There’s gold in them thar electronics. Unfortunately, there’s mercury, too. And lead. So when it’s time to dispose of the stuff, it shouldn’t get tossed into the household trash.

Enter Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, the environmental education arm of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. The agency has figured out a way to keep electronics out of the regular trash, cut communities’ dumping costs — and make money for a good cause, too.

KBVB will host a computer and electronics collection day Saturday for the benefit of the nine communities in the Blackstone Valley. The organization will charge a fee for disposal of certain items.

Those with unwanted electronics may take them either to Bryant University, on Douglas Pike in Smithfield, or to the Green-Tech Assets Warehouse, 30 Meeting St., Cumberland. Both events will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

Kristin Zawistowski, coordinator of KBVB, said that figures compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate that more than 2 million tons of electronic waste wind up in landfills each year.

This will be the second year for the recycling program. KBVB said that last year that Valley communities collected 30,000 pounds of electronic junk for recycling, lowering their disposal fees and keeping the stuff out of the environment.

Sarah Kite, recycling coordinator for Smithfield, says a strong argument for the program is that homeowners can help keep their taxes down by recycling. Each community pays “literally by the pound” for dumping trash at the state Central Landfill, in Johnston. Recycling, on the other hand, is free, she said.

Some electronic items contain toxins, Kite said.

“Computer monitors have lead. There is some mercury in some items. There’s a lot of stuff that has precious metals that can be recaptured and broken down and resold, so there’s definite value to these items. Some of the monitors will be in good working condition and can be resold. There’s a certain monetary value and a certain environmental value. We definitely don’t want any of the toxins released into the atmosphere, as with mercury, or the water, with the lead.”

Most items will be accepted for free, but there are some fees.

TVs are $8, TVs in wood casings, $10, intact air conditioners, $10, toner cartridges, $2, home copy machines, $10, and large backup batteries/UPS, $20.

No alkaline batteries will be accepted. There is no charge for CPU/computers, servers, keyboards, spare computer parts, monitors, laptops, network equipment, computer mouses, laser printers, radios, scanners, fax machines, car stereos, cables and wires, aluminum, copper, cell phones or telephones.

“The dollars donated will come back to each community in the Blackstone Valley” in the form of Blackstone Valley cleanup groups,” Kite said.

“It’s a win-win, a responsible way to get rid of your electronics and see money come back as assistance for cleanups.”

Kite says people don’t have to live in Blackstone Valley to take part.

“Absolutely, it’s open to the public,” she said.

“It’s open to anyone who has electronics and needs get rid of them. People have them in basements, garages, rec rooms. They know they want get rid of it the right way. If you’re from outside the Blackstone Valley, that’s fine. Bring it on in and we’ll take it.”

tmorgan@projo.com