Cook Medical won't have E-Recycling Day this year. Where else can you recycle electronics?

Brian Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times
·2 min read
Employees of Cook Inc. and Big Boy Moving Services load discarded electronics into large cardboard bins June 26, 2021, during the Community Electronic Recycling Day at the Cook Profile Park facility.
Employees of Cook Inc. and Big Boy Moving Services load discarded electronics into large cardboard bins June 26, 2021, during the Community Electronic Recycling Day at the Cook Profile Park facility.

Cook Medical won’t be hosting its E-Recycle Day this spring, but not to fear; it will be back next year.

Cook has hosted E-Recycle Day every spring since 2018 (aside from 2020), providing an opportunity for local residents to safely recycle out-of-use electronics of all sizes — including dishwashers, TVs and refrigerators — free of charge.

Why is Cook not having E-Recycle Day this year?

Marsha Lovejoy, global public relations manager for Cook, said last year’s electronic recycling drive saw a noticeable dip in attendance.

Big Boy Moving Services' Nas Buie carries a discarded television to a cardboard bin June 26, 2021, during the Community Electronic Recycling Day at the Cook Profile Park facility.
Big Boy Moving Services' Nas Buie carries a discarded television to a cardboard bin June 26, 2021, during the Community Electronic Recycling Day at the Cook Profile Park facility.

“I think over the past few years we’ve just collected so much electronic waste, there might not be quite as much anymore,” Lovejoy said. “So we’re gonna move it to every other year, so we still have it available to the community.”

Where else can I recycle my electronics?

Big Boy Moving Services' Kole Gunderman puts a television in a bin during the 2021 community electronic recycling day at Cook Medical's Profile Parkway facility. The 2022 event was April 30.
Big Boy Moving Services' Kole Gunderman puts a television in a bin during the 2021 community electronic recycling day at Cook Medical's Profile Parkway facility. The 2022 event was April 30.

For anyone who can’t wait until next year to recycle their electronics, Lovejoy recommends recycling with the Waste Reduction District of Monroe County (WRD), formerly known as the Monroe County Solid Waste District.

The WRD offers year-round electronics recycling for Monroe County residents at all of its recycling centers, with four locations in Bloomington and one in Ellettsville. Recycling is free of charge, although electronics with a 7-inch screen or larger, such as TVs and laptops, will need to be recycled at the 3400 S. Walnut St. location, and a $20 fee will apply. The WRD accepts all other items powered by a cord or battery free of charge, including microwaves and refrigerators.

The Facebook group “Buy Nothing Bloomington” is another useful resource for connecting people who have out-of-use electronics with people in the area who are interested in taking them.

Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @brianwritesnews.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: No Cook Medical E-Recycle Day doesn't mean you can't recycle electronics