While many residents are gathering items to sell at the Sanders Sale-ing countywide yard sale event later this month, dozens came to the Thompson Falls Transfer Site on Saturday to get rid of outdated electronics. The annual e-waste event, sponsored by Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Sanders County Solid Waste, collected more than four tons of electronics over the weekend.

Kathy Conlin with Sanders County coordinates the event and said that people were lined up for the event even before it started at 9 a.m. A steady stream of residents continued throughout the day, bringing old televisions, printers, computers, monitors, cellphones and even video cameras. This was the second year for the county to have 406 Recycling of Helena as the vendor to haul away the old electronics. Matt Elsaesser with 406 Recycling stated that they hold about half a dozen events throughout the year, as well as a monthly e-waste event in Helena. The company makes data security a priority, providing certified data destruction. They remove and shred all hard drives before taking apart items.

Plains school brought several items, including a huge box on a pallet that was full of outdated monitors. Elsaesser said there isn't really a market for computer monitors under 20 inches, so they see a lot of the smaller ones brought to the recycling events. He said his company of six people is able to recycle close to 100% of the material they collect and that they work with other vendors who specialize in certain materials, such as plastics, metals or copper. He said their biggest event was a few weeks ago in Gallatin County. He also operates a compost program, which helps dispose of food waste and turn it into compost in Helena through a partnership with YES Compost. He said the company stays busy all year long, with their busy season being around Earth Day in April.

While most of the items 406 Recycling collects are typical electronics, Elsaesser stated one time they received an electric shock treatment machine, which was interesting, and another time someone donated a coffee maker that still had water in it.

Annie Wooden

E-WASTE VOLUNTEERS (from left) Chris and Nancy Haynes of Thompson Falls helped Kathly Conlin of Sanders County Solid Waste, Matt Elsaesser of 406 Recycling and Dusti Johnson with DEQ collect more than 4 tons of items for recycling at the Thompson Falls Transfer Site on Saturday.

Conlin said the county appreciates 406 Recycling and the high percentage of recycling that they do. "They are great to work with," she said.

Dusti Johnson with the state DEQ said the weight collected each year decreases as the size of products decreases. She said they see less and less of the old "CRT" style of televisions.

Chris and Nancy Haynes of Thompson Falls volunteered at the event, helping unload items as residents drove up. Conlin said she was grateful for their help.