The first coordinated free electronics waste recycling event on both sides of the United States-Mexico border will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In Nogales, Ariz., the event will be in the parking lot of Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) at 590 E. Frontage Road on Interstate 19.

ADEQ and its partners �“ FPAA, the Nogales International, Friends of the Santa Cruz River, and E-Waste Harvesters of Phoenix �“ anticipate collecting tons of unwanted televisions, computers, monitors, batteries, chargers, cell phones, VCRs, CD and DVD players, printers, small appliances, fax machines, cables and cords during the event.

On the Sonoran side, the Nogales company TOM Transformadora de Mexico and partner APSA will conduct a simultaneous free e-recycling event for businesses and residents of Nogales, Sonora. Those, and other recycling efforts in Nogales, Sonora, are funded by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission/Comisi�“n de Cooperaci�“n Ecol�“gica Fronteriza.

“Electronics waste is a pressing problem in Arizona and throughout the country and the proper handling and disposal of it can become a great bi-national opportunity as well,” said ADEQ Director Benjamin H. Grumbles. “This is our sixth big e-waste recycling event in Arizona and we’ll be sponsoring similar recycling roundups throughout the state in the coming year.”

The FPAA “is excited to be working with ADEQ on this initiative to keep electronic waste out of our landfills,” said Allison Moore, the organization’s communications director. “This is just one of many initiatives that the produce industry has embraced in order to ensure that we are good environmental stewards.”

Manuel Coppola, editor and publisher of the Nogales International, said the simultaneous e-recycling events are important for fostering environmental stewardship on both sides of the border.

“This electronic recycling effort serves an important function in bringing about an environmental ethic with no regards to international barriers,” he said.

Companies and individuals donating e-waste will receive a certificate of disposal for their records from E-Waste Harvesters if they want the document. The company uses state of the art software to erase all hard drives and a hard drive crusher will be available for use on site if requested.