On Saturday, what looks like a discarded printer lies outside the Republic Services yard on Montgomery Street S.E. where E-waste used to be accepted but hasn’t been for two years.
Yes, you CAN hand in electronic trash for recycling in Albany even on weekends when Republic Services is closed. That’s what the DEQ tells us online.
Here’s the story that leads to this point.
A few weeks ago I wanted to get rid of a printer that had given up the ghost, assuming that computer printers have ghosts to give up. (They must, for often they seem to have a will of their own.)
It had been some years since I had dropped off old TVs and similar junk at Republic Services’ E-waste recycling station on S.E. Montgomery Street. I checked online to see if it was still there and, on Republic’s website, got this message: “Electronics recycling services are not available in your area at this time.”
OK then, I said to myself, and the printer went into the trash. (I didn’t know then that that’s a no-no.)
On Saturday a bike ride took me past the place where I used to drop stuff like that. The photo at the top is the result. As the sign says, that place has been closed to E-waste recycling for two years. It points to a new Republic Services location, on 30th Avenue just east of Pacific, where E-waste is accepted, but only 8 to 5 on weekdays.
On Sunday I took a look and, sure enough, the place is behind a closed gate.
The gate, closed on Sunday, leads to Oregon Freeze Dry and the Republic Services E-waste recycling place when it’s open.
But people who work regular hours during the week and want to do their cleanup and disposal chores on weekends have other options, as I learned on the E-waste recycling website of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
The site reminds us that, passed by the legislature in 2007, “Oregon E-Cycles is a statewide program, financed by manufacturers, that provides responsible recycling of computers, monitors, printers, TVs and computer peripherals. Anyone may recycle seven or fewer of those electronic devices at one time at no charge at participating collection sites.​”
And as for collection sites, the DEQ lists two in Albany in addition to Republic Services. These are Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul, both on Pacific Boulevard S.E. And both, the DEQ tells us, are open seven days a week including, obviously, Saturday and Sunday.
No more excuse to put electronic waste in the trash. (hh)
Also drop off at the Sweet Home Transfer Station. Living in Lebanon I take everything to Sweet Home
Thanks for sharing. For some reason it’s hard to get clear answers when searching online for places to recycle. I see the question asked on occasion on the Albany social media pages.
The E-cycle site on 30th is convenient place to use, you just have to keep on eye out for the street/entrance as it’s easy to miss and at first seems like you’re entering Oregon Freeze Dry’s property. We have dropped off dead TVs, printers, etc, several times.
Another convenient recycling center for household recycling (cardboard, plastics, even motor oil) is the Recycling Depot on Industrial Way. However, they don’t take styrofoam.
Wow
This is great information. I was just about to search for this info
as I have one old Tube TV and two desktop computers that work but are old and are just taking up space. And a few other E-waste items that no longer work.
First I’ll try Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul. Even though I doubt they would resell them and give them a new home.
Also never knew that Republic Services had a location on 30th.
Now I believe Home Depot use to take
batteries, both dead rechargeable, and one-time-use batteries.
Need to research where to take old light bulbs besides Corvallis.
Oh and clean shipping material. plastic bubble wrap etc.
And also old bicycle tubes and tires. If I find a car tire store that takes them, I’ll post again.
Thanks again Hasso Hering for such great info on Albany.
Hope to see you on the road, but now I ride mostly gravel and bike paths and streets with less traffic. I’m the guy with 20+ bikes. LOL oh 21 now, just bought one of my kids a used GT.
A little off-topic
Albany is a great flat town to go car-free, or all most car-free,
A few years ago I tried it for a few months while I was in between cars.
It was great and saved money. My biggest problem was with my bike trailer, some plastic part broke that connects to the bike frame, the metal part was still good. Also walked a lot to the mall area. And should be even easier today with so many items that can be delivered right to your house.