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Recycling in the Northland recently has reached a new level.

The evidence was clear as pallets stacked high with old computers, monitors, televisions and other household electronics stood side by side Saturday, June 20, near the Metro North Recycling Center, waiting to begin a journey to facilities where other uses will be found for the materials.

Many area residents participated in the event, which was made possible through a cooperative effort of local governments, area agencies, the Surplus Exchange and the Mid-America Regional Council.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done an event like this in the Northland that’s been open completely to the community,” said Bob Akers, marketing director for Surplus Exchange.

With the strong turnout, he said they hoped to do it again next year.

Akers said the next stop for the material would be a facility in Walford, Iowa, where it will all be disassembled.

“Nothing we’ve collected here will go overseas,” he said. “Ninety to 95 percent of it is recyclable.”

Akers said another benefit was the toxic materials contained in some of the electronic components, would be disposed of properly.

Among the electronic components collected at the Northland site were televisions dating back to the 1960s and ’70s.

While some could be considered collectibles, he stressed the need to keep the commitment made to recycle what was brought in.

He said Surplus Exchange started receiving more televisions for recycling earlier this year as the analog to digital transition period set in.

That was clear at the Northland event.

“I’m really surprised,” said Lee Pogue, a Clay County employee who assisted with the collection. “I thought we’d have a lot more computers and monitors and we had a lot of televisions.”

Smithville City Administrator Gerry Vernon, who also assisted with the collection, said he was glad to see all the electronic components, including computers, being diverted from landfills.

THE DETAILS

Didn’t make it to the electronics recycling event? Need to still get rid of your old computer or television? For more information on how to dispose of them properly, including the cost, contact Surplus Exchange at 472-0444 or www.surplusexchange.org.

Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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