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E-waste Guide
Disposal Options and Information
The April 17th and 18th, 2009, free, community collection event was a huge success. Thousands of pounds of toxic metals were diverted from our landfill. Ninety-four tons (six trucks full) of old monitors, laptops, CPUs, printers, mice, keyboards, televisions were dropped off at the fairgrounds, packed onto pallets by voluteers and transported to Silicon Valley, California to be separated into component materials and processed into raw materials for new electronics.
Thank you to our sponsors and many voluteers for making the event a sucess!
We are continuing to pursue opportunities for regular, more frequent e-waste recycling options.
For more information, please contact:
Gallatin Solid Waste District
406-582-2493
When Recycling, Protect your privacy: Before recycling your computer, consider erasing the hard drive to protect your privacy and security. Simply deleting files from your "recycling bin" does not permanently remove them from the hard drive, and with some work, they can be reconstructed and accessed again. Free software known as "erasers" or "disk sanitizers" are available online to systematically write 1's and 0's over all of your data on the hard drive, this will render any personal data on the drive unreadable. Scroll to the bottom of this page to "Data Security" for several options.
Current Disposal Options:
Costco Trade-In Program gives you cash cards good for purchases and pre-paid shipping to recycle your used electronics. Sign up on the website, send in the equipment, it will be evaluated and then you'll receive a gift card in the mail. For laptops, cell phones, LCD monitors, digital cameras, mp3 players, blu-ray, gaming systems and more.
Dell and Staples Launch FREE E-Recyling for Dell Customers Consumers may now recycling their Dell brand computers, monitors, mice and more at any Staples branch for free.
Staples in Bozeman will accept any brand computer monitors, CPUs, printers and fax machines for fee of $10 per item. Keyboards, mice and speakers are accepted for free. Staples
Office Depot in Bozeman sells shipping boxes at various prices ($5 - $15) which you take home and fill with your e-waste. Then, bring the box back to Office Depot and they will ship your e-waste to a recycler.
Residents are reminded that even though our community e-waste collection events have been held at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, these events have been scheduled for one-time drop-off only on specified days and residents should not drop off e-waste at the Fairgrounds now or in the future as this facility does not have the capability to handle these products.
Background:
Today's society has become increasingly dependent upon consumer electronic products. We talk on our cell phones, surf the internet and send email on our computers, print and fax photos and documents, listen to music on our ipods and MP3 players, and watch television. These products provide entertainment and convenience in our daily activities--both personal and professional. But, when these products become outdated, unwanted, or broken they are considered e-waste (electronic waste) and disposal is not so convenient.
E-waste contains hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, hexavalent Chromium, brominated flame retardants and lead. One computer monitor can contain up to 8 pounds of lead. Montana has no regulations banning e-waste from landfills. However, this does not mean it is a safe or preferred disposal option. In fact, consumer electronics may be responsible for 40% of the lead found in landfills.
Brochures and Fact Sheets by the GLWQD
Gallatin E-waste Recycling Event White Papers
Recycling Information and Options
Manufacturer Take-Back Recycling Programs
[Link]Data Security
Freeware that wipes hard drives clean (Provided by MT DEQ)
Software for destroying data (Provided by MT DEQ)
If you have any further questions, please contact the Gallatin Local Water Quality District at 582-3148 or email us.
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