Washington County Banning Disposal of Some E-Scrap

Residents and businesses in the county are asked to recycle their electronics at Take It Back Network member locations. Mercury-containing products can be recycled at private sector recyclers or household hazardous waste facilities. A similar ban on disposing computers, TVs, monitors and cell phones and mercury- containing products is already in effect in Snohomish County and the city of Seattle.

Mercury-containing products that can no longer be put in the garbage or disposed at transfer stations are:

Button batteries, including small button or coin-sized batteries used in watches, thermometers, hearing aids, etc.; fluorescent bulbs and tubes, including "green tipped” tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs; mercury switches; thermometers; and thermostats.

Electronic Equipment that can't be disposed in the garbage or at transfer stations are the following: cell phones, computers, monitors and laptops, and televisions.

For single family residents, the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland and Redmond offer curbside collection for smaller electronic items including TVs less than 21 inches, computers, monitors, VCRs and cell phones.

For information on where some of these materials can be taken contact the King County Solid Waste Division at 206-296-4466, toll free 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4466, TTY Relay: 711 during regular business hours or via the web at www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd.