The Borough of Northampton is advising residents beginning Jan. 1 that anything with a cord can no longer go in the trash.

A state law that goes into effect in January dictates that trash haulers can no longer dispose of items such as televisions, computers, VCRs or microwaves in landfills. As a result, they cannot be picked up with the regular trash.

A borough-sponsored electronic recycling event held in the fall at the municipal parking lot – the first ever – was hailed as a huge success. Previously the only electronic recycling program in the borough was one held on occasion by a Northampton Area High School student club.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko said following the public electronic recycling project, the borough began transporting electronic items to a recycling center.

"Recently, Responsible Recycling Services picked up a truckload of items and issued the borough a certified document that we have recycled 2,291 pounds of electronic waste," Zarayko said.

Councilman Robert Coleman reported that because of the new law, the only means of electronics disposal will be to take items to the borough recycling center.

On another matter relating to recycled products, Zarayko noted, "Through the cooperation of Horwith Trucking, we have delivered our second trailer load of used tires to Lafarge Cement Company. When they [Lafarge] initiated their tire burning process, they gave us permission to bring in two trailer loads of used tires per year and so far this has been working well."