E-waste recycling event set for Saturday
By Sabrina Samedi Special to the Acorn

Household and business electronic waste will be collected free of charge in Newbury Park on Saturday in an event that will benefit Many Motors, an organization that provides cars to families battling poverty and domestic violence.

Gold Coast Recycling, sponsor of event, will accept electronic contributions and donate 23 cents per pound to Many Motors. The collection site is the old Home Depot parking lot, just south of Ventu Park Road and Hillcrest Drive. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 18.

Items that will be accepted include televisions, computers, monitors, stereos, headsets, microwaves, DVRs, DVDs and VCRs.

Established in 2000, Many Motors aims to provide a safe and reliable form of transportation to families in need, helping them take control of their lives and gain a sense of independence and responsibility.

Many Motors collects unwanted vehicles and sees that repairs are made before presenting a family with a vehicle. The owner of a contributed vehicle is given its full market value price.

"This event lets everyone know that Many Motors is here to help. In order to continue supplying vehicles and a sense of independence to those who are financially struggling and in many ways less fortunate, we need the support of the community," said Helen Grabow, executive director of Many Motors.

The location for the event was donated by the Thousand Oaks Market Place, Grabow said.

Many Motors promises to pay for any necessary followup repairs to vehicles for three months after families receive them. Funds from the e-waste event will help pay for these repairs.

Other associations sponsoring Saturday's collection are the Area Housing Authority, Lutheran Social Services and the New Mark Merrill Group.

The electronic items that will be accepted at the event are prohibited by California law to be disposed of in rubbish or recycling containers.

Other items, such as batteries and light bulbs, are categorized as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), and collection sites for such items have been set up throughout Ventura County.

Drop-off locations for HHW items include:

•Thousand Oaks- City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard; the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road; the Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road; and the Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Road

•Moorpark- call Jennifer Mellon at (805) 517- 6247

•Simi Valley Public Works Department, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road; for appointment, call (805) 583-6429

•Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive, or call Roger Pichardo at (805) 388- 5392

•Oxnard- Del Norte Recycling and Transfer Station, 111 S. Del Norte Blvd., Monday through Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

•Ventura- Gold Coast Recycling, City Hall, 501 Poli St.; City Maintenance Yard, 336 Sanjon; and the Police Department, 1425 Dowell Drive

Sabrina Samedi, an intern at the Acorn, will be a senior this fall at Westlake High School.