If Santa brought you a new computer, tablet or HD television, pay attention: You can't just set your old ones out with the trash any longer.
A new law requires households and businesses to recycle TVs and computer equipment, beginning Jan. 1.
In Blair County, people can recycle their electronics at the Intermunicipal Relations Committee compost facility, 1860 Blacksnake Road. The facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
"If people have TVs, computer equipment, they can bring it up here to the compost facility," IRC Supervisor John Keith said.
There is no charge to recycle electronics.
In addition, anyone can take an old TV to Best Buy to be recycled free of charge - for TVs up to 32 inches, said General Manager Matt Miller.
"We've been doing it for more than a year as a convenience for customers and to preserve natural resources," Miller said. "We are the only retailer that does this locally."
For those who don't want to transport their outdated or broken electronics, residents might want to check with their trash haulers.
At www.wm.com, for example, Waste Management offers $20 to $50 boxes to hold electronic items, which are then picked up by UPS for proper disposal, said Erika Deyarmin, spokesman for Waste Management.
"For the last several weeks, we have informed our customers that our collection crews will not pick up TVs and computer equipment beginning January 1, 2013," she stated in a press release.
Gift wrap
The IRC and local municipalities are also helping people dispose of their holiday wrapping paper and Christmas trees.
The Intermunicipal Relations Committee will sponsor a free holiday wrapping and packaging drop off at the Logan Valley Mall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday.
The drop-off will be in the mall parking lot near the KFC at Goods Lane and Plank Road.
Acceptable materials include: paper wrapping, paperboard, paper bags, plastic bags, plastic film, "blister packs" and corrugated cardboard boxes. No foil wrapping paper will be accepted.
People may drop off foam packaging material and Styrofoam peanuts, but the peanuts must be bagged, the IRC website states.
Christmas trees
Once you're ready to take down your Christmas tree, municipalities are sponsoring tree recycling either by drop-off opportunities or curbside pickup.
Altoona residents may drop off their Christmas trees at the city Highway Yard, 5010 Sixth Ave., between 7 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. weekdays.
Logan Township residents can drop off their trees at 100 Chief Logan Circle, beginning Jan. 2.
The IRC Compost and Recycling Facility will also accept Christmas trees.
Duncansville R&D Compost Facility will accept trees from noon to 5 p.m. on Jan. 8 and 15. Antis Township Compost Facility at North Second Street, Fostoria, will accepting trees beginning Jan. 2.
Curbside tree collections are scheduled for Hollidaysburg, Tyrone and Martinsburg boroughs.
Mirror Staff Writer Russ O'Reilly is at 946-7435.
