The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has become part of E-Cycle Washington, a free, convenient and environmentally responsible recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops and televisions.

St. Vincent de Paul has a local thrift store at 7304 N.E. Bothell Way in Kenmore.

The Washington State Department of Ecology in partnership with Washington Materials and Management and Financing Authority oversees E-Cycle Washington. A new E-Cycle Washington law became effective Jan. 1, 2009; it mandated that electronic manufacturers have programs in place for free recycling and paid for by the manufacturer. Washington state is the first state to have such a true producer responsibility law.

St. Vincent de Paul and other collectors are paid to collect these outdated electronics.

“The E-Cycle effort in a win-win-win for all. First, we get items out of the waste stream. Second, people clear out their old equipment out of their homes and bring it to collection points like us for free. Third, with the revenues we receive from this ongoing collection, we will provide assistance for needy families and individuals,” said Richard Bray, a spokesperson for St. Vincent de Paul.

St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties are participating.

“In these difficult economic times, we are grateful for another way to raise funds through these new recycling efforts, in addition to the clothing, furniture and household items we’ve historically received from the community since 1926,” Bray said.