Pitch that old PC or TV — free

Getting a new laptop this Christmas?

Or maybe you’re planning on dumping your old relic of a TV next year when we go to higher quality digital signals.

Either way, there’s a new program starting Jan. 1, where you can recycle your old electronics — for free.

Called E-cycle, the program is paid for by the state’s electronics manufacturers. And it’s an opportunity for consumers, small businesses and schools to keep potentially dangerous products out of landfills.

"We give to recyclers who will deal with it responsibly," said John Friedrick, executive director of the Washington Materials Management &Financing Authority.

The authority was established by the state to coordinate collecting the materials and then billing manufacturers for their disposal.

The program accepts televisions, computer monitors, laptops and computer towers. It does not accept printers, scanners, keyboards, mice and other accessories.

Friedrick said the state expects to collect 20 million pounds of electronic waste during its first year of operations. Many of those items contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury or hazardous chemicals that can harm the environment.

Some of the items can be reclaimed and reused in new products, Friedrick said.

He noted that some businesses are already collecting electronic waste, usually for at least a nominal fee. The authority began collecting disposal sites in March, with a goal of having at least one location in each county with 10,000 or more residents.

Snohomish County, he said, has a number of locations, including: Value Village shops in Edmonds, Marysville and Everett; Goodwill locations; the Salvation Army in Lynnwood; and Snohomish County recycling and waste transfer stations in Everett, Arlington and Mountlake Terrace. In Island County, the items can be taken to Island Recycling in Freeland, Friedrick said.

"Manufacturers have stepped up to pay for this program and it will be good for the environment," he added.