YORK COUNTY, Pa. – York County residents will soon be able to safely dispose of used, outdated televisions and computers. Just three months ago the county...

YORK COUNTY, Pa. – York County residents will soon be able to safely dispose of used, outdated televisions and computers. Just three months ago the county canceled its previous electronic recycling program, blaming a 2010 EPA, Act 108, for making e-waste businesses unprofitable to operate.

The York County Solid Waste Authority is set to launch a Residential Electronics Recycling Program beginning in early April. The exact start date will be announced soon.

In a statement released on Tuesday the Authority announced that the program will be free and open to York County residents ONLY. It will be conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every week at the Authority’s Yard Waste Site located off of Flour Mill Road in Manchester Township. Saturday events will no longer be conducted at the Yard Waste Site. The multiple days and additional hours will provide residents with greater opportunity, flexibility and efficiency in recycling electronic devices.

Penn and Fairview Townships will also be conducting electronics recycling collection programs. Both Penn and Fairview will accept electronics from all York County residents and offer weekday and Saturday collection hours. Please call, or visit their web sites for times and locations: Penn Township, 717-637-1561, http://www.penntwp.com/, Fairview Township, 717-901-5200: http://twp.fairview.pa.us/.

The Authority’s new e-scrap management contract is with electronics recycling vendor ECOvanta and extends only to December 31, 2016. The Authority is pursuing program alternatives for 2017.

Act 108 bans both the disposal and collection of certain electronic “covered devices”. Electronics currently banned from hauler collection and disposal in PA waste disposal facilities include: televisions, desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals (anything that connects to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.). Material accepted in the program includes these electronic “covered devices” as well as other electronic recyclables including cell phones, vacuum cleaners, alarm clocks, irons and coffee makers or anything with a plug that does not contain Freons. Examples of Freon-containing items include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.