Valley Stream's first E-cycling day a hit

Valley Stream residents turned in more than 500 pieces of electronic waste during the village’s first E-cycling program last Saturday.

In February, the Sanitation Department launched a new electronic waste recycling program that lets residents dispose of their old computers, televisions, VCRs, game systems, cell phones and more free of charge. Previously, residents were charged $7.50 for each piece they turned in. That was until the village inked a deal with Mount Vernon-based We Recycle that actually pays Valley Stream for the electronic waste it collects.

On April 14, residents were asked to fill up their vehicles with any electronic waste they had lying around their house and bring it down to the Village Green. There, sanitation and We Recycle officials collected the old electronics and filled up a tractor trailer.

According to Wayne Mastrangelo, supervisor of the Sanitation Department, 195 people took advantage of the E-cycling program. He said by 9 a.m., there was already a line of cars at the Village Green parking lot.

Under new Department of Environmental Conservation guidelines, electronics are not supposed to be included in regular garbage because of potentially toxic chemicals. Valley Stream made an arrangement with its carting company, Jamaica Ash, to take its electronic waste at a cost of $7.50 per item which was then passed on to the residents.

Now, Valley Stream not only saves money with the new deal, We Recycle pays the village for the electronics it gets. Mastrangelo estimated that Saturday’s collection generated between $2,000 and $3,000 in revenue.

Village Trustee John Tufarelli said the day was so successful because many residents are environmentally conscious and had been holding on to their old electronics, waiting for a chance like this to properly dispose of them.

Valley Stream resident Debralee Lebron said she was happy to take advantage of Saturday’s E-cycling program. She and her husband saw it mentioned on the village’s website, so they gathered up old computer towers, monitors and printers that were just collecting dust in their house.

“Without a recycling program like this and with technology getting faster along with the constant requirement to upgrade, it makes it very difficult to get rid of the old stuff that you have,” she said. “This program eliminates the amount of computer waste being disposed of improperly.”

Lebron said that Saturday’s collection was very easy and convenient, and hopes the village makes it a regular event. “I think this program is an excellent way for the village to help with recycling efforts,” she said.

Mastrangelo said another E-cycling collection day will be planned for the fall. Until then, residents can drop their electronic waste off at the Public Works facility on Arlington Avenue, or call the Sanitation Department at (516) 825-8108 for a special pick-up.

No other village in the area has a program like this, Mastrangelo said. As word spreads, he expects it to become even more popular. “The people couldn’t be happier,” he said.