Written by: Jessica Ingram

The City of Valdosta Public Works Department and the Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful organization hosted another successful Electronics Recycling event in Mathis Auditorium on Saturday.

Citizens were asked to drop off old and unwanted electronics, such as computers, cell phones, cables, stereos, VCRs, cameras and televisions.

The Electronic Recycling event is one of two annual events intended to help decrease the amount of electronics that are disposed of improperly. 

“The city is proud to host these events each year,” John Whitehead III, City of Valdosta deputy city manager, said in a City of Valdosta press release.

The totals from Saturday’s event have not been released yet, but in spring 2013 the city collected 16,125 pounds of unwanted electronics at the event. 

According to Aaron Strickland, executive director of Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful, 482,120 pounds of unwanted electronics have been collected since the event’s start in 2006.

“That’s approximately seven to 10 semi-trucks crammed full of electronics,” Strickland said. “Now imagine the amount of space those seven to 10 semi-truck trailers would take up in a landfill.”

Strickland always considers the event a success because no matter how many items are collected, they are still items that will not take up space in a landfill.

The Electronic Recycling event is hosted twice a year, in the spring and fall.