One month before the Digital Television (DTV) conversion, Wake County Environmental Services encourages citizens to recycle unwanted television sets at either of its Multi-Material Recycling Facilities. The service is free to Wake County residents and is available six days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
· North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, 9029 Deponie Drive, North Raleigh
· South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex
Between November 2007 and November 2008, the County had a 100 times increase, from 217 pounds to 28,000 pounds, in the number of television sets recycled. The County expects television recycling to peak in February 2009, as many citizens choose to switch to digital television sets rather than use converter boxes.
"Television sets take up a lot of space in our landfill and they are bad for our environment," said Environmental Services Deputy Director Matt Roylance. "We would much rather citizens bring their televisions to us, so they can be properly disposed of, and the landfill space can be used for items that cannot be recycled."
On January 1, 2010, North Carolina General Statute 130A-309.90 will make it illegal to put television sets and other electronic equipment, including computers, in landfills.
For more information on the DTV conversion, visit www.dtv2009.gov.
