Chris Davies of electronics recycler Computers For Kids has seen a whole lot of obsolete junk -- and he hopes to see more.

"Old audio equipment. Eight tracks. We see those all the time," Davies says. "Old computer systems like Commodores, early Apples.

"We take all computer equipment. All televisions. All electronics, whether working or not."

With the gift-giving season upon us and new electronics goods flying off the shelves, the province is once again reminding the public that there's a right way to dispose of not-so-new electronics. After all, it's only a matter of time before today's Xbox 360 becomes yesterday's Atari 2600, or a modern laptop becomes a future paperweight.

Computers For Kids -- located in the west end and run by CAW Local 200 -- is one of the electronic waste drop-off locations in the area officially recognized by the Ontario Electronic Stewardship program.

Carol Hochu, OES executive director, said it's important to dispose of electronic goods properly because of the potentially hazardous components they contain: batteries, inks and toners, bulbs and switches containing mercury, lead-treated glass found in the cathode ray tubes of old television sets.

"Those are all materials that require special handling," Hochu said. "We don't want those going in a landfill."

Davies said: "Eventually, all landfills leak ... and it's these toxic chemicals inside the electronics that are going to leak into the water."

Windsor residents seem to understand that.

When OES sent their mobile electronics recycling centre on a 14-city tour during the fall, Windsor ended up achieving second place in terms of the sheer amount of used electronics brought for recycling.

On Sept. 25, local residents turned in more than 40 tonnes of electronic waste -- the equivalent of about five full tractor-trailers.

The only city to do better was Ottawa.

"(Windsor) was certainly one of the most successful stops that we had," Hochu said. "Seven hundred and two cars, according to my notes, came through and visited with us that day."

Hochu hopes Windsorites will continue that environmental spirit through the holidays, perhaps as they unwrap their new game console, cellphone, MP3 player or other electronic goody.

"Lots of new coming in, over the next couple of weeks -- and there might be a lot of old that has to go out. So it's timely to remind folks."

Besides Computer For Kids, the OES list of local electronic waste drop-off locations includes all the city's Staples, Best Buy and Future Shop stores, the Salvation Army Thrift Store at 1720 Walker Rd. and Henry's Photo-Video-Digital at 3155 Howard Ave.

OES is a non-profit organization, formed by industry leaders and tasked with implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Plan under provincial legislation.