Westmoreland Cleanways rejoins area sites offering electronics recycling

Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling will resume collection of electronics for recycling on Monday at its site near Pleasant Unity, in Unity Township.

Electronics such as televisions, computer-related items and printers may be dropped off during the center’s regular operating hours: noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of each month. The center is located at 355 Pleasant Unity Mutual Road.

As a precaution during the covid-19 pandemic, visitors to the center are expected to wear masks and to empty items from their vehicles. Assistance will be available for older or disabled visitors.

The nonprofit suspended collection of electronics in late June when an out-of-state company that ultimately processed the items shut down because of a suspected covid-19 infection.

“They’re back up and running and able to take our material now,” said Ellen Keefe, Westmoreland Cleanways executive director.

In the interim, she said, Westmoreland Cleanways referred those who wanted to dispose of old electronics to eLoop, which operates a center at 2010 Borland Farm Road, Export. Visit eloopllc.com or call 724-519-7646 for more information about the Export facility.

Keefe said her organization used to accept “anything with a cord” as part of its electronics recycling effort, but it no longer takes items such as hair dryers or stereo speakers. She said the nonprofit has no outlet for processing the plastic or wood housings of such items.

“We end up throwing it away, or somebody else throws it away,” she said. “It’s not recycled. There’s nothing we can do with it.”

There is no charge for dropping off most electronics at Westmoreland Cleanways. But a $25 hazardous waste handling fee is assessed for a CRT television or monitor that has been disassembled or smashed.

Westmoreland Cleanways also accepts other items for recycling, including glass containers, fluorescent light bulbs, cardboard, newspapers, office paper, Freon-containing appliances, tires, lead acid batteries and scrap metal. Fees apply for some items.

Details can be found on the nonprofit’s recycling page.

On Aug. 3, Westmoreland Cleanways ended its lease of office space at Innovative Park, off Route 30 in Unity. The staff now are operating from an office trailer at the site on Pleasant Unity Mutual Road and can continue to be reached at 724-879-4020 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Electronics drop-offs in Allegheny County

ECS&R accepts items 9-5 Sundays and 3-8 Wednesdays at 3001 Railroad St., Pittsburgh. Participants should wear face masks and remain in their vehicles, which will be unloaded by technicians. An appointment is required by calling 814-425-7773. Details: ecsr.net

Tri-State Electronics Recycling accepts items save for CRT tubes or cracked monitors 8-4 weekdays and 8-noon Saturdays at 92 Crane Ave., Pittsburgh. No appointment is needed, but visitors are encouraged to wear face masks. Details: tri-stateassetrecovery.com or 412-258-1367

Pennsylvania Resources Council has collection events for electronics and other hard-to-recycle items scheduled for 9-1 on Oct. 3 at the Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool, 635 Ridge Rd., Pittsburgh, and 9-1 on Oct. 24 at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, in the parking lot near the Division Road entrance.

Fees apply for some items, including televisions, computer monitors, printers, fluorescent tubes, small appliances containing Freon and tires. Participants should place items in car trunks or truck beds, must wear face masks and should remain in their vehicles.

Advance registration is required for either event by visiting prc.org/HTRregistration or by calling 412-488-7490, ext. 3.