Event Description

Open to City of Pittsfield residents.

Pittsfield residents interested in disposing of old electronic items are invited to register for the Electronics Recycling and Sustainability Fair which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 4.

The fair is sponsored by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, in partnership with the City of Pittsfield and the Downtown Pittsfield Farmer’s Market. The event features two components: electronics collection and an educational fair at the Farmer’s Market at The Common off First Street. The collection will take place at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Guardian headquarters located at 700 South St. After residents drop off their items at the collection, they are invited to visit the fair at the Farmer’s Market which will also be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a host of community vendors providing materials and resources, raffles, and giveaways.

The event is open to City of Pittsfield residents only. Registration is available online: http://www.cityofpittsfield.org/document_center/electronics_recycling_and_sustainability_fair.php or in person at the Department of Public Utilities Office, 10 Fenn St. The office is also accessible by an entrance at 100 North St.

While the event is free, there is a $15 advance fee (per item) for cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions and monitors. Those seeking to dispose of these items should register directly at the DPU office. Payment can be made via check only and addressed to the collection vendor, EPC, Inc.

Additionally, Guardian will have registration applications at its booth at the Downtown Pittsfield Farmer’s Market on July 14 and July 21, and also at its table at the Third Thursday festival on July 19. Participants are encouraged to complete their registration by July 21.

The fair offers Pittsfield residents another medium for recycling – an effort for which there has been growing energy and excitement in recent months. At the start of the year, the City of Pittsfield distributed nearly 2,000 free recycling bins to residents. This month, DPU staff will place an order for 1,500 additional bins.

Moreover, city staff, members of the City Council, and community partners have joined together to form the Pittsfield Recycles group to continue the work of promoting recycling in the city.

Mayor Linda Tyer said the numbers speak for themselves and reflect that recycling is a top priority for many members of the Pittsfield community.

“I am beyond thrilled to know that Pittsfielders understand and recognize the value in recycling. Each action, no matter how small, has the potential to make a difference and leave a lasting impact. Together, our efforts help to create a cleaner and more environmentally friendly Pittsfield for those of us here today and for future generations.”

Gordon Dinsmore, Senior Vice President of Product for Individual Markets and President of Guardian’s Berkshire Life subsidiary, said the event reflected the company’s commitment to service in the city and collaboration.

“Our focus on environmental sustainability is driven by both the priorities of our businesses and the passion and commitment of our employees,” said Dinsmore. “We consider being good stewards of our planet a fundamental responsibility to our policyholders and communities, and our corporate and local recycling efforts are excellent examples.”

For the electronics collection, the list of acceptable items includes:

Servers
Desktop PCs
Laptops
Tablets
Speakers
All components and accessories
Video and photo equipment
DVRs
Cable and satellite receivers
Digital and film cameras
Audio equipment
DVD/VHS players and tapes
Printers
Copiers
Scanners
Faxes
Gaming consoles
Cell phones and batteries
Phones and all accessories
Small electronic appliances
All cables and power cords
Small household electric devices – rechargeable
Non-CRT TVs (i.e. LED, LCD)
For more information, please call Roberta McCulloch-Dews, Director of Administrative Services, Mayor’s Office, 413-499-9322.