The city of Fairhope invites residents to take advantage of a free opportunity to dispose of old televisions, phones, cell phones, radios, video games and players, computers, DVDs, and all telecommunications components during this year’s annual Electronic Amnesty Day, which will be observed at the Fairhope Beachfront Park on Beach Drive from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 22. The city began the effort in 2001 in an attempt to prevent items containing lead and other toxins from being dumped into sanitary landfills.

Paul St. Pierre, the general manager of Fairhope Radio Shack, says Amnesty Day is a great idea. His store is sponsoring this year’s event.

“We are happy for the opportunity to assist in this effort,” said St. Pierre. “We do not want to see these items in our landfills. And since we sell them, we want to be part of any effort to dispose of them properly.”

He encourages people to participate in the event,to responsibly dispose of their obsolete electronics.

Radio Shack regularly recycles rechargeable batteries at no charge as part of their customer service.

“It is important for people to notice that this year’s Amnesty Day is separate from Earth Fest,” said April Westervelt, an environmental officer for the city. “Earth Fest takes place on Saturday, but Amnesty Day is on Sunday.”

Earth Fest 2007, the 17th Annual Bay Area Earth Day celebration, takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, an 83-acre facility located on the Causeway in Spanish Fort.

Earth Day, celebrated by thousands of communities across the nation, was developed as a way to attract attention to environmental issues such as pollution, global warming and responsible land stewardship. It is a fun-filled family event that includes art shows, animal exhibits, food vendors, musical acts,and kayak and canoe rides for $1. There will also be a cut-a-thon, sponsored by the Paul Mitchell Salon of Mobile, with haircuts selling for $15. Proceeds will be donated to Earth Day.

For more information about either event, contact April Westervelt at 990- 0192.