Two local non-profit groups have partnered to offer the next electronics and battery recycling event in Moab. Canyonlands Community Recycling (CCR) and WabiSabi will be out in front of the WabiSabi Thriftique on May 5 from 9 a.m.until 2 p.m. to collect unwanted items including non-working electronics, old batteries, said Rani Derasary, CCR Program Director and a WabiSabi board member. Some household hazardous waste will be accepted the same day at the Bob's Sanitation transfer station on South U.S. 191.

Almost any electronic item that plugs in will be accepted, excluding any freon- or coolant-containing items such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners and computers such as the Apple G5, according to a news release. Alkaline non-rechargeable batteries are also acceptable. Rechargeable batteries may be recycled at Royce’s Electronics on South Main Street.

Next month’s event will mark the third collection that the two groups have organized for the community. The first two collections, held in 2011, diverted a total of more than 24,000 pounds of electronics and 350 pounds of batteries from the local landfill, Derasary said.

“We started these collections in response to surveys CCR had sent out to Moab postal patrons. When we asked what items residents would like to recycle that they couldn’t currently, the top two items people noted were electronics and alkaline batteries,” Derasary said. “We’re committed to keep offering the opportunity to recycle them each spring and fall until Moab has a permanent collection point for these items.”

She said the recycling drives are only one tool being used to help the community divert a minimum of 15 percent of Moab’s waste stream from the landfill by 2015.

“We’re hoping that the collections serve residents, local businesses and agencies in multiple ways, by simultaneously helping us all: clean house, keep items like these out of the Klondike Landfill, learn more about electronic waste, and ensure that as many components as possible get reused.”

“WabiSabi’s thrift stores divert several tons of electronics from of our waste stream but we can only sell items that are working and that there is a demand for,” said Jeff Cohen, executive director of WabiSabi. “This electronic recycling drive helps to keep out of the landfill the electronics that do not work or are outdated.”

Businesses dropping off electronics at the May 5 collection will be charged the true cost of recycling their items – 25 cents per pound – and households are encouraged to donate at the same rate. Everyone will be charged $2 per pound for batteries, officials said. For more information, contact CCR at 210-4996, or email ccr@moabrecycles.org or www.moabrecycles.org.

On May 5, residents will also have the opportunity to dispose of household hazardous waste for free thanks to a collection organized by Grand County Solid Waste Special Service District No. 1, in cooperation with Bob’s Sanitation and Veolia Environmental Services. The household hazardous waste collection will take place at Bob’s Transfer Station, 2292 South U.S. 191, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Accepted items include pesticides, fuel, antifreeze, paints, solvents, glues, all-purpose cleaners, batteries and more. For the full list of accepted items, visit www.solidwastessd1.com/events.html. Contact the Solid Waste District at 259-3867 or gcswmss@yahoo.com for more information.