The twice-a-year E-Cycling program to recycle electronics such as computers and televisions will be available year-round when Habitat for Humanity Maui moves into a new space in Wailuku — maybe as early as next year, The Maui News reported today.

The agency is relocating to space in the Maui Farmers' Cooperative Exchange warehouse at 970 Lower Main St., with the larger space allowing an expansion of its ReStore project.

There is also an immediate benefit for Maui households. While Habitat won't move immediately, the new space is already in use for containers of donated appliances that Habitat will be selling from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at discounted prices.

With county support and community volunteers, the E-Cycling electronics recycling event is offered to allow businesses, students and homeowners to dispose of electronic gear that should not be going into county landfills. Circuit boards and other elements in electronic devices, including wireless telephones and CD players, contain toxic metals that can be recovered for reuse, although not in Hawai'i.

The last E-Cycling event earlier this month drew hundreds of people turning in nonworking or obsolete electronics. Habitat for Humanity was the nonprofit sponsor for the event.

Sherri Dodson, executive director for Habitat for Humanity on Maui, said the county will still be the fiscal sponsor for the E-Cycling program, paying to ship unusable electronics to be recycled at Mainland recovery facilities.

When the permanent E-Cycling program is set up on the Habitat site, Dodson said, electronics that can be rehabilitated will be donated to schools and nonprofit organizations or sold in their ReStore, which carries new and used building materials at 50 percent or below retail value.

Currently the ReStore is located in Happy Valley, and Habitat's offices are in Puunene. With the new digs in the Farmers' Exchange building, all of Habitat's services will be in one place. The ReStore size will double from 4,500 square feet to 8,600 square feet.

Dodson hopes Habitat officials will be able to move into their new site in January. They will share the site with the Exchange, which will still be in part of the building. As part of the program, she said, when the farmers have excess produce they can sell it in the ReStore.

"It's a great partnership," she said.

It also provided the area Habitat needed after it received the donation of new, but out-of-production Whirlpool appliances, considered obsolete by the company and given to Habitat to be sold without warranties. The donation includes washers, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners and microwave ovens.

"You name it, we got it," Dodson said.

She said the appliances will be priced 50 percent off the retail value with Habitat reaping all of the profits for its programs. The donation from Whirlpool couldn't have come at a better time to help Maui families that may need to replace high-cost household appliances and for Habitat, she said.

"The economy is tightening up," Dodson said.

That's affecting donations with businesses and agencies that have helped Habitat projects in the past unable to do so this year because they are laying off workers and cutting back hours.

More Maui News at www.mauinews.com.