Volunteers Collect 83 Pallets of Electronics at Recyling Event

More than 40 volunteers helped local residents and business owners recycle 83 pallets worth of unwanted electronics equipment Nov. 5 at the Fifth Corner Teen Center.

The event, co-sponsored by the teen center and Saline's Environmental Commission, was expected to raise about $2,000 for the teen center.

"That should keep the teen center going for another one or two months," reported City Council member David Rhoads at Monday's meeting. Rhoads also serves on the Fifth Corner Teen Center board and he is city council's liaison on the environmental board.

Rhoads said it was a successful event that was helped along by great weather. He also said the event received support from a cross section of the community. He noted there were three members of city council, three city employees, four members of the environmental commission, 12 teenagers, six members of the teen center board, and 12 citizens among the volunteers. They worked two hour shifts, helping people unload cars and trucks and putting recyclables on the pallets.

"It proves the point that if you provide an opportunity for people to volunteer and give them something useful to do and don't ask too much, people are really happy to do it," Rhoads said.

A similar event in June collected 63 pallets of recyclables. Cash donations were up from $1,014 to $1,078.

Another recycling event will be held April 28, 2012.

"For those people who missed us this time, or for anyone who has equipment that bites the dust between now and then, hold on to it and bring it to us," Rhoads said.