The semi-annual electronics recycling day for Vanderburgh County residents is this Saturday, put on by the Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District.
It’s in the parking lot behind the Civic Center from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
During this time a variety of electronics are accepted. Jean Carlson is director of the Solid Waste district.
“Some of the items we collect are computers, monitors, laptops, printers, hard drives, modems, desktop, fax and scanner machines, cell phones, gaming equipment, cables and cords, TVs, DVRs, DVDs — electronic items like that,” Carlson said.
She said some people make the mistake of bringing regular appliances like microwaves, which they do not accept.
The most commonly recycled items are actually old TVs — which they accept for free.
“So it's kind of surprising how many of those big tube TVs are still in people's homes,” she said.
C&I electronics handles the recycling. They'll wipe all personal data from hard drives and cell phones.
Carlson said because of the speed at which electronics become obsolete, such events are important to divert them from the landfill.
“Because they contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury, but also because most of the parts can be recycled,” she said. “There are also valuable materials like copper and gold in some of the items, and those items can be reused.”
Carlson says about 86 tons are recycled per year.
It will be a busy weekend for Indiana Department of Natural Resources parks and waterways.
This weekend includes National Public Lands Day, National hunting and fishing day and Saturday is the last Free Fishing Day of the year for the state of Indiana.
Saturday is National Public Lands Day — the nation’s largest single day of volunteerism on public lands.
That is according to DNR Outdoor Education Coordinator Branndon Castellano.
“Nature as a resource is for everybody, and it's a shared community resource,” he said. “So when we're able to put back into that resource, we're able to protect it and preserve it for future generations to enjoy just as much as we do.”
The DNR is offering volunteer activities to clean up public land, and specific opportunities can be found online.
On Saturday, no license is required to go fishing on DNR Waterways, though there is still a bag limit.
Castellano said hunting and fishing supports DNR conservation activities and these free weekend events help to promote that.
“On free fishing days, we really see a great uptick in first time anglers,” he said. “So people that haven't really tried it that much they're worried about paying the money before they really know if they want to do it.”
He feels that If they try it and like it, maybe next time they’ll buy a fishing license.
Inside the listening area, DNR parks include Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife area, Lincoln State Park and Harmony State Park.
There’s no entrance fee to DNR properties on Sunday.
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