STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As Staten Islanders gear up for the Super Bowl with new televisions, sound bars and the like, they’ll need a way to safely dispose of their old electronics.
Unfortunately, with the city’s E-Waste Pickup Program, originally proposed by Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), temporarily suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, disposing of old electronics has become a bit more challenging for Staten Islanders.
In recent years, the program had allowed residents to schedule convenient pickup times for their aging electronics.
Residents simply needed to fill out the online request form, including their address, appointment date and contact information, and leave their E-Waste at the curb after 4 p.m. on the day before their scheduled appointment to have it collected.
But with the program still suspended, and Super Bowl week serving as one of the best times of the year to score a new television, Matteo has announced that his office will start taking appointments for residents to drop-off their unwanted e-waste and have it safely recycled by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).
“This is traditionally a time of year when so many people take advantage of sales and purchase new TVs ahead of the Super Bowl. But unless we help people properly dispose of their older TVs, along with other electronics, the unfortunate reality is many of these items will find their way to the side of our roads, or our parks or recreation spaces,” Matteo said.
With that in mind, Matteo has announced that, starting Wednesday, Staten Islanders can contact his office to make appointments to drop-off their unwanted electronics by emailing Loren Centineo at [email protected].
Additionally, Matteo’s office will continue its partnership with local nonprofit, Where to Turn, that allows seniors over the age of 65 to have aging electronics picked-up from their home.
Any Staten Island senior in need of e-waste disposal can contact Matteo’s office at (718) 980-1017 or [email protected] to arrange to have the old electronics safely removed from their home and properly disposed.
“That is why I am working with Sanitation to extend their ‘ecycleNYC’ program to Staten Island, so residents can make appointments to drop off their unwanted electronics at a convenient location here, while continuing to partner with Where to Turn to pick up eWaste for seniors,” the councilman added.
ABOUT SUSPENDED E-WASTE PROGRAM
As previously noted, the city’s e-waste collection program has been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing pandemic.
“In the face of economic hardship, and to ensure the City can continue to devote resources to essential safety, health, shelter and food security needs, the City made a number of tough budget cuts, including to some of DSNY’s recycling programs. The SAFE Disposal events were included in those cuts, along with the curbside e-waste collection programs,” DSNY spokeswoman Belinda Mager told the Advance in December.
Matteo has been critical of the city’s decision to suspend e-waste collection, arguing that the city will pay more in the long run without the cost-effective program.
“I understand the city’s serious fiscal situation, but cutting E-waste curbside pickup is penny wise and pound foolish. Since I worked with former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia to create this program nearly four years ago, it has kept hundreds of TVs, computers and other electronics from being dumped in our parks and on our streets, and millions of pounds of lead, mercury and cadmium out of our soil, water and air — for a relatively low annual cost,” said Matteo.
“How much is it going to cost to enforce illegal dumping or mitigate the environmental damage caused by the absence of this program now? As I said previously, I am going to continue to press the administration to reinstate this program because we cannot afford to go without it,” the councilman added.
With the program suspended until at least June 2021, residents who don’t take advantage of Matteo’s new program will need to bring their e-waste to one of the designated drop-off locations scattered at various stores throughout the borough.
Here’s a look at the e-waste drop-off locations currently available to Staten Islanders:
- Staples, 1885 Hylan Blvd.
- Staples, 2535 Richmond Rd.
- Salvation Army Thrift Store, 2053 Clove Rd.
- Best Buy, 2795 Richmond Ave.
- Apple Store, 2655 Richmond Ave.
Residents are advised to contact the store locations above for the most up-to-date information regarding e-waste disposal before attempting any drop-offs.
E-WASTE COLLECTION EVENT
This weekend, Staten Islanders will have another opportunity to dispose of their aging electronics.
Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), in partnership with DSNY, will host an e-waste collection drive-through event at Mount Loretto on Saturday, Feb. 6.
E-waste disposal will be limited to two devices per household, with interested parties required to pre-register for the event online.
Staten Islanders can use this opportunity to safely and legally dispose of various old electronics, including televisions, computers, laptops, printers, cellphones, tablets, video game consoles and more.
Meanwhile, air conditioners, household appliances, batteries and light bulbs are among the items not eligible for e-waste collection.
Residents with any questions about the event are urged to call Reilly’s office at 718-967-5194.
