LANDFILLS WILL NO LONGER TAKE DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AFTER DECEMBER 31^ST

for more information:
Ernie Slottag 789-2235

Beginning January 1, 2012 landfills in the state of Illinois will not accept electronic devices such as televisions, computers and cell phones. Those kinds of devices must, instead, be disposed of through a recycling company or organization.

“Recycling electronic items rather than dumping them saves precious landfill space and can create jobs in a growing recycling industry,” Mayor J. Michael Houston said. “This is a great way to make use of products that have outlived their usefulness.”

“Eighty-five percent of electronic devices are currently not recycled, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics. These items contain precious metals and other materials that can easily be reclaimed, reused and recycled,” Public Works Director Mark Mahoney stated. “Springfield residents can do their part to keep these items out of landfills by using the locally available recycling services.”

Illinois law requires manufacturers to pay the cost of recycling; therefore, residents using drop-off sites will not be charged. The new law, signed this past summer, bans 17 specific items although most electronic recycling processors accept more than what is listed here:

Televisions                   Computers (incl. tablet computers)      Video Game Consoles
Monitors                      Videocassette Recorders                    Small Scale Servers
Printers                       Portable Digital Music Players              Digital Converter Boxes
Scanners                     Electronic Keyboards                         Cable Receivers
Electronic Mice             Facsimile Machines                            Satellite Receivers
Cameras                      Digital Video Disc Recorders

Nearly a half dozen agencies in Springfield will accept these electronic devices for recycling.

• Habitat for Humanity accepts all computers and related equipment, televisions, cameras, stereos, VCRs and other. Http://www.habitatsangamon.com

• Goodwill accepts all used computers and related equipment such as monitors, hard drives, software, printers, and ink and toner cartridges. Http://www.llgi.org.

• Ronald McDonald House accepts printer cartridges and cell phones for recycling. Http://www.rmhc-centralillinois.org

• BLH Computers of Springfield accepts from residents or businesses any and all types of electronics of any age, in any condition, for recycling except console televisions. http://www.blhcomputers.com

• ComputerBanc refurbishes computers and provides them to children with learning disabilities and families in need. http://computerbanc.org

For more information on the various city recycling programs visit the City website at http://www.springfield.il.us/recycle.htm or call the Division of Waste & Recycling at 789-2327.