GPS Systems Alternative ways to recycle Illegal in Garbage & Drains Recycle with E-Waste An estimated 50 million tons of E-Waste is produced each year! It is illegal to dispose of these materials in our landfills, or our trash cans. Examples of -waste includes televisions, computers, printers, fax machines, cell phones, and tablets. Please help the City of Oceanside recycle Electronic Waste. It is easy with the following enhanced services: Schedule a Curbside Pick-up: Residents can schedule curbside collection of up to five e-waste items three times annually. To schedule a free e-waste pick up, call Waste Management’s Customer Service line at least 24 hours in advance of your pick up day. Call (760) 439-2824. E-waste may also be dropped off at Waste Management’s buyback center at 2880 Industry Street, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm (closed 12:00 pm – 12:40 pm for lunch) at no charge. Proof of Oceanside residency is required. Never Throw Away Never throw away GPS systems. Some GPS systems utilize mercury in the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or the internal lamp to enhance lighting efficiency. GPS systems that don’t contain mercury contain other toxic metals that will leach into the environment if thrown away. Look for the Mercury Label Check the owner’s manual for any warnings about mercury and/or the “Hg” mercury symbol. The statement “may contain mercury” often means that it absolutely contains mercury. Items that contain mercury need to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Alternative Ways to Recycle Best Buy Recycling & Trade-In Program Best Buy will recycle GPS systems and many other home electronics for free through their recycling program. They also run a trade-in program that accepts these items. Find a location. Staples Recycling Services Staples offers free, in-store recycling for unwanted electronics, including desktop computers, tablets, monitors, printers and other electronics. Locate your nearest Staples. Did You Know? Landfill Operators Use Their GPS Systems to Save Space GPS systems are helping landfill operators save space in the landfill for more trash. GPS can track where their machines are located; they can also tell machine operators how well trash is compacting. This is a big deal since trash can only be compacted so much, and they don’t want to waste time and fuel by repeating this process too many times. Read more. How Landfills Work To get an idea of how GPS systems help landfill operators, it’s important to understand how landfill operators pack trash into the ground.
