Certain E-waste banned in Washington

Effective October 1, King County, Washington banned certain electronic goods and some products containing mercury from the garbage.

King County residents and businesses 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.

“Household products that contain mercury include fluorescent light bulbs and tubes and thermometers. We need to recycle these products properly to ensure that our health and environment are not compromised,” said Jeff Gaisford, Recycling and Environmental Services manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Solid Waste Division.

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

•“Button–batteries”
•Fluorescent bulbs and tubes
•Mercury switches
•Thermometers
•Thermostats
Electronics that can’t be disposed in the garbage or transfer stations are:
•Cell phones
•Computers, monitors and laptops
•Televisions

For a list of “Take It Back Network” businesses, call 800-325-6165 or visit www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/takeitback.