Get rid of those old TVs and computers that are collecting dust and cluttering up your home and drop them off at the Merced County Fairgrounds free E-waste recycling event, Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27.

The free E-waste recycling weekend is at the fairgrounds' 11th Street parking lot, with access through the G Street entrance. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fairgrounds last recycling event of the year will accept ONLY the following items: TVs, computer monitors, LCD screens, plasma screens, laptops, computer towers, printers, copiers, fax machines, calculators, stereo systems, keyboards, computer mice, VCRs, speakers, cell phones and telephones. Other household appliances such as microwaves, vacuum cleaners, washers or dryers will not be accepted.

There are no residency restrictions at the fairgrounds’ E-waste recycling drop-off – everyone can bring their unwanted computers, TVs, printers and other electronics items for recycling. There is no limit on the number of items that can be recycled and they do not have to be in working order.

"This is our last E-waste drive of the year, so come take advantage of the opportunity to recycle your E-waste in an environmentally safe, socially responsible way," said the Fair’s CEO, Tom Musser.

The Merced County Fair and Electronic Recyclers of Fresno, the largest E-waste recycler in California, are partners in a program that invites everyone with any old, obsolete or damaged electronics to bring the unwanted items to the fairgrounds. State law prohibits people from disposing of those items in the trash.

E-waste – all consumer and business electronic equipment that’s obsolete or at the end of its useful life – is the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world. As of February 2006, all electronic devices with a cord are banned from California landfills. These items can't be thrown in the trash because some parts are harmful to the environment and some components can be recycled.

The Fair’s last E-waste recycling event was held in April in conjunction with the City of Merced’s annual Spring Cleanup and was a big success. For more information, call 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2010 Merced County Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com