Apr 7, 2016 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County residents are finding it more difficult to get rid of electronic items including old televisions, computers and monitors, so county officials hope a new program announced Thursday will alleviate those disposal issues.

“We get calls all the time from people asking where they can recycle their electronics,” Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said. “It’s very difficult to find somewhere to take them.”

With that problem in mind, the commissioners announced at their Thursday morning voting meeting an electronics collection program that will be held at Greene County Fairgrounds four times this year.

The program, sponsored by the commissioners and state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, will kick off April 20. Other collection dates are July 13, Sept. 14 and Dec. 14. Each collection will be from 2 to 5 p.m.

State law requires the recycling of certain electronic devices. However, many stores and charities that once accepted them ended the practice because of costs.

“Nobody wants to take them anymore,” said Mimi Ritenour, the county’s recycling coordinator.

The county has been trying to find a company to assist with an electronic recycling collection and working with Snyder’s office was able to get JVS Environmental of Rockwood to commit to the program, she said. JVS not only is certified to handle electronics recycling but it also will conduct the collections at no cost to the county, she said.

“We were thrilled,” Ritenour said.

The company will accept most items from residents for free, but there is a $1 charge for each fluorescent bulb, $15 charge for items with Freon and $50 charge for any “disassembled” cathode ray television. Cathode ray televisions that have not been disassembled will be accepted for free, Ritenour said.

The collection coordinators also are asking residents to limit disposal of televisions to one per car for each collection event.

Items that will be accepted without charge include computers, laptop computers, printers, components, video cassette recorders, stereos, cameras, telephones, electronic cables, games, audio, video and testing equipment and monitors.

What will not be accepted include sweepers, hair dryers, sewing machines, small kitchen appliances, speakers, regular light bulbs, alkaline batteries, smoke detector, manuals, paper, Styrofoam and media containing digital data such as VCR tapes, software and compact discs.

Because of liability issues, employees from JVC will remove all items from residents’ vehicles at the fairgrounds, Ritenour said.

Commissioner Dave Coder said the program will not only help residents get rid of their unwanted electronic items but also benefit the environment.

“This should prevent littering along our roads,” he said.

Commissioner Archie Trader said the program will “absolutely” benefit county residents.

“I, myself, have a TV at home I’ve got to get rid of,” he said.

In other business at the meeting, the commissioners approved a motion to amend the natural gas lease with Vantage Energy to add one parcel not included in an amendment approved last month to participate in the pooling of gas leases.

The county signed a lease with Vantage, then Tanglewood Exploration, in 2009 for natural gas extraction under the county fairgrounds, airport and several other properties in Franklin Township.

The county, so far, received more than $1 million in revenue from upfront payments and royalties on county property drilled at the airport. The money is placed in the county’s general fund.

The commissioners also announced annual awards for the county’s recreation grant program. The program was started several years ago and provides grant to communities and organizations for recreational improvements.

Grants of $3,000 each were awarded for baseball and softball field improvements to Cumberland Township Parks and Recreation, Carmichaels Traveling Baseball Association and Dunkard Girls’ Youth Association.

A $2,500 grant was awarded to Washington Township for a basketball court and a $1,180.75 grant was awarded for Carmichaels Girls’ Softball for field improvements.

Each of the organizations also will be kicking in money for their projects.

The commissioners also approved a contract with Clearwater Construction for $955,000 to replace county Bridge No. 36 on Forney Hollow Road over Robert Run in Wayne Township.