New recycling boxes make it easy to drop off old electronics, benefit charities

A recycling program at the R-Board Regional Landfill in Stafford County acts as an alternative to dropping items off at businesses, such as big-box retailers that may charge recycling fees.

•  “The advantage for people is not only that we get it [e-waste] out of the landfill, but it also helps us raise money to help out the community,” program manager Fred Canon said.
• Best Buy offers can recycle many smaller electronics for free, but they charge $25 to take monitors and TVs.

The program uses proceeds from electronic recycling to donate to several organizations.

• In 2019, they’ve donated around $2,000 to the local food pantry SERVE and the Stafford Lions Club that works with sight, hearing, and disability programs.
• Other organizations that they support include the Marine Corps Heritage Program, Special Olympics, Rotary Flags for Heroes, and Youth Sports. These all received donations of $50 thus far in 2019.

Recyclers pay money to receive old electronics which is how the program raises funds.

• “We use the list of recyclers and figure out who’s going to give the most for each item, and that’s who we send them off too,” Cannon said.
• Advantage Cartridge, Cartridges for Kids, and Toner Buyer are some of the recyclers that Cannon works with.
• Other items like printers are taken to local metal recyclers.
• The recyclers will not accept regular-sized computers, so instead these get donated to the computer refurbishing club at Brooke Point High School. 

Most old electronics are accepted, even if they are broken.

• They can take laptops, computers, cell phones, ink cartridges, and other items.
• Old televisions and CRT monitors cannot be recycled. 

There are several different ways people can donate their old electronics.

• 10 drop boxes are located across the community, including at the R-Board Regional Landfill in Stafford. 
• Canon also does weekly pickups at several businesses such as the Fredericksburg Pohanka, Silver Companies, and Radley Chevrolet.
• Additionally, Canon will do in-person pickups from residents’ houses and other businesses if they contact him at [email protected]. 

The amount of electronics collected varies month to month.

• “Right after Christmas when everyone gets their new ones and right around spring cleanup in April, we tend to get more electronics.”
• On average about 50 pounds of electronics are received each month, including around 60 to 100 cell phones, 20 to 30 printers, and six computers.

The program was originally founded by Girl Scouts Troop 753 in 2007.

• Fred Cannon was the leader of the group and went on to continue the recycling program when the troop disbanded in 2013.
• “When the girls were in fifth grade and we were doing a bronze project, we wanted to put a pond in at Marian Manor Alzheimer’s Home,” Cannon said. “Since I was their leader, I had to come up with a way us to pay for it, and that’s what started this whole program off.”