CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Goodwill Industries of South Texas hosted its Earth Month e-waste collection drive today, just outside the La Palmera Mall parking lot.

The event encouraged the community to safely dispose of old electronics while supporting a great cause.

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental threats, with toxic substances like lead and mercury that can seep into the soil and water. Those can impact both wildlife and human health if not properly disposed of.

Dr. Amanda Garcia, Vice President of Development at Goodwill explains why proper e-waste recycling is crucial for the environment.

“There are a ton of chemicals that actually go into our environment when we don’t really know what to do or how to properly dispose of our electronic waste so when that stuff end up in our landfill unfortunately magnesium, lead, other things are seeping into our water,” said Garcia.

The event encouraged donations of anything from old computer monitors, printers, and cell phones, to cords and wires. It also provided valuable community service hours for volunteers. 

“It provides a lifelong sense of giving. So, being able to start this at a young age is so important, especially for youth today!” said Garcia.

The collection event successfully helped upcycle electronic waste, raised awareness for Earth Month, and brought the community together to contribute to protecting our environment.

More from 3News on KIIITV.com:  

• Caleb Harris’ rib bone found in December definitively identified as being his
• American Bank Center to keep current name for 5 more months
• New Harbor Bridge ribbon-cutting scheduled for May 10
• ‘Beachcombing’ with Jace Tunnell is now available on 3NEWS+
• Parole denied for Selena killer Yolanda Saldívar
• A Promise to Grandma: Isaiah Herrero’s Journey of Perseverance
• CCW issued over $36K in fines so far to residents found breaking drought restrictions

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for your daily news and exclusive extended interviews.

Email tell3@kiiitv.com so we can get in touch with you about your story should we have questions or need more information. We realize some stories are sensitive in nature. Let us know if you’d like to remain anonymous.