Lori Burke had been looking for a place to recycle the electronic clutter that had accumulated at her home over the years.

"We are here recycling a van full of stuff," she said as she dropped off five computers, a printer, two old monitors and a Direct TV box during Keep Dawson County Beautiful's annual electronic recycling event April 18.

"You can't throw them in the trash, so I just held on to them. This worked out perfect."

The group, with help from Boy Scout Troop 109, collected more than 5,550 pounds of used electronics, ranging from phones and TVs to computers and monitors, that will be stripped down and recycled.

Bethann Houston said she was glad to find a place to recycle her old computer without having to worry that personal information stored on the hard drive might end up in the wrong hands.

"The safety issue is definitely important to me. This makes sure our personal information doesn't get out there," she said.

The material was processed and sent on to an appropriate recycling end-market by Atlanta Recycling Solutions to be manufactured into recycled content products.

Keep Dawson County Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful, has recycled nearly 50,000 pounds of electronics in recent years.

The organization's mission is to "encourage citizens to take greater responsibility in the beautification of Dawson County."

In an effort to decrease the number of scrap tires in the area, the group's next community recycling event is from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. May 9 when Dawson County residents will be able to drop off used tires at the Dawson County Transfer Station, at 946 Burt Creek Road.

The service is free and allows each household to dispose of up to 10 clean passenger car or light truck size tires. No tires with mud, dirt, debris or rims attached will be accepted.

The service is not available for tire retailers or wholesalers.

For more information on Tire Amnesty Day, call KDCB Executive Director Kristi Hudson at (706) 344-3501.