Haywood County leads the state in electronics recycling, based on a new survey released in March by the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.

The survey, which was presented during the recent Carolina Recycling Association annual conference, indicated that Haywood County recycled 279 tons of electronics in fiscal year 2010-11, for a per capita recovery average of 8.37 pounds per person. The next closest local government was Kill Devil Hills, at 7.67 pounds per person. Macon County ranked fourth with 5.95 pounds per person.

Haywood County Solid Waste began collecting household electronics, such as computers, televisions and other devices for recycling at the Materials Recovery Facility in Clyde in May 2007, well ahead of a state law that banned these items from landfills that Solid Waste Director Stephen King credited to the leadership of the commissioners, and the efforts of the solid waste staff for making Haywood County’s electronics recycling program a success.

In another survey recently released by NCDENR, Haywood County increased its overall recycling tonnage from 180.3 tons per person in fiscal year 2009-10 to 182.15 in fiscal year 2010-11, which ranks as the 14th highest per capita rate in the state.

828.627.8042.