Technology turnaround

Wayne County to collect and recycle used electronics

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Because the last electronic recycling days were so popular, the Wayne Recycling Department will hold another two-day event on Friday, April 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday, April 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Since electronic recycling began, the county recycling center has collected about 90 tons.

Mary Van Patten, Wayne County recycling coordinator, told the county commissioners at their meeting on March 4 that any types of electronic items can be recycled for a nominal fee. The collection is for Wayne County residents only.

“We are doing this because of the cost to county taxpayers,” Van Patten said. “It costs $.16 per pound that the county has to pay to Envirocycle Company of Hallstead, PA.”

Van Patten asked businesses to pre-register for the event by calling the Recycling Center at 570/253-9727.

In a related development, the recycling center recently received a grant for $72,000 from the PA Department of Environmental Protection that it applied for in 2008. The bulk of the money, $71,029, will be used to purchase a new bailer to bundle corrugated cardboard, steel, cans and other recyclables.

The remainder of the money will be used to purchase smaller essentials, such as circuit breakers for machinery and other items.

The grant pays for 90 percent of the cost of the bailer, while the county will pay for the remainder.

In other business, the commissioners tabled a proposed lease for space on an emergency radio antenna in Beach Lake. The proposed lease, which is for 20 years, would allow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue to retain a radio antenna on the county tower.

“This is the oldest tower in the county and we may not want to maintain it for 20 more years,” said commissioner Tony Herzog. He expressed fear that, because of the lease, the county would have to keep the tower in repair, which may cost a great deal of money.