Hazardous waste collection, 'clean up' events, draw big crowds.

Two major "clean-up" and recycling events in Suttons Bay were big hits, according to Bill Perkins, chairman of the Leelanau County Solid Waste Council.

A record 222 Leelanau County households signed up for a special “Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling” collection held Saturday in the Suttons Bay High School parking lot. At the same time and location, Goodwill Industries collected dozens of old computers, monitors and other computer-related equipment for recycling.

Also on Saturday, the Village of Suttons Bay and Suttons Bay Township conducted an annual clean-up and “free dump day” across from the Leelanau County Road Commission garage on Eckerle Road. Contractors hauled away tons of debris brought to the site by local residents, including household refuse, scrap metal and used appliances.

The head of the county’s Planning and Community Development department, Trudy Galla, noted that special recycling collections organized by the Solid Waste Council are gaining in popularity. Residents of most Leelanau County townships pay a $25 per-houshold fee to participate in county recycling programs. Special collections are held throughout the year to take recyclable materials that cannot be accepted at the county’s eight, fixed recycling sites.

Galla said the biggest volume of items brought to the latest special collection appeared to be old, analog televisions. TV technology is shifting from analog to digital reception, and more people are purchasing flat-screen, liquid crystal display TV’s to replace their old cathode ray tube units, Galla noted.