The new free electronic recycling likely will drive up participation numbers for this year’s event, coordinator Susan Schmidt said.

In response, the city put out calls for more volunteers this week, seeking about 20 additional people to handle the expected traffic increase.

East Lansing Environmental Specialist Dave Smith said this year’s Recycle-Rama, which occurred in April, saw a traffic increase as a result of new, free electronics recycling, leading event planners to anticipate a similar increase for Project Pride. Schmidt said similar events in Lansing resulted in increased turnout as well.

No-preference sophomore Julianne Esaw signed up to volunteer at Project Pride after seeing an advertisement in the Town Courier. She said her best friend is an adamant recycler, and her ethic is a work in progress.

“It’s just kind of rubbed off on me,” she said. “I’m trying to be better.”

Valley City Recycling will be accepting electronic items this year, including computer systems and office equipment.

The free service comes as a new Michigan law and requires electronics manufactures to also accept recycling items, Smith said, driving many companies to participate in similar one-day recycling initiatives.

Smith said focusing on this type of recycling is important as new items with LCD screens have leaded glass, which can pollute landfills.

Last year, the project recycled about 12 tons of electronics, though community members had to pay. Project Pride usually receives around 500-600 cars with recycling material throughout the day, Smith said.

“There’s been a pretty significant increase in electronics disposal over the past few years,” Smith said. “The life expectancy for those things is not very long.”

Some organizations claim to properly dispose of used electronics but instead take them dump them in landfills overseas. Schmidt said the organizers sought to find a reliable group to handle the electronics, to make sure the items are recycled or re-used.

Project Pride slowly has added new services since its inception in 1994. A service began last year in which residents can bring documents to be shredded on site, followed by disposal of the paper. Last year, the event began recycling more types of plastic.