Chattanoogans overwhelmed with obsolete laptops, televisions, fax machines, cell phones and printers can jettison them as e-waste today at a recycling collection point sponsored by MacAuthority and Hamilton Place mall.
Apple Inc., the electronics giant known for its touch-screen music players, phones and tablets, will provide recycling services for the occasion that lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At a similar 2009 event in Nashville, MacAuthority took in more than 500 tons of electronics for recycling, according to Jeff Sisk, store manager for the MacAuthority at Hamilton Place.
"It's something that Apple does; they offer it to their Apple specialists like us and they do the event at our place," Mr. Sisk said. "Last year we had it in Nashville, and we thought this year, instead of having it in Nashville, we'd have it in Chattanooga."
Tossing seemingly harmless devices such as cell phones, CRT monitors and computers into a landfill exposes the environment to harmful chemicals, he said.
"If you have an old CRT, it has phosphorous gas on the inside, and some of this stuff has mercury inside it," he said, "Most places that will recycle the CRT monitors charge you for that, but this event is totally free as long as its in our acceptable category."
Acceptable items include things such as computer systems, televisions, cameras, printers, copiers, PDAs, fax machines, cell phones, wires, routers, switches and other computer accessories, according to MacAuthority's news release.
Items that will be refused include hazardous materials, household appliances, batteries, cracked CRT screens, microwave ovens, smoke detectors, hair dryers, Styrofoam, cardboard and paper.
Bill Tyler, director for marketing and promotions for the retail chain, said raising awareness about proper e-waste disposal is a primary purpose for the event.
"When people have this stuff laying around and they try to hide it and put it in a garbage can and it finds itself in a landfill, it can harm the environment because it can get into the water," he said.
"We really want to encourage governments and schools and offices to get on board, because we know they have a lot of older electronic waste as well," he said.
The recycling effort began Friday with schools and businesses invited to jettison old electronics.
The event today will be in the mall parking lot behind Abeulos and Sears.