The city of Chelsea held its second annual Electronic Recycling Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 in front of Chelsea City Hall.

“Anybody can pull up with their old electronics, and we recycle them,” said Advanced Technology Recycling Administrator and Compliance Coordinator Morgan Hightower.

ATR Warehouse Driver Ahmad Holland said E-Day was a good opportunity for Chelsea residents to keep their city clean.

“We see a lot of electronics that end up in the city dump or landfills, and this allows the community to give their electronics to a responsible recycler,” Holland said. “They’re taking steps to protect their community from materials that could be harmful to the environment.”

Holland said improperly discarding electronic devices poses a risk to humans and the environment.

“They’re so harmful to the environment. A lot of the components that go into your computers and TVs can be very harmful to you and your family members if they’re released into the environment,” Holland said.

E-Day was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 7, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather. However, Holland said he did not think it affected the amount of people who participated.

“If people were going to come out the first time, they’re going to come out today,” Holland said.

Several residents expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to recycle their old gadgets.

“Unfortunately, a lot of electronics don’t last as long as they should. It’s difficult to go and throw them into the dumpster and not have parts recycled.” Chelsea resident Craig DuBois said. “It’s a good cause, and it’s a good alternative to putting it in the dump. I don’t think many cities offer this.”

Because of the way certain items are recycled, kitchen appliances, light bulbs, lab and hospital equipment, biohazards and items containing mercury were not accepted.

Small fees were charged to residents who recycled televisions, hard drives and glass. All other electronic devices were accepted for free.

ATR collected a total of 3,309 pounds of electronic equipment through E-Day.

Holland said this year’s E-Day seemed to be well received by Chelsea residents, and he looks forward to helping with E-Day in the future.

“Most people are receptive to the idea of getting rid of their old electronics that are laying around the house, causing clutter and taking up space,” Holland said. “This is the second year that the city has done it, and it seems to be growing. Hopefully, it will continue to grow.”