With new flat-screen TVs, laptops and tech gadgets on Christmas lists, what to do with obsolete electronic items at home may soon be on everyone's mind.

For the last four years, Northwoods Inc. of Wisconsin in Portage has taken in computers for the purpose of refurbishing and selling them. But now they have launched a new plan to help this area become more green by eliminating e-waste.

With a book of pictures on his desk of Third World countries littered with electronic waste, Jeffrey Aerts, president and CEO of Northwoods, hopes their new program helps stop e-waste coming from this area and helps create jobs here.

By expanding its computer sales, service and recycling program, Aerts said he would like to see the new e-waste recycling program create around 10 new jobs for Northwoods.

From laptops and printers to TVs and microwaves, the program has a wide list of what it will take in for a small fee.

"We're hoping this is a springboard into bringing in quite a bit more recycling," Aerts said.

Northwoods is a nonprofit corporation that provides training and community support programs for adults with disabilities, serving about 350 people a year in Columbia, Marquette, Sauk and Dodge counties.

The Northwoods e-recycling is not just for people looking to get rid of an old TV at home. It's also for businesses looking to rid themselves of old computers with an assurance that confidential data on hard drives will be destroyed with a certified date.

Aerts said certification is important to businesses like hospitals and insurance companies so they can audit any date of destruction.

Northwoods has teamed with 5R Processors out of Ladysmith that will take on many of the e-waste parts after they are broken down in the Northwoods building along Highway 51/16.

"They help us expand the number of things we can take in recycling," Aerts said, noting that items like washers, dryers and refrigerators are some of the few items not taken.

Aerts said he and others from Northwoods toured the 5R facility and were impressed how none of the items leave the United States. He said the program is a way to stop the horror stories of Third World kids standing in piles of electronic waste trying to burn copper or another metal off used parts, which may release carcinogens.

"It's not only in China and in Third World counties that are getting this stuff dumped on them, but (it's also happening) in the United States," he said.

"We take pride being green ourselves, and we have attached ourselves to a company (5R) that has given us assurances - all the things stay in the United States and are reused and don't go into landfills."

Aerts said people can drop off old electronic items during regular business hours. Items are not to be dropped at the doorstep when Northwoods is closed.

Northwoods was started in 1973 in a church basement by parents of five adults with disabilities.

The services they offer teach working skills like behavior on the job, getting there on time, working with supervisors and coworkers, and knowing what makes up a good worker.

Some Northwoods employees find jobs in the community with help from staff, and others work out of the Northwoods facility doing recycling, contract work for companies like Penda and Portage Plastics, or even interstate rest area cleaning.

"They are doing the work, and learning how to work," Aerts said.

While the Northwoods programs are many, the company also will evaluate people that may have a new disability and need retraining on what they can do.

With e-waste recycling, Aerts said Northwoods does have trucks that can come pick up items, and the program can be used by big businesses in places like Madison looking to rid themselves of the waste in a good way.

"They'll feel good about it and we'll do the right thing from that point on ... so people can walk away knowing their product isn't polluting the land," he said.

Northwoods Recycling is located at N6510 U.S. Highway 51/16 just outside of Portage. Call 742-7114 for e-waste questions and pricing.