E-waste recycling event diverts 13,712 pounds from dump

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): More than 200 local residents dropped off a variety of electronics at the Town of Buena Vista’s community-wide electronics recycling event Saturday, Sept. 26. The event diverted a total of 13,712 pounds of recyclable waste from the Chaffee County Landfill in addition to 2,446 pounds of electronics collected this past spring during the Buena Vista Clean Up Day. 

Total electronics collected in Buena Vista for 2026 represent a 23% increase over 2025 collections.

Electronics ranged from computers to big screen TVs and a wide assortment of vacuum cleaners. There was no fee for the general public to drop off electronics, other than a charge for televisions. 

The event was sponsored by the Town of Buena Vista and conducted in partnership with Friends of Browns Canyon and the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA). 

Chaffee County Commissioner Gina Lucrezi and BV Public Works Director Shawn Williams also both ensured the event was publicized at the city and county level.

The seven volunteers and three staff noted that the use of the BV Public Works Facility located at 755 Gregg Drive made for ample access and rapid offloading of the electronics. 

E-waste recycling prevents hazardous materials like toxic metals from being buried in landfills. ITAD Electronics Recyclers, based in Colorado Springs, has provided recycling services for electronic events in Chaffee County for the past 6 years. ITAD has collected over 300,000 pounds of electronics in Chaffee County this decade.

ITAD is R-2 (Responsible Recycling) and ISO 9001 certified, ensuring that the electronics recycler follows strict, audited standards for permanent data destruction, environmental safety and chain-of-custody tracking.

Event organizer Michael Kunkel said, “There are plans to have an e-waste recycling event annually in BV. It is truly a joy to witness the passion and environmental commitment of our local residents, who demonstrate that they will go to great lengths to ensure these items do not end up in the landfill but are instead sustainably reprocessed as raw materials for future use.”

Courtesy: www.chaffeecountytimes.com