The East Alabama Recycling Partnership (EARP) and Keep Opelika Beautiful have hosted electronics recycling and confidential document destruction events. There are no events currently scheduled, so please call your local municipality for more information: City of Auburn, Environmental Services, 334-501-3080; City of Opelika, Solid Waste Division, 334-705-5480; Keep Opelika Beautiful, 334-749-4970; Lee County, Environmental Services, 334-737-7013.
Items accepted at the events were: computers (CPU’s and laptops, mainframes, peripherals, flat screen and CRT monitors); electronic circuit boards and components; cell phones, telephones and telephone systems; printers, copiers, fax machines and office equipment; banking, financial and medical equipment; games, stereos and PDA’s; rechargeable batteries; televisions, refrigerators, air conditioning units, stoves, washers, dryers and hot water heaters.
In addition, confidential paper documents could be brought for destruction to a mobile, on-site shredding truck. Documents were shredded, mixed with thousands of pounds of other shredded paper, and sent to recyclers in 20-ton loads. There was a 10 box limit per vehicle.
Monetary donations and nonperishable food items were collected to benefit the Food Bank of East Alabama. This organization works to feed hungry people, reduce food waste, and raise public awareness of issues related to food and hunger. The most needed items are canned goods (meats, vegetables, fruits); canned and boxed meals (soup, macaroni and cheese); peanut butter; canned or dried beans; pasta, rice and cereal; and fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
Since 2009, these events have collected over 121 tons of electronics and nearly 55 tons of paper for recycling. EARP members are Lee County and the cities of Auburn and Opelika, and Auburn University. The vision of the partnership is to establish a comprehensive and coordinated regional recycling program to divert material from landfills. Sharing ideas and resources have enhanced the partners recycling programs and provides a strong foundation for the future.