Rick Sutherland of ClickAway in Los Altos views the large banner advertising this Saturday’s HOPE Service recycling event.

You can support a clean environment and raise money for a good cause by recycling your electronics this Saturday. A portion of the government reimbursemont the ASL Company (a state-funded recycling organization) receives will go to HOPE Services in San Jose. HOPE Services mission is to assist people with developmental disabilities to live and participate in their communities.

Drive into the ClickAway Computer store parking lot in Los Altos, the partnering organization, and drop off your old electronics, including computers, monitors, VCRs, printers, fax machines keyboards and telephones.

The state reimburses ASL by the pound for the electronic waste it collects. Working in conjunction with HOPE Services, ASL will pass a portion of the reimbursement money to HOPE to support its range of employment and job training programs, developmental activities, professional counseling, and infant, senior and living services to thousands of people this year.

“It’s called people helping people,” said Los Altos resident Rick Sutherland, owner of ClickAway. “It not only provides an avenue for funds for HOPE to continue their work but provides a terrific community service as well as protecting our environment- and ClickAway wants to be a part of that.”

On Feb. 9, the New State Hazardous Waste Rules formally outlawed California residents from throwing most consumer electronics into the garbage.

According to state estimates, in 2003 more than 515,000 tons of hazardous electronics went into landfills in California. Of those, 44 percent by weight were computer monitors and TV sets, and 23 percent were printers, disk drives, laptops and other computer equipment.

In order to promote a clean environment and provide people an easy way to get rid of their electronics, ASL designed the recycling program to benefit the community. Any school, charity or church interested in sponsoring an electronic waste collection event will receive a portion of the reimbursement to benefit a needy organization of their choice.

The ClickAway parking lot will be open 9 a.m to 5 p.m Saturday for drop-offs. It is located at 4916 El Camino Real, Los Altos.

For more information on the event or to become a sponsoring partner with ASL, contact Heather Thordarson at (408) 468-0230.