Cleaning the basement? Update!

That didn't last long... (so much for making Public Service Announcements)

Star Tribune: November 16, 2007 – 12:40 PM:PAUL WALSH : Electronics recycling effort overwhelmed by public, forced to halt operations at megamall

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A three-day effort in Bloomington to collect electronics for recycling was halted today because of an overwhelming response from the public.

In the 19 hours that items were received at a parking lot across from the Mall of America starting Friday, more than 1 million pounds was collected, said an official with Materials Processing Corp. (MPC) of Eagan.

The material filled 86 trucks, leading MPC officials to reluctantly decided that that was all they could handle.

At 5 this morning, an hour before Day 2 of the effort was to begin, 20 cars were waiting in line to drop off electronics. When the operation was halted, some people in line were turned away.

Looking ahead, Todd Schachtman, president of global sales for MPC, said the company is handing out written material on other free dropoff sites, and the mall is considering a similar event tied to Earth Day (April 22, 2008).

Star Tribune: November 14, 2007 – 8:57 PM:Staff writer : Mall of America: Free electronics recycling

It's Green Thursday today at the Mall of America, kicking off a three-day free electronics recycling event billed as the largest ever undertaken in the United States.

Trucks will be on hand to accept everything from toasters and TVs to cell phones and computer monitors. The organizers say 100 percent of the items will be recycled.

The Environmental Protection Agency says electronics recycling is critical because of hazardous materials in many components such as televisions and monitors. The agency estimates there are as many as 250 million aging computers that could enter the U.S. waste stream during the next five years.

Electronics recycler Materials Processing Corp. of Eagan has teamed up with the Mall of America for the event.

Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. today and Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Where: The Mall of America's Met Lot, located just north of the Mall near Ikea.

Cost: Free. Consumers may drop off electronic items for no charge and can also get discounts at the mall.