labor Day that we run it and we usually get a ton of support,” Reilly said. “I think some people look for it and store up their stuff until this. We have some regular customers.”
She said the event’s whole purpose is for residents to properly dispose of electronics and ensure that everything is recycled and disposed of responsibly. High school students also volunteer and the event is used to teach them about responsible recycling.
“It’s important to show that sense of responsibility for their things and also, it does cost money to do it but it is the right thing to do,” Reilly said. “It’s important to model that, and as a community, that same idea is just being responsible citizens of a town. You don’t want it dumped somewhere either around town or in the wrong way, you know, at the edge of your curb. I think it’s important to have it every year. I think it helps residents that rely on it, to continue to support that responsibility to your community, to the Earth and to your kids, to model that for them as well.”
Residents can view a full breakdown of information and recycling costs on the Mapleshade PTO Facebook page, @MapleshadePTO.
