Press Release


IN THE WAKE OF HOLIDAY GIVING, SEND YOUR OLD ELECTRONICS TO A HAPPY RETIREMENT

Simi Valley, California, January 14, 2008 – Electronic items are some of the more popular holiday gifts, but disposing of old electronics to make room for the new can be difficult. Electronic waste, known as “E-waste”, cannot be disposed of in landfills. Each year, Americans dispose of roughly 250 million computers. In California alone, 6,000 computers become obsolete each day.

“E-waste cannot be disposed of in landfills because it contains lead and other toxic chemicals,” said Mike Smith, Market Area General Manager for Waste Management in Ventura County. “It is important to protect the environment and make sure these materials don’t find their way into your regular trash bin.”

Waste Management of Ventura County/GI Industries accepts old electronic items for proper disposal at GI Industries but also urges residents to first try to find “new homes” for working electronics in order to reduce our waste stream.

“The beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to take stock of your electronic items and determine which ones can be recycled or exchanged with neighbors,” said Smith. “Gently used computers do a lot more good if they are given to schools or non-profits than if they are left in basements or tossed illegally in landfills.”

Old, but still working electronic items can often be given away or sold. Some ideas for reuse of electronics include:
  • Non-profit thrift stores will gladly take gently used electronics and will usually give donors a receipt to use for tax purposes.


  • www.Freecycle.com allows members to give and get items for free. Freecycle is a web-based, nonprofit organization made up of individual city groups that promote waste reuse among their members. Members have the opportunity to give and get great things for free, in an effort to keep unnecessary waste out of landfills. Membership in Freecycle is free and open to all communities and all members who want to participate.


  • Newer computers, TVs and other electronics can sometimes find a home at local schools.
Residents can drop off E-waste at GI Industries from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. GI Industries is located at 195 West Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley. This service, provided by Waste Management, is free to all Ventura County residents. Please bring proof of residency and check in with the main office. For more information, please call Marilyn Gallagher at (805) 955-4342.

Waste Management provides Ventura County with recycling, trash hauling and solid waste disposal through G.I. Industries and the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Waste Management has owned and operated G.I. Industries since 1998 and the SVLRC site since 1983 and employs more than 230 people in Ventura County. The SVLRC provides approximately 60% of Ventura County's daily refuse disposal needs. The company operates a “green power” program at the site that generates enough power for 2,500 homes, and clean-burning LNG powers 38 of its trucks. Waste Management is a significant contributor to area community groups. For more information visit our website www.keepingventuracountyclean.com.
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