Montgomery County officials aren't hosting any electronic recycling events in 2015.

        Last month, they announced that the program had been suspended due to a lack of funding from the manufacturers of televisions and computers.  The manufacturers claim the recycling expenses have become cost prohibitive, according to Frank Custer, the county's communications director.

        State law requires the manufacturers to fund recycling opportunities for unused electronics, according to Custer.  He said they cited the increased disposal cost of glass and the reduced value of harvested metal.

        County officials can't afford to fund the program, at a cost of 46 cents per pound, with an estimated cost of $414,000, according to Custer.

        Last year, the county collected more than 900,000 pounds of electronics during six events, according to an email from the spokesperson.

        He stated that in recent years, the county had been reimbursed for its expenses by the manufacturers of TVs and computers sold in the Commonwealth as required by the Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA) of 2010.

        The law, which does not assess a fee on the manufacturers, requires them to pay for recycling the amount of covered devices that have an equivalent weight to what they sold two years prior, according to Amanda Witman, an information specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection based in Harrisburg.

        Agency officials are in constant contact with the manufacturers, most of which are required to submit registration forms, recycling planning forms and annual reports of their recycling efforts, according to an email from Witman.

        According to the spokesperson, the DEP encourages and reimburses some costs for municipal events. Her email states that the state agency has been funding local recycling event at varying levels for approximately 15 years.

        A joint recycling venture between Pennsburg and East Greenville boroughs collects electronic devices from residents of both communities.  The container, provided by RLGA Americas, is located near Pennsburg Borough Hall at 76 West 6^th Street.

        Electronics are accepted between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday as long as the doors to the container are open, according to information posted on East Greenville's website.

        According to Pennsburg officials Wednesday, e-recycling at the site is currently closed as the container is full and awaiting transportation from RLGA Americas.  Officials said the site fills up quickly and is closed on occasion as they await action by the recycling company.

        The accepted items include, but are not limited to, desktop and laptop computers, monitors, televisions, printers, keyboards, mice, scanners, fax machines, copy machines, VCR and DVD players.

        Residents of Red Hill can utilize the same recycling location, according to Faith Diascro, a member of borough council and chair of the municipality's recycling and trash committee.

        Upper Hanover has previously relied on the county's electronic recycling program, according to township Manager Stan Seitzinger, Jr.  He said the municipality will consider other options.

        Douglass Township residents can drop off e-waste at the township's recycling facility at 108 Municipal Drive, Gilbertsville, during recycling hours at no cost, according to township officials.  For more information, visit the township's website, www.douglasstownship.org/recycling.

        According to information posted on Montgomery County's website, retailers such as Best Buy and Staples also accept e-waste at no cost.  Visit each retailer's website for more information on the programs available.