The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity for renewal. From connecting with loved ones around the Thanksgiving table to making resolutions for the new year, these celebratory weeks inspire us to be more generous, thoughtful and kind.

But during this season of giving and growth, we often unintentionally harm the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the volume of household waste in the United States typically increases about 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. That means our country generates about 1 million extra tons of waste throughout the course of our holiday celebrations, partly because the gifts we receive replace our old possessions.¹

Electronics, in particular, have a damaging impact on our air, water and soil when they are tossed into the trash. The good news, though, is that together we can help slow the accumulation of toxic e-waste, which is expected to rise to 50 million tons per year worldwide by 2018.² It’s simple: when you unwrap a brand-new gadget during the holidays, don’t toss the old one, even if it’s broken. Set it aside and recycle it instead.

Unfortunately, electronics can’t be recycled alongside other household waste like paper and plastic. That’s why I’m hosting a special e-recycling event for our community on Jan. 9, 2016, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the North Syracuse Central School District Bus Complex, located at 5520 East Taft Road. The event is completely free, and our co-sponsors, Time Warner Cable and Sunnking Electronics, will donate a portion of the proceeds from recyclables they collect to the Northstars JV Winterguard Boosters Club.

At the recycling event, we’ll accept electronics such as computers, televisions, small-scale servers, monitors, keyboards and mice, fax machines, scanners and printers, video game consoles, cell phones and much more. Unfortunately, we can’t recycle batteries, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, any liquids or powders, fluorescent lamps or kitchen appliances at this time. For a complete list of what is accepted, visit assembly.state.ny.us/stirpe.

This year, I hope you’ll resolve to protect the environment by setting aside your old electronics and dropping them off on Jan. 9. It’s a simple action we can all take to help our planet.

As always, my door is open. If you have questions or concerns about this or any other community issue, please reach out by calling 452-1115 or emailing me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us.

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