Minnesota Agency Partners with Retailers on E-Scrap Program

The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance is partnering with Best Buy, Target Corp. and Recycle America Alliance-Waste Management of Minnesota to keep electronic equipment out of Minnesota's waste stream.

Best Buy, an electronics store that has been very involved in promoting electronic scrap programs throughout the county, will hold a collection event at its Richfield, Minn., corporate headquarters July 16-17.

Another event, Oct. 8-9 at the Best Buy store in La Crosse, Wis. will serve the La Crosse and Winona, Minn. communities. Target sponsored events will be held this summer in Woodbury and Mankato. Event dates and times will be posted on http://www.reduce.org.

Due to the costs associated with recycling hazardous material, a small fee will be charged for CRTs, depending upon the screen size. The fee for monitors and TVs under 27 inches is $10, and $20 for those over 27 inches or for TV consoles. Many other electronics will be accepted at the events free of charge, including fax machines, stereos, VCRs, camcorders, cellular phones, hand-held electronic devices, inkjet/toner cartridges, and rechargeable batteries.

OEA is a state agency dedicated to protecting Minnesota's environment and assuring a sustainable economy through waste prevention and resource conservation.