Recycle That Old TV, Computer

Residents inclined to take a hammer to their hard drives will now have the chance, now that the town’s transfer station on Ethan Allen Road has begun accepting electronics for recycling.

“You may want to be sure your hard drive is smashed,” suggests Public Works Administrator Arlene Miles. “I wouldn’t want any personal information coming off it,” she added.

Candy wrappers, table scraps, and aluminum soup cans are simple: toss them into the trash, compost, and recycling bin, respectively. But residents have long called Ms Miles about where to put the old computer or a television.

“A lot of people have been asking about electronics,” she said.

Over the past two weeks, the Newtown transfer station has opened an additional recycling bin for televisions, computers, VCRs, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, LED bulbs, alarm clocks, and other electronics.

Although the state will soon be mandating this form of recycling, “We’re doing it before that,” she said. The additional bins have been added to the recycling area already in place at the transfer station.

The Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority (HRRA), which includes Newtown’s transfer station, recently signed a contractor for a new hauler to remove the town’s electronics.

Transfer station hours are Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 3 pm.