Ron LeLande Washington had several old computers, printers, and other office equipment in his garage for a few years, since he closed a business.

   All of these electronics were just taking space, and he had no plans for them.

   So when he heard about Operation Clean & Green, a series of electronic-waste disposal & recycle drop-off events organized by Assembly-member Marty Block, Washington decided to take them there.

   “I really appreciate this event because it is convenient, and helped me get rid of all this junk,” said Washington as he was unloading the equipment from his minivan. “I always meant to recycle them, but now, since it is close to my house, I decided to bring them here. Now I have more space in my garage.”

   Just like Washington, about 200 families and individuals took advantage of the e-waste drop-off event, which happened on Saturday, September 4, at the parking lot of Southwestern College, in Chula Vista.

   For Assemblymember Block, it was important to give residents in the 78th Assembly District an opportunity to recycle their e-waste.

   “I want to make it as easy as possible for people drop off their old electronics and do something good for the environment,” Block said during the event. “This event provides a free and convenient service to the community, so people do not have to travel a long distance to properly recycle their e-waste products.

   “Being green and doing what you can for the environment does not have to be complicated or expensive. The build up of e-waste is projected to worsen over the next several years until 2015, when volume will peak at 73 million metric tons,” he said.

   Sponsored in part by La Prensa San Diego, this first event was considered a success, because of the many personal computers, monitors, laptops, servers, pc boards, copiers, televisions, DVD and players, CD players, electric typewriters, electronic games, car batteries, telephones, VCRs, cell phones, modems, printers, and remote controls, that were collected.

   For Monica Stevens this opportunity was a way of doing her part in protecting the environment.

   “I never throw electronics in the trash,” she said as she was dropping off some DVD players and a monitor. “I know they can be recycled, so I save them. I wouldn’t want them taking precious space in a landfill, if I know they can be recycled.”

   Assemblymember Block said one of the goals of the e-waste recycling event was to educate the public about the importance of reducing the volume of e-waste around the world.

   For this, he partnered with Recycle San Diego to host these events throughout his district. The date and location of the next event will be announced soon.

   “Whether you have a child going back to school or you are cleaning out the old supply closet, being green could not be simpler,” Block said. “I urge you to participate in the process, drop off your old electronics and do your part to keep our planet clean.”