Here’s one new year's resolution you should easily be able to keep - recycling your old electronic devices. Many of you may have received a new electronic gift or two this past holiday and now want to get rid of the old outdated ones. It’s now easier than ever to find locations for recycling your unwanted items.
That’s good news because effective January 1, 2012, the Electronics Products Recycling and Reuse Act (SB2313) adds 14 new items to its list of electronic products that are banned from going into Illinois landfills. The ban is a result of research that confirms the harmful environmental effects of these items on landfills, while many of the components and metals in them can be successfully recycled for new uses. Items banned include:
- TVs and monitors
- Computers, including laptops and tablets
- Computer accessories (keyboards, mouse devices)
- Printers and scanners
- Fax machines
- VCRs and DVD players/recorders
- Video game consoles
- Portable digital music players
- Small-scale servers
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable/satellite receivers
The Library continues to collect small electronics in the blue bin near the Checkout Desk. We are partnering with Recycling Avenue, a non-profit company run by a group of physically challenged young adults wanting to make a difference. There are tax-deductible forms attached to the bin for you to record your donation. Check here for a list of acceptable items.
If you have a number of items to recycle, both large and small, you might want to consider an upcoming electronic recycling drive being held at the Countryside Center in Palatine on Friday, January 6. For more information, click here.
The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has a very good list of sources for recycling all kinds of electronic items. The list includes nearby retailers such as Abt Electronics, Apple stores, and Best Buy. Some even offer gift cards when you trade-in old items. Even the nearby Goodwill store will take old computers. For a small fee, SWANCC will even arrange to pick up all your items. For the complete list, click here.
Have a happy, healthy and greener new year.