Teaming up to recycle electronics

AUSTIN (KXAN) - While diamonds may last forever, electronics do not. That is why Sony and Waste Management are teaming up to recycle outdated and unwanted electronics. The hope is to collect 180,000 pounds of old televisions and computers at the Travis County Expo Center. "We are hoping to fill up about 14, 53 foot trailers with electronics," said Chad Miller with Waste Management, Recycle America.

From there, the electronics will be taken to Round Rock for recycling. "We will take those components and break them down into commodities," said Miller. "The plastics, the aluminum, the steel, circuit boards, and memory chips. We will separate it all out and market them off to people who can use them in that form."

Typically 95 percent of the item can be recycled. Saturday's recycling program is accepting most electronics like TV's, DVD players, and computers. "My rule of thumb is stay out of the laundry room and kitchen," said Miller. "Your white goods your refrigerators, stove, laundry items those are the items we don't take on Saturday."

For every 1,000 pounds of electronics collected, $100 will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. The electronics recycling event happens Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Travis County Expo Center.