Electronics recycling drive ends early due to huge turn-out
The three-day electronics recycling drive collected in one day, the amount of waste expected in three days, causing it to end early, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
The event ended early for safety reasons. There was no traffic control and thousands of cars lined up around the Mall of America, stretching back to the exit ramps on I-494. Some waited for over two hours to dispose of their old TVs and computer monitors.
They collected 1.5 million pounds of electronic waste in one day. They had expected to collect 1.2 to 1.5 million pounds over the three day drive.
WCCO reported that people had come from as far as Rochester and Owatonna to get rid of their electronics.
Though it had to be shut down early the company that organized the event saw it as an encouraging success.
There are places that you can recycle your electronics year-round. JR's Recycling in Inver Grove Heights is one place people went instead of the mall. They experience overwhelming over-flow from Friday's recycling drive.
It is illegal in Minnesota to dump electronics like TVs and computer monitors because they can contain large amounts of lead.