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Electronics Recycling Plan Good for Whole Community

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

Expansion of the electronics recycling program in Normal is good news for those who want to see their old equipment put to use and for those who can benefit from devices that can be refurbished.

It also means diverting tons of material from landfills. That takes on added importance because the batteries and other material in electronic items can be toxic.

The town has been collecting electronic items once a month and giving them to Recycle for Illinois. The not-for-profit organization, originally known as Central Illinois Access, refurbishes some items for needy or physically disabled people. It also sells some items and parts.

A $11,900 grant recently awarded to Normal by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will enable the town to pay for a storage facility and other equipment needed so items can be dropped off weekdays and possibly one Saturday a month at the public works garage on Warriner Street.

The increased hours will make it easier for more people to participate. And clearly many of those people live outside of Normal. The weekday hours might encourage more out-of-town residents who work in Bloomington-Normal to drop off items.

The expanded hours won't take effect until the grant money is received and the facilities are upgraded.

Michelle Covi, director of the Ecology Action Center in Normal, said 58.2 tons of electronics have been collected so far this year, exceeding last year's total with six months to go.

The program began in February 2002 and 68 tons of electronics were collected that year - the best showing thus far. Undoubtedly, many people cleaned out basements or garages where they stored items for which they had no use but didn't want to just toss in the trash.

Totals had been dropping slightly until Normal got a boost when the state Environmental Protection Agency had a hazardous waste collection in conjunction with the regular monthly electronics recycling day last month.

With nearly 250 tons of computers, copiers, small appliances and other electronics collected since the program's inception, it has a record of success. The community should be commended for its dedication to recycling, even when it involves driving to a special location to participate.

Source: Pantagraph

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