Solobay, Canonsburg Mayor David H. Rhome Team Up for Constituents

State Sen. Tim Solobay said the days of just tossing things in the trash are long gone.

That's why Solobay, D-Canonsburg, is teaming up with Mayor David H. Rhome and the Borough of Canonsburg, as well as local organizations, to help area residents make sure they protect their finances and the environment while spring cleaning with two local events.

“Knowing how to properly dispose of certain things that pile up around the home is essential to preventing unintended consequences,” Solobay said.

On April 13, Solobay and the borough will team up with Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania to hold a consumer electronics recycling event.

“As technology transforms the world we live in, we have to make sure we’re keeping up with threats to the environment,” Solobay said. “We’re working together to help consumers make the right decisions that will protect future generations.”

, prohibiting the disposal of computers, printers, televisions and similar electronic devices with household trash.

Electronics contain heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury that could remain dangerous for decades if dumped in landfills. A typical cathode-ray computer monitor could contain as much as seven pounds of lead.

Cell phones are exempt from the new restrictions, but residents can dispose of them at the event as well.

Although manufacturers are required to set up programs to help consumers recycle their electronics and counties have set up their own programs, state and local officials are trying to raise awareness and jumpstart the effort.

The electronics recycling event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the borough building parking lot.

A couple of weeks later, Solobay and the borough will host DocSolutions, a subsidiary of Community Action Southwest, to provide free document shredding in the borough building parking lot.

"I’m happy to have been able to work with Senator Solobay to bring these valuable community services to our residents," said Rhome. "These on-site document destruction and electronics recycling events offer secure and convenient means for folks to do some early spring cleaning and we encourage individuals to mark these dates on their calendars."

The document shredding will take place in the borough parking lot, 68 East Pike Street, Canonsburg, on April 25. Residents can bring their unneeded papers from 9 a.m. until noon. The event is for individuals only—not businesses. DocSolutions is a respected Washington County service provider in records management, including document destruction, Solobay added.

Both events are open to residents of all municipalities in the region. For more information, contact Solobay's office at 724-223-2114 or Rhome at 724.745.1800 Ext. 16.