NEWPORT-On Friday, Oct. 23, Keep Cocke County Beautiful, in partnership with Goodwill Recycling, will host a free electronics recycling collection event.

According to KCCB Director Elizabeth Reed, the collection of both working and/or non-working electronics will be held at Lowe's Home Improvement parking lot, 1099 Cosby Highway from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

"If you have any scary electronics haunting your home, this will be the perfect time to dispose of them properly," said Reed. "We will accept computers, printers, fax machines, and cell phones that you have lurking around in your closets and basements!"

Other items which will be accepted include paper shredders, radios, copiers, fax machines, regular telephones, VCR's, DVD's, stereos, and CD players.

"We cannot accept televisions," said Reed, "at this time. They may be recycled during our Household Hazardous Waste event next spring."

According to Reed, Americans are disposing of 3,000 tons of computers each day. "For every computer that is recycled, you are keeping 6 pounds of lead out of our environment. All sorts of electronic equipment contain lead, a very harmful chemical, in amounts which generally exceed EPA's hazardous waste toxicity levels. When electronics are disposed of in our landfills, these toxic chemicals leach into the groundwater and affect our drinking water. By properly recycling one monitor at a time, we can help save our environment," she added.

Reed also said that Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful will host a similar event on Saturday, Oct. 24.

For more information about the Cocke County recycling event, call Reed at 423-623-1050 or visit kccbbelitterfree@bellsouth.net.

For more information about the Hamblen County event, call KMHB at 423-586-6422 or visit kab@musfiber.com.

"There are no tricks here, just treats," ended Reed. "Don't be scared to rid yourself of these haunting, ghostly electronics in the correct way."