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(Salinas) The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA) announced today that a new state law, known as the Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 (AB2901), goes into effect July 1 of this year. The new law requires all cell phone retailers doing business in California to take back old phones they sold (whether in-person, by catalogue or on the Internet). The retailers must then make sure the phones are recycled, reused, or properly disposed. SVSWA staff explain it is illegal to throw cell phones in the garbage because they contain heavy metals--like mercury and lead--which are hazardous to humans and the environment.
“The new law will make it much easier for people to do the right thing when their cell phones stop working or when they decide to upgrade,” says Stephen Johnson, general manager for the SVSWA. “Because retailers will now be required to take back the phones they sell, there will be plenty of convenient locations for people to drop off their old phones.”
According to environmental nonprofit INFORM, Inc., roughly 200 million cell phones were in use in the U.S. in 2005, and approximately 130 million phones were retired the same year. INFORM says many of us are taking a “wait and see” approach to our old phones, estimating that 500 million used cell phones are being stockpiled.
In Salinas Valley, residents need not hoard these phones any longer. Besides retailers, police departments will often take them to give to people at risk for violence. In addition, SVSWA maintains two full-service household hazardous waste collection facilities—one in Salinas and one in Gonzales—designed to make recycling or safe disposal of household toxics easy for residents. Most items are accepted free of charge from residents.
SVSWA, formed in 1997, is a joint powers agency made up of the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, Soledad as well as the eastern half of unincorporated Monterey County. The agency promotes the environmental health of the Salinas Valley through planning, public education and management of an innovative solid waste system emphasizing recycling, energy recovery and state of the art technology. Staff can be reached at (831) 755-1300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Where to Take Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) in Salinas Valley
All HHW materials:
Sun Street HHW Facility
139 Sun Street, Salinas
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. No charge to Salinas Valley residents (some restrictions apply). Information: 831-424-5520
Johnson Canyon Landfill HHW Facility
31400 Johnson Canyon Rd, Gonzales
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday. No charge to Salinas Valley residents (some restrictions apply). Information: 831-675-2143
Antifreeze, Batteries, Used Motor Oil, Paint, Electronics:
No charge to Salinas Valley residents. Some fees for electronic waste apply.
Crazy Horse Canyon Landfill
350 Crazy Horse Canyon Rd, Salinas
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Information: 831- 663-2796
Johnson Canyon Landfill
31400 Johnson Canyon Rd, Gonzales
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: 831- 675-2165,
Jolon Road Transfer Station
52654 Jolon Rd, King City
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Information: 831- 385-6213